Brussels’ Comic Book Route

Wondering if Comic book route should be in your checklist? Definitely yes!

For over more than 50 colorful murals, which are growing over time, the comic characters come alive in unexpected corners all around the town. Comic strip murals cover the walls of several buildings throughout the inner belt of the city.
Hunting for colorful murals is really a joyful stroll and fun idea, which helps you discover Brussels and takes you to the imaginary world of treasure hunt game.

Knowing that some of the comic characters are originated from the city, the local authorities find a unique way to celebrate the rich comic book heritage of Brussels. The size of these murals vary from ± 20 m² to max. ± 850 m².

For those who do not want to miss a thing, check out the below trajectory to track the location of the murals:

To know more about the comic strip murals, have a look at the reference pictures and their stories below:-

1. Tintin (by Hergé) – located at Rue de l’Etuve

The drawing originates from the comic book ‘The Calculus Affair,” the eighteenth volume of The Adventures of Tintin comics series by the Belgian cartoonist Hergé, showcasing the abduction of Professor Calculus. Tintin, his dog Snowy and his friend Captain Haddock doing their utmost to free their friend.

2. Broussaille (by Frank Pé) – located at Rue du Marché aux Charbons

The Broussaille Wall was the first comic strip mural to be painted in Brussels dated back to July 1991, which is based on comic series created by Frank Pé. The wall illustrates a cheerful couple, Broussaille and his girlfriend Catherine, going for a brisk walk around the city.

3. Le Passage (by Schuiten) – located at Rue du Marché au Charbon

Belgian comics artists François Schuiten and Benoît Peeters set-up a graphic novel series together on Counter-Earth in the early 1980s, titled as “Les Cités Obscures.” As per the series, humans live in this fictional world, in independent city-states with distinct civilization and architectural style. The mural represents the passageways between the Earth and the Counter-earth/obscure city.

4. Le Scorpion/The Scorpion (by Marini & Desberg) – located at Rue Treurenberg

Le Scorpion is a Franco-Belgian comics series written by Stephen Desberg, illustrated by Enrico Marini.

The Scorpion aka Armando Catalano is portrayed as a holy relics dealer. Following the comic series he is depicted as a hero and his adventures are numerous.

5. Spike and Suzy (by Willy Vandersteen) – located at Rue de Laeken 116

Spike and Suzy were created by the late Belgian comic book creator Willy Vandersteen. As painted on the mural, Spike and Suzy cheerfully brighten up the crossroads, supported by the formidable strength of Manneken-Pis (Belgian national icon- you can find him peeing through every corner of the city).

6. Billy the Cat (by Colman & Desberg) – located at Rue Dophem

Yet another masterpiece by Stéphane Colman. The comic debuted in 1981.Its my favorite mural for many reasons. The mural depicts a joyful cat Billy (yellow and black striped cat), running on the cobblestones with his friends- Mister Hubert (white cat) and Jumbo the Pigeon. It is full of light and optimism, showing happiness in life.

In the first comic album, Billy is pictured as a notorious school boy who often bullies animals. He died after being hit by a car. In the afterlife, due to his misdeeds his entry is restricted in the Heaven, however, he is given a second chance and sent back to the Earth in the form of a young cat. Being in the form of Cat, he can still remember his former life as a boy.

Let’s move to the next mural.

7. L’Ange de Sambre/The Angel of Sambre (by Yslaire) – located at Rue des Chartreux

The angel on the wall is from a series of graphics work released in 4 volumes, in which the Belgian comic creator- Bernard Hislaire aka Sylaire aka Yslaire takes a haunting look back at the revolutionary twentieth century, knowing that war and human misdeeds have shaken the planet to the core.

