Kiko

In the mid-1960s, a new character appeared in the pages of Spirou magazine. This was Foufi – a mischievous, greedy, kind-hearted little boy a bit different from other boys. Different because he is the owner of a magic and much-envied object… With the help of his flying carpet, Foufi assists the poor, ensures that baddies are punished for their wicked deeds and indulges in the odd practical joke, but never at anyone else’s expense. The antics of this young Arab hero, a positive and engaging figure whose memory for magic spells sometimes lets him down, are set against the backdrop of a Middle Ages worthy of the Thousand and One Nights. The charm of his adventures is something Foufi owes to the expansive personality of his creator, Roger Camille (1936-2006), alias Kiko, whom we may also remember for his promotional comics material for Milky Way chocolate bars and Motta ice cream. What is most fascinating about Kiko’s work is the minute precision of his ink drawings, which teem with tiny details – evidence of the generosity of an artist passionate about his stories and his characters, and who delights in sharing them with his readers.