Spirou (1938)

Spirou is a weekly Belgian comics magazine published by Dupuis. First appearing on April 21, 1938 under the name Le Journal de Spirou, the magazine was created by Jean Dupuis at his printing firm in Marcinelle, near Charleroi. It was renamed Spirou in May 1947.

The magazine takes its name from the bellhop character Spirou, created by Parisian artist Rob-Vel (Robert Velter) for the inaugural issue. The publication is an anthology featuring serialized adventure comics, humor strips, and gag pages in the Franco-Belgian bande dessinee tradition.

During World War II, publication was interrupted following the German invasion of Belgium in 1940. Issues 109 through 122 were never published; further wartime paper shortages caused issues 282 through 337 and a number of 1945 issues to go unpublished as well. The magazine resumed its run after the war and has continued weekly publication ever since, making it one of the longest-running comics magazines in the world.