8. Néron (by Marc Sleen) – located at Place Saint-Géry

Néron is a Flemish comic book character and the protagonist in Belgian Cartoonist Marc Sleen’s comic series.
Drawn on the murals, Nero is distinguished by a big nose, bow-tie and exactly two strands of hairs, sitting on tree branch waving his hands to the birds He is one of the biggest heroes of Flemish comic strips.
The mural consists of children Pat and Pet with “P” on their shirts, Nero’s genius son Halyard by his professorial appearance and chip shop owner- muscular John Samson (Golden hair. In the background we see Piet Fluwijn and Bolleke (a Belgian gag-a-day comic strip series). Abraham Tuizentfloot, a crazy little man who dresses up as a pirate and has a tendency to attack people is hiding at the top of the tree (with red Hat). Madam Pheip is also represented on the mural just below Nero. Madam Pheip’s main trait is the fact that she smokes a pipe, however, just in the murals she is not smoking pipe.

9. Blake & Mortimer (by Jacobs) – located at Rue du Houblon

The first comic book dated back to 1946. The protagonists of the series are Philip Mortimer, a leading British scientist, and his friend Captain Francis Blake of MI5. Their work role involves detective investigation which often takes them into themes as time travel, mysterious pyramids and fight with mad professors who control weather.
The Yellow “M” is even considered as one of the best comic book of all time.

10. Cori le Moussaillon/ Cori The Young Sailor (by Bob de Moor) – located at Rue des Fabriques

Cori, the ship boy was created back in 1949 by Bob de Moor. The mural represents his adventurous voyage in the strong sea tides. In the topmost picture, Cori is waving from the top of the mast, ecstatic with joy.

11. Les rêves de Nick /Nick’s dreams (by Herman) – located at Rue des Fabriques

Hermann Huppen, a Belgian comic book artist created three comic series of Nick, a young imaginative dreamer (like me).
Drawn in the murals is Nick in red pajamas, floating in ecstasy between white clouds, surrounded by group of animals such as elephant, chimpanzee, giraffe, hippo, turtle, alligator and rodent.

12. Caroline Baldwin (by Taymans & Wesel) – located at Rue de la Poudrière

Caroline Baldwin is portrayed as a detective, created by Belgian author and draftsman André Taymans.
On the rectangular windows, there are snapshots representing a party, probably in Cuba. The lady in short black hair, black top, who is noticeably drawn in almost all windows is Caroline Baldwin.

13. Cubitus (by Dupa) – located at Rue de Flandre

Cubitus- a thick, fluffy, white dog whose outstanding qualities are intelligence and laziness, is a comic series by the Belgian draftsman Dupa. The murals represents Cubitus peeing from the same spot where “Manneken” used to pee. Probably, Manneken isn’t expecting a dog to be his replacement (Manneken, in blue color, is seen wondering with clouds above his head—of course this event has given him Urinary tract disorders!!)

14. Lucky Luke (by Morris) – located at Rue de la Buanderie

Lucky Luke is a notable work of Belgian comic artist Morris.
The comic series originates in American Old West and stars Lucky Luke- a gunslinger known as the “man who shoots faster than his shadow.” One of the most famous of the villains faced by Lucky Luke is the Dalton Brothers. There are four members (cousins) in the Dalton gang – Joe, Jack, William, and Averell. All four Daltons are depicted as identical, except for in height and intelligence; the eldest brother Joe being the shortest and smartest, and the youngest brother Averell being the tallest and dumbest.
Their story lines often begin with the gang escaping from prison, followed around by prison dog Rantanplan. The wall painting shows that the bank has been raided by the notorious Dalton brothers. Joe (the eldest) leads the way as usual. Averell, is seen carrying a ham. Atomium is also painted in between the mountains. Rantanplan, looks at the pot of red paint and the hero Lucky Luke is aiming his gun while holding paint brush.

15. Astérix & Obélix (by Goscinny et Uderzo) – located at Rue de la Buanderie

The duo- Asterix & Obelix are seen charging the Romans, along with their fellow villagers from Gaul, as they resist Roman occupation in 50 BC. It is one of the biggest murals painted in Brussels. Also, the Asterix series is one of the most popular Franco-Belgian comics in the world, which has been translated into 111 different languages and dialects.

16. Ric Hochet (by Tibet & Duchâteau) – located at Rue des Bons Secours

Ric Hochet, is a Franco-Belgian comics series created by Tibet (drawings) and André-Paul Duchâteau (scripts).
The murals represent Inspector Bourdon smoking pipe and looking astonishingly towards the roof, holding the leash of his dog (covered by the recently grown obnoxious weed). Ric Hochet, an athletic journalist is seen hanging from the edge of the roof, trying to save Nadine, who is being attacked by a mysterious grimy villain.

17. Victor Sackville (by Francis Carin)- located at Rue du Marché au Charbon

Victor Sackville, an elegant figure created by Francis Carin, is a spy in the service of His Majesty- the King of England, George V, during the First World War. The mural shows the town of Brussels. The scene comes from the very first album: The Zimmerman Code 1: Death at the opera.

18. Olivier Rameau (by Dany) – located at Rue du Chêne

Dany, pseudonym for Daniel Henrotin is a Belgian comic book artist, best known for creating a comic charater Olivier Rameau, a young notary clerk. In the mural, the cheerful young man who excitedly takes off his straw hat is Olivier, holding out his hand to Colombe Tiredaile, the stunning beauty in the short skirt, living in Rêverose, a world of dream and fantasy .
The other characters are – a man in the bowler hat known as Mr. Pertinent and the three men in gowns known as the Three Ice Lollies, who rule Aurora the capital of Rêverose where Colombe resides.

19. Le jeune Albert /The young Albert (by Chaland) – located at Rue des Alexiens

Yves Chaland was a French cartoonist and creator of Le jeune. Le jeune Albert, a naughty young boy as illustrated by Yves, is seen reading a book and waiting for yellow tram. Usually these trams can still be seen during the weekend on specific Brussels’ tram lines.

20. Blondin & Cirage (by Jijé) – located at Rue des Capucins

Joseph Gillain aka Jijé created Blondin and Cirage. Blondin, a white, blond-haired boy has a unique trait of problem-solving. Cirage is a crazy friend, yet equally clever. In the top mural, their pet (probably Marsupilami) tries to steal melons from the vendor, which he is seen enjoying eating in the bottom mural. The duo does not look satisfied about paying the bill of the stolen melons.

We aren’t even half-way as of now!

21. Odilon Verjus (by Laurent Verron and Yann le Pennetier)- located at Rue des Capucins

Laurent Verron, a French comic cartoonist is the creator of Odilon Verjus.
Odilon Verjus, portrayed as a missionary with long and dense white beard and large belly, is usually accompanied with his disciple Laurent de Boismenu (in Blue gown). The mural illustrates them helping a fascinating beautiful lady from the focus of a
unlucky leopard left behind from a circus show. The lady in white skirt is Josephine Baker, a cabaret singer indulged in secret love with Odilon.

22. Le petit Jojo (by Geerts) – located at Rue Piermans

Jojo, a seven-year-old boy is created by famous Belgian Cartoonist André Geerts.
The mural represents a happy theme of a young boy jumping on the bed, accompanied by his best friend Louis who is trying to stretch the hanging lamp.
On the lower level, his grandma is seen fixing the flower pot, with breakfast already served on the table.

23. La Patrouille des Castors /The scouts of the Beaver Patrol (by Mitacq) – located at Rue Blaes – Rue Piereman, 1000 Brussel

La Patrouille des Castors (The Beaver Patrol) is a series of Belgian comics drawn by MiTacq aka Michel Tacq and written by Jean-Michel Charlier. MiTacq was involved in Scouting for most of his life and came up with the idea of drawing boy scouts.
The Scout troop consist of five members – Poulain (the Patrol leader), Chat (the daredevil), Faucon (the intellectual), Tapir (MiTacq’s fav character) and Mouche (shy youngest scout). They all have the similar age group varying from 13-15 years. Painting blank walls is probably something which scouts are supposed to do each day. However, scouts of Beaver Patrol should save enough time for some heroic deeds they need to perform somewhere.

