1965, Belgian Comics: Suske en Wiske “De Koddige Kater”

In 1965 a new "Suske en Wiske" (UK: "Bob & Bobette" or "Spike and Suzy", US: "Willy and Wanda") album is published: "De Koddige Kater" (translation: "The Droll Tomcat"). The series "Suske en Wiske" was created by Willy Vandersteen in 1945.

No 54: "De Koddige Kater"

• two-coloured
• never published in English
• story and drawings by Willy Vandersteen
• published in French ("Bob et Bobette") as "Le matou marrant"
• published in German ("Ulla und Peter") as "Wastl und der Geisterkater"
• published in Finnish ("Anu & Antti") as "Kaikkien aikojen katti"
• published in Fries ("Suske en Wiske") as "De boartlike boarre"
• published in Norwegian ("Finn & Fiffi") as "Den gåtefulle katten"
• published in Swedish ("Finn och Fiffi") as "Den gåtfulla katten"

No 54 "De Koddige Kater" (translation: "The Droll Tomcat")

The story was pre-published in the newspapers "De Standaard" and "Het Nieuwsblad" from 11 September 1964 until 22 January 1965. The main characters are Suske (Spike), Wiske (Suzy), aunt Sidonia, Lambik (Ambrose), Jerom (Jethro), mister Erdemelcher, Hans (servant), the Mayor and his wife Hildgarde, Siegfried (the tomcat) and Nonoletta (female cat). The main location for this story is Luxembourg. The album was reedited in 1967 as No 74 in the coloured series.

Mister Erdemelcher and Lambik (Ambrose)

Hans the servant

Hildgarde and Siegfried

Lambik (Ambrose) and Jerom (Jethro)

Synopsis

Lambik (Ambrose) accidently drives his car over a bike and he pays the bike owner for the damage. Seconds later he sees the man throwing his bike in front of another car. Aunt Sidonia's kitchen is not finished by a hired painter, she gets angry when she hears Lambik paid the painter in advance. Lambik leaves his good friends in anger, he's had enough to be taken by people. Willy and Wanda see how he gets into a black car...

The Mayor, Wiske (Suzy) and Sidonia

Sidonia an Lambik (Ambrose)

Siegfried and Nonoletta

Wiske (Suzy) and Suske (Spike)

Trivia

• the message "Helpt Elkander", at the beginning, is inspired by the "Bond Zonder Naam", a Christian organisation that promotes charity
• the white female cat Nonoletta is a reference to the Eurovision song “Non ho l'età” by the Italian winner Gigiola Cinquetti (1964)
• the quote by Wiske (Suzy) “Ik hang hier als een vaandel van Toon Hermans” is a reference to the famous Dutch comedian
• the quote by the old woman: "Joep! Gejaagd door de wind in Altenfels!" is a reference to the novel "Gone with the Wind" (1937) by Margaret Mitchell and the movie of the same name with Vivian Leigh and Clark Gable (1939)

"Helpt Elkander" inspired by the "Bond Zonder Naam"

Reference to the novel "Gone with the Wind"

Reference to Toon Hermans

Cars

• Ford Fairlane 500 (1962) (2x)
• Renault Dauphine
• Volkswagen 1200 (Beetle)

Ford Fairlane 500 (1962)

Ford Fairlane 500 (the black car) (1962)

Renault Dauphine

Volkswagen 1200 (Beetle)