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🇧🇪 Belgium /Culture & Society

New Suske and Wiske Album Honors Leen Vandersteen, Inspiration for Wiske

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • The latest Suske and Wiske comic album, "Het laatste lint," pays tribute to Leen Vandersteen, the daughter of creator Willy Vandersteen and the inspiration for the character Wiske.
  • Vandersteen, who passed away last year at 86, played a crucial role in Studio Vandersteen, leading artists and production staff from 2002 to 2022.
  • The album depicts Leen Vandersteen entering Fantasia, the world of Willy Vandersteen's characters, where she becomes entangled with Wiske's magical red ribbon and confronts "de Zwarte Madam."

The newest Suske and Wiske comic album, titled "Het laatste lint," serves as a heartfelt tribute to Leen Vandersteen, the eldest daughter of the series' creator Willy Vandersteen and the muse behind the beloved character Wiske. Leen Vandersteen passed away last year at the age of 86.

Without Leen Vandersteen, there would be no Suske and Wiske.

— scenaristsStating the importance of Leen Vandersteen to the comic series.

"This is a way to thank her. A tangible farewell to Leen and to what 'our mom' meant to all of us," announced the album's scenarists. They emphasized that "Without Leen Vandersteen, there would be no Suske and Wiske." Leen not only served as the childhood model for Wiske but also played a pivotal role in Studio Vandersteen, guiding its artists, scenarists, and production staff between 2002 and 2022.

My mother deserved a tribute because she was very important to the series and steered it successfully for a long time.

— Tom WilequetExplaining the motivation behind dedicating the new album to his mother.

"My mother deserved a tribute because she was very important to the series and steered it successfully for a long time," said her son, Tom Wilequet, during the album's announcement at the Suske and Wiske Museum in Kalmthout. Lead scenarist Peter Van Gucht added, "She literally saved Suske and Wiske from ruin." He further described Leen not just as a leader but as the "mom of the studio."

She literally saved Suske and Wiske from ruin.

— Peter Van GuchtHighlighting Leen Vandersteen's critical contribution to the comic series.

In "Het laatste lint," Leen Vandersteen finds herself in Fantasia, the realm inhabited by Willy Vandersteen's imaginative creations. There, she is linked to Wiske's magical red ribbon. When "de Zwarte Madam" attempts to seize the ribbon, Leen and Wiske embark on a new adventure together, with Leen once again playing a key role in resolving the situation.

She was actually not so much a leader, but more our mom. The mom of the studio.

— Peter Van GuchtDescribing Leen Vandersteen's role within Studio Vandersteen.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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