Cancel Tintin, Ban Spirou! When Racism And Sexism Get Popular Comic Series In Trouble

Updated Nov. 12, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.*

PARIS — From the anti-Semitic children's books of Nazi Germany to the many racist caricatures of Asian, African or Indigenous people in the 20th century, comics have long contained prejudiced, sexist and xenophobic stereotypes.

These publications have been rightfully criticized and, in some cases, replaced with more diverse and accurate narratives created by a broader range of artists and writers.

In 2021, for instance, the publisher of beloved American author Dr. Seuss announced it would no longer distribute six of his books due to racist and offensive imagery of Black people, Asians and Arabs.

And Belgian publisher Dupuis recently announced it would be removing Spirou and the Blue Gorgon from shelves, over accusations that the latest installment of the popular Spirou albums contains racist depictions of Black people and sexist representations of women.

Still, some are pushing back, saying that this kind of unwarranted "cancelling" threatens freedom of expression and the sanctity of beloved, and often nostalgic, imagery.

Here are examples from three countries around the world about how people are handling the debate and sketching the future of comics.

Spirou sales halted over accusations of racism and sexism

Belgian comic book publisher Dupuis announced late last month that it was withdrawing the sale of Spirou et la Gorgone bleue (Spirou and the Blue Gorgon), the latest episode of its popular Spirou series after widespread criticism over its racist depictions of Black people, as well as sexist images of women.

Although the comic book was published in September 2023, the controversy only erupted after a TikTok user released a video that went viral, in which she highlighted the problematic content. In particular, it pointed out the depictions of Black characters with exaggerated features including prominent lips, and in subservient roles, while also objectifying women.

In response to the outcry, Dupuis issued an apology and pledged to pull an estimated 30,000 copies of the book from shelves. Several petitions in support of Spirou and its publisher Dupuis have also sprung on the internet in recent weeks: one, which garnered more than 15,000 signatures, argues that the comic book "aimed at illustrating our society's flaws, while mocking stereotypes without ever endorsing them."

In Canada, torching Tintin & Astérix

The Adventures of Tintin and The Adventures of Asterix both emerged in French-speaking Europe during the 20th century and quickly developed global audiences. Tintin has been translated into over 70 languages and Asterix into 111, and both were adapted to different media including television, film and even a theme park.

But the comic books have also been called out for controversial depictions of certain groups, including North American Indigenous peoples. And as Radio-Canada recently reported, one group of French-speaking schools in Ontario found the texts so offensive that — in a show of solidarity with the country's First Nations — they decided to go ahead and burn the books.

The report, not surprisingly, stirred up a pretty fiery debate on the issues of free speech and what some refer to as "cancel culture."

Suzy Kies, co-chair of the Indigenous Peoples Commission of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party, was involved in the burning and said in a video, "We bury the ashes of racism, discrimination and stereotypes in the hope that we will grow up in an inclusive country where everyone can live in prosperity and security."

She and others fault the Tintin and Asterix books for depictions that oversexualize Indigenous peoples and paint them as lazy, alcoholic and "savage." But now, Kies's identity as being of Abenaki and Montagnais-Naskape descent is under question and she has resigned from her chair position. For his part, Prime Minister Trudeau said he is "never in favor of burning books," but added the importance of reconciliation with First Nations, particularly with the recent discoveries of unmarked mass graves at residential schools that Indigenous children were forced to attend.

Maybe instead of fighting over these comics (which are rarely historically accurate), attention should be focused on projects like This Place, a graphic novel anthology telling Canadian history through the perspectives of Indigenous people from around the country.

France's favorite cowboy shoots for more diversity

In a more progressive model for rethinking cartoons with long — and complicated — legacies, Lucky Luke in France is taking a different direction. Telling the story of a cowboy in the Wild West, Lucky Luke was and continues to be a staple for many French children. And yet, despite being in print since the 1940s, the series is notably lacking in terms of diversity. The only edition featuring Black characters — Going up the Mississippi — was filled with racial stereotypes.

But in 2020, well-known French cartoonists Julien Berjeaut (known as Jul) and Hervé Darmenton (known as Achdé) took on the challenge of a more inclusive Lucky Luke. With its 81st album, Un Cow-Boy Dans Le Coton (A Cowboy in High Cotton), they changed the perspective to focus on recently freed Black slaves.

The plot begins like a typical Lucky Luke narrative. He inherits a Southern plantation, but then decides to redistribute the land to Black farmers. The other main character is inspired by Bass Reeves, who was the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi. And Lucky Luke must rely on Reeves to go up against the real enemy: the Ku Klux Klan.

Berjeaut interviewed French activists and scholars to better understand the representation of Black people in popular culture. Despite facing criticism in some conservative media, Un Cow-Boy Dans le Coton ended up being the best selling comic book in France last year.

Japan gets a manga makeover

*Originally published Sept. 27, 2021, this article was updated Nov. 12, 2024 with information about "Spirou and the Blue Lagoon."