Les Pieds Nickelés (French for "The nickel plated feet") is a French comic series, originally created by Louis Forton. The comic premiered on June 4, 1908 in the newspaper L'Épatant, published by Société Parisienne d'Édition. It is considered to be one of the earliest French comics and one of the longest-running. It centers on a group of anarchist youth getting in trouble. In French informal speech of the early twentieth century, "nickel-plated feet" was a term for slackers, work-shy people.
Contents
History
The story features three main characters named Croquignol, Filochard, and Ribouldingue, three brothers who are good hearted but at the same time are indolent crooks and slackers, characteristics of anarchists.
Les Pieds Nickelés was originally drawn in text comics format, with the text written beneath the images. Louis Forton had to struggle with his editors to use actual speech balloons, as was common in American comics.
At the beginning of their "career", the 'nickel-plated feet' constantly clash with the police in various adventures where they rarely have the upper hand. Gradually, as the comic book became increasingly popular, the Pieds-Nickelés gain widened scope, complexity, and audacity. Over time, they are seen rubbing shoulders with the elite of their time, such as the President of France, the King of England, and the Kaiser of Germany.
With the arrival of the First World War, the personalities of the Pied-Nickelés take a new turn. They embody the popular French values of ingenuity and resourcefulness known as "System D." Operating behind enemy lines under multiple guises, they constantly fool the "Boches" (French derogatory nickname for the Germans), who are portrayed as large, gullible oafs.
Louis Forton continued to draw the Pied Nickelés until his death in 1934, after which the series was taken over by Aristide Perré and Albert Badert. However, it was not until Pellos took over in 1948 that the Nickelés returned to success. The successive authors of the Nickelés thus changed the comics and evolved the comics in new directions.
In 2010, Onapratut published a compilation of the contributions of Michel Baril, Aurélien Bédéneau, Fabien Bertrand, Paul Burckel, Ced, Clotka, Dib, François Duprat, Frédéric Duprat, Elric, Filak, Stéphane Girod and Olivier Ka., Lommsek, Alejandro Milà, Pasto, Radi, Loïc Senan, Thibaut Soulcié, Unter, Waltch, Wayne, Wouzit, Carali, Caza, Hardy, Hugot, Lamorthe, Laurel, Thierry Martin, O'Groj, Obion, Nancy Peña, Jeff Pourquié, Olivier Schwartz, Al Séverin, Walthéry, and Wasterlain. The cover design is the work of Pascal Rabaté.
Derivatives and parodies
In French informal speech of the early twentieth century, "nickel-plated feet" was a moniker for slackers, work-shy people. The meaning extended later to include, in the 21st century, characters not very commendable, conspiracy-minded, roguish, dishonest and clumsy. For example, these characters were referenced by the media in the Clearstream affair to describe the various protagonists. The same was true of the operation of the "Ark of Zoe".
Les Pieds Nickelés also inspired a 1972 magazine in which the cartoonist Régis Loisel made his debut.
In 2011 the cartoonist Luz replaced the headband of the one-eyed character Filochard with adjustable sunglasses.
Chronology of authors
Louis Forton led the publication under a pen name. In 1934, he decided to focus on other projects and let someone else take over.
Louis Forton (1908-1934), créateur de la série. Louis Tybalt temporarily took over during the First World War.
Aristide Perré (1936-1938)
Badert (1940)
René Pellos (1948-1981) with Roland de Montaubert as principal writer
Pierre Lacroix (1953-1954)
Jacarbo (1982-1983) et Serge Saint-Michel (1954-1984)
Jicka (1984-1988)
Laval, Claderes, Gen-Clo (1988)
Starting from 1991, a series of new "Pieds Nickeles" to represent the "New Adventures" premiered, a collaboration of multiple publishers.
