''Les voleurs du Marsupilami'', published in English as ''The Marsupilami Thieves'', is the fifth album of the ''
Spirou et Fantasio
''Spirou & Fantasio'' (french: Spirou et Fantasio, wa, Spirou eyet Fantasio) is one of the most popular classic Franco-Belgian comics. The series, which has been running since 1938, shares many characteristics with other European comics, European ...
'' series, written and drawn by
Franquin. The story is a continuation from where the previous album, ''
Spirou et les héritiers
''Spirou et les héritiers'', written and drawn by Franquin, is the fourth album of the ''Spirou et Fantasio'' series, and a great leap in the expansion of the Spirou universe. After serial publication in '' Spirou'' magazine, it was released as a ...
'', left off. After serial publication in ''
Spirou'' magazine, the story was released as a complete hardcover album in 1954.
Story
In ''The Marsupilami's Thieves'',
Spirou and
Fantasio regret giving the magnificent animal they brought back from the Palombian jungle, the
Marsupilami
''Marsupilami'' is a comic book character and fictional animal species created by André Franquin. Its first appearance was in the 31 January 1952 issue of the Franco-Belgian comics magazine '' Spirou''. Since then it appeared regularly in the ...
, to a zoo, and decide to free the animal again and return it to its original home. This plan fails because someone else beats them to the abduction, and another quest to find the Marsupilami begins. This journey brings them to the city of Magnana, and the fiendish Circus Zabaglione.
Background
As a direct (and slightly less fantastic) sequel to the previous album, ''Les Voleurs'' contain several memorable episodes, including the intermezzo at the border station, and Spirou and Fantasio's circus disguise act as "Cam & Leon", with some help from the science of
The Count of Champignac.
Football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
player Valentin Mollet, introduced in this story, is another "shifting" character in ''Spirou et Fantasio''. Initially a villain - he steals the Marsupilami for money to support his family - he repays Spirou et Fantasio for giving him a second chance and ends up saving the day.
Jo Almo, a pseudonym for Geo Salmon, is credited for idea work.
References
Franquin publications in ''Spirou''BDoubliées
External links
Spirou official site album index
Franquin site album index
Comics by André Franquin
Spirou et Fantasio albums
1954 graphic novels
1954 in comics
Works originally published in Spirou (magazine)
Literature first published in serial form
Comics set in South America
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