Smurfs

When a strange fly bites one of the Smurfs, a full-on epidemic develops in the Smurf Village! After being bit, a Smurf turns purple and his vocabulary is reduced to one single word: “GNAP!” The purple Smurf runs around the Smurf Village biting other Smurfs on the tail, causing them to turn purple and act crazy too! Soon enough, there are more purple Smurfs than blue Smurfs in the village. It’s up to Papa Smurf to find a cure and save the Smurf Village before all of the Smurfs lose their minds for good!

If Belgium’s two most obvious cultural contributions — a style of waffle and The Adventures of Tintin—are to be roundly applauded, what are we to say about the dubious third, the Smurfs? Although adults will be most familiar with the fad and cartoons from the 1980s, kids now have the chance to see the Smurfs in their original comics incarnation, and it turns out they deserve a warm welcome back. 

In the three Belgian originals reprinted here, the chubby, blue Hobbit-like creatures battle an outbreak of purple that turns Smurfs mean, try to invent a way to fly, and go on a frustrating hunt for a little solitude, always watched over by the smart but tough-as-nails Papa Smurf. More than a touch reminiscent of the current Sticky Burr books, these clever, entertaining stories featuring simple, charming art and a low-key message of community will prove a guilt-free recommendation for kids seeking lighthearted adventure. 

Peyo (the illustrator) drawing at his desk...

PIERRE CULLIFORD, born in Belgium in 1928, was the cartoonist known as Peyo. Peyo began his career working with some of Belgium’s most talented cartoonists, including his lifelong writing partner Yvan Delporte. In 1958, The Smurfs made their first appearance and went on to become the world-famous characters we know and love today.

Yvan Delporte (the author - June, 1928 – March, 2007)

Yvan Delporte was a Belgian comics writer, and was editor-in-chief of Spirou magazine between 1955 and 1968 during a period considered by many the golden age of Franco-Belgian comics. He is credited with several creative contributions,  - the biggest one is his collaborations with Peyo on The Smurfs. Delporte also served as editor-in-chief for the comics magazine “Spirou,” helping to create the memorable comics character “Gaston Lagaffe.”

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Here is one of the hilarious Smurfs stories from the very first Smurfs book...