Michel Rodrigue (1991-1992) - Les nouvelles aventures des Pieds Nickelés (Studio Cadero - Vents d'Ouest)
Juillard (1999) - Le dernier chapitre (Tome 3) Les Pieds Nickelés : demain sera un autre jour (Dargaud)
Trap et Stéphane Oiry (2009) - La Nouvelle Bande des Pieds nickelés (Delcourt)
Un ouvrage collectif (2010) - Les Nouveaux Pieds nickelés (Onapratut)
Philippe Riche (2011) (Vents d'Ouest - Georges Ventillard)
Main characters
The comics center on 3 principal protagonists, Croquignol, Filochard, and Ribouldingue, who evolve greatly over the run of the comics. Under the authorship of Louis Forton, all drawn to the same size and proportions with Croquignol being the leader of the trio. All three, under the purview of Pellos developed their own personalities:
Ribouldingue is the sympathetic one.
Filochard: has a small stature; possesses one eye and gains Herculean strength when angry
Croquignol is a fine person and usually the leader of the band.
Although they disguise themselves regularly, they also have the same recurrent style:
Croquignol wears the monocle, a small hat, a jacket, and a bow tie;
Ribouldingue wears the green cap, matching the green sweater, and a red scarf around the neck.
Filochard wears the beret, a red turtleneck and a black jacket.
Among the recurring characters of the series, one crosses in some episodes:
Manounou, the African wife of Ribouldingue, an accomplice of the various larcenies of his legitimate and acolytes.
One finds also again, among the traditional foes:
le commissaire Croquenot
l'inspecteur Duflair
Fantômard
la Clique (autrefois un allié des pieds nickelés, puis le complice de Fantômard)
Albums
Société Parisienne d'Édition
These albums and compilations were published by Société Parisienne d'Édition.
Les Pieds nickelés se débrouillent
Toujours de nouveaux exploits
Ollé ! Ollé ! Soyons gais !
Sur les bords de la Riviera
Encore d'extraordinaires équipées
L'Audace des Pieds nickelés
Les Pieds nickelés en Amérique
Attractions sensationnelles
Les Pieds nickelés ont le filon
La vie est belle
Faut pas s'en faire
Dans le maquis
Les Pieds nickelés ont la guigne !
Les Pieds nickelés chez les gangsters
Les Pieds nickelés s'évadent
Les Pieds nickelés rois du caoutchouc
Les Pieds nickelés sous les eaux
Les Pieds nickelés radio-reporters
Les Pieds nickelés prince d'Orient
These were published by Société Parisienne d'Édition.
(These albums are published in the collection "Les Beaux Albums de la jeunesse joyeuse")
Other publications
(Les Nouvelles Aventures des Pieds nickelés)
L'Empire d'essence (1991)
Voleur de pub (1991)
Flouze artistique (1992)
Out of circulation
Other publishers have released albums.
Les Pieds nickelés dans les Corbières, à Canet-plage, sur le Lydia
Les Fourberies des Pieds nickelés
Les Pieds nickelés à l'ORTF
Derivative works
The series have been adapted by other publishers to publish.
Les Pieds nickelés, une aventure de Croquignol, Filochard & Ribouldingue (2011)
Titled La Nouvelle Bande des Pieds nickelés
Pas si mal logés (2009)
Bio-profiteurs (2010)
Expulsés volontaires (2012)
Les Nouveaux Pieds nickelés (2010)
Les Pieds nickelés se débrouillent (1929-2011)
Toujours de nouveaux exploits (1929-2012)
Le Roman des Pieds nickelés T3 (1914-2011)
Biographie de Forton, l'histoire par la bande (2011)
Promoteurs du paradis (2011)
Ensemble, tout est possible (2012)
Les Pieds Nickelés visitent les châteaux de la Loire (2013)
(Le Meilleur des Pieds nickelés)
Menteurs, Voleurs, Bagarreurs... de vrais professionnels !
Embrouilles, Arnaques et Cocards... l'aventure continue !
Tricheurs, Hâbleurs, Manipulateurs... les affaires reprennent !
Impostures, Esbroufes et Grosses Galères... les rebelles courent toujours !