The character of Germain was born in 1976 from the boundless imagination of Fred Jannin and Thierry Culliford. In 1977, he came to life in Le Trombone Illustré, the legendary supplement of Spirou magazine, under the guidance of André Franquin and Yvan Delporte.
First published in 1979 by Fluide Glacial, at the initiative of Gotlib, and later by Dupuis starting in 1980, the series Germain et nous developed over 14 albums, with a succession of co-writers (Thierry Culliford, Yvan Delporte, Serge Honorez…) shaping and maintaining the series’ unmistakable adolescent spirit. Funny, sarcastic, or poetic, the single-page gags capture snapshots of everyday life. Through the adventures of Germain, Pilou, Sophie, Luc-Luc, and their gang, the entire 1980s unfold before our eyes, set to the rhythm of the Bowling Balls, the real-fake pop band created by Fred Jannin and his accomplices.
In 2004, with the series Que du bonheur (Le Lombard), readers rediscovered an older Germain & Co, now facing new life challenges in tune with adulthood and the changing times.
Alongside his many other artistic projects (Froud & Stouf with Stefan Liberski, and numerous collaborations with Gilles Dal), Fred Jannin, a multi-talented artist, has established himself as a major media figure (Les Snuls, Jaadtoly, La Semaine Infernale, etc.). Today, nearly 50 years after the creation of Germain et nous, one question still haunts him:
“Am I a cartoonist or a musician?”
To attempt an answer, Galerie Champaka has the privilege of exhibiting a remarkable selection of original comic pages, illustrations, and sketches, highlighting Fred Jannin’s sharp and dynamic style—a legacy of the Franco-Belgian school and the spontaneity of great caricaturists.
