For his thirtieth birthday, Titeuf offers himself an 18th volume, follow the wick, available from this Thursday in bookstores. An album anchored in reality, where its creator Zep gives a privileged place to ecological issues, from climate change to animal rights and vegetarianism.
The world of Titeuf has grown darker and more sinister than when it began. The rascal with the blonde puff is now more concerned with the importance of recycling yogurt jars than with the mysteries of sex.
For a long time, Zep refused to integrate elements of modernity into Titeuf so as not to lose timelessness. For a few albums, he decides to confront his hero with the great problems of our time.
“I have the impression that in all the volumes of Titeuf“There are themes from the time the album was released,” says the designer. “When I reread the first ones, that’s what I find. We talk about AIDS in particular.
“Today we recover less”
follow the wick it bears witness in particular to the concerns of the 55-year-old designer, his real Philippe Chapuis, at a time when the world is approaching the point of no return with global warming. “The offending issue is no longer sex,” he sums up.
Half a dozen jokes tackle these issues head on. Zep’s ambition: to allow children to better understand them. “They know that they are going to inherit a damaged planet and that they will have to fix what previous generations have done.”
“It is an important issue that concerns them, but on which they do not have much chance to intervene,” he still laments. “Many children become vegetarians for ecological reasons, to defend animals.”
Echoing the actions of young people for the climate, Titeuf evolves: “30 years ago, we thought that we had the mission of saving nature. Today, we recover it less. Rather, we have the mission of listening to nature so as not to harm it. it’s more.”
Over time, Titeuf softened. The gritty comic from the 1990s is now a family read. “Many parents have told me that they read Titeuf with their children, because for them it was a gateway to talk about difficult issues.
Titeuf vs. delinquent children
the characters of Titeuf now they seem more reasonable, including the boisterous blonde hero: “I’m not sure Titeuf has become more responsible,” Zep corrects. “But around him there are characters who are.”
Titeuf, however, is responsible: on his new album he also fights against sexual predators on the Internet, saving his friend Manu in the process. In Switzerland, Titeuf also sponsors a genuine association to help child victims of violence or sexual assault.
“It’s important to talk about this theme on the album. It’s part of the DNA of Titeuf integrate these themes into the comic”, insists the designer, who has already addressed the issue in another album of the series.
“Kids know that there are people who are not real on TikTok. That among their followers are people who are not really their friends. They are informed, but I thought it was good to do this story to remind them.”
Proof of the importance he has given to the subject, Zep dedicates two pages to it: “It is important to take more time so as not to rush the subject, to adequately inform the younger audience. He wanted us to explain the situation, let’s see the boy.” “
Not a lesson giver
Zep finally confronts Titeuf about the consent. “It’s been 30 years since he flirted with a girl who said no to him and continued. At first, we thought it was cute. Nowadays, it’s more debatable. It’s nice that he’s rebooted the concept a bit, even if he doesn’t “. I don’t understand.”
“I think it’s always good that Titeuf is the one who understands less than the readers”, concludes the designer. “It is exhilarating for a young reader to feel that he has better understood [que Titeuf], which he can explain to you. I don’t want Titeuf to give lessons.”
Titeuf, Follow the fuse, volume 18, Glénat, 48 pages, 11.50 euros.
Source: BFM TV