24. Le Chat (The Cat) (by Geluck) – located at Boulevard du Midi

Philippe Geluck is a Belgian comedian, humorist, cartoonist and creator of Le Chat (The Cat).
Le Chat is an adult, human-sized obese, anthropomorphic cat who typically wears a suit. He always carry the same physical expression. Depicting the construction progress, The Cat knows how to add Another Brick In The Wall! \m/

25. Quick & Flupke (by Hergé) – located at Rue Notre-Seigneur 19

Georges Prosper Remi, known by the pen name Hergé, best known for creating Tintin also created Quick and Flupke. The mural revolve around the lives of two misbehaving boys- Quick (in red cardigan) and Flupke (in green jacket), who live in Brussels, and the conflict that they get into with a local policeman. They have come up with a new batch of mortar for fixing the Wall (Vol.2).

26. Passe-moi le ciel /Pass me Heaven (by Stuff et Janry) – located at Rue des Minimes

Stéphane De Becker aka Stuf, is a Belgian cartoonist and created along with his friend Janry, a humorous cartoon series- Passe-moi l’ciel / Pass Me Heaven. The painting represents a parody of the Christian vision of life after death.

27. Titeuf (by Zep) – located at Boulevard Emile Bockstael

Philippe Chappuis (nickname Zep, derived from one of my fav band – Led Zepellin), a comics creator from Switzerland, known for his series Titeuf- an 8-year-old boy with a blonde cowlick.
On the comic strip mural, Titeuf is painted sitting on The Atomium in Brussels and checking unknown events in the convex mirror, which I’ve left for the readers to guess.

28. Debbie (by Martine (Marlier) – Avenue de la Reine, 1020 Laeken

Marcel Marlier was a Belgian artist and creator of Debbie. She and her dog Timmy is seen in a joyful posture, playing happily together on the murals.

29. Le Roi des mouches (Lord of the Flies) (by Mezzo) – located at Rue Stiernet,
1020 Laeken

Pascal Mesenburg, known as Mezzo, is a French comic strip author.
On the backdrop is Atomium and cages of King Kong, Minotaur and Yeti (a hairy, over-sized gorilla). A young boy in blue jersey with Batman logo, seems to have known Yeti and helped him escape the cage.

30. Lincoln (by Jouvray) – located at Rue des Palais Outre-Ponts , 1020 Laeken

Olivier Jouvray is a French comic book writer, best known for the series Lincoln, which he made with his brother Jerome. Lincoln, rendered as a young man, with the power of immortality gifted by God, is seen on the murals wearing a blue cowboy hat and ready to take down the mighty hulk who is rolling up his sleeves. Of course, he’s got supporters cheering up for him.

31. Le Petit Spirou / Young Spirou (by Janry) – located at Boulevard du Centenaire, 1020 Laeken

Le Petit Spirou (Young Spirou),a popular Belgian comic strip is created by Tome and Janry. Spirou was first written by French artist Rob-Vel, but was later taken over by others artists
Portrayed as a young, cheeky and energetic boy, Spirou (shown in red bellhop outfit) has a heart of gold.
The carousel on the comic strip mural at Bruparck is depicting Spirou’s maths teacher -Miss Claudia Chiffre (in red frock), his friend Antoine Vertignasse “Vert and his grandfather (in blue cardigan).

32. Gaston Lagaffe (by Franquin) – located at Rue de l’Écuyer

Brussels artist André Franquin, created Gaston Lagaffe (his surname means “the blunder”), a very lazy and accident-prone office junior. The murals portrayed him playing with his yo-yo from the window, which is bound to hit heavily a random passer-by on the head; the stars have red and blue hues.

33. Monsieur Jean (by Dupuy & Berberian) – located at Rue des Bogards

Philippe Dupuy and Charles Berbérian are French cartoonists most famous for their series of Franco-Belgian comics albums featuring the character Monsieur Jean. He is seen walking past the brasseries and gazing towards the restaurant.

34. FC De Kampioenen (by Hec Leemans) – located at Rue du Canal

Hector (Hec) Leemans is a Flemish cartoonist and creator of FC De Kampioenen.
FC herewith refers to a fictional football club but also a long-running Flemish sitcom. On the mural, the main characters are shown- the sponsor of football club and the owner of a sausage factory, Balthazar Boma (in the yellow jacket and moustache). Fernand Costermans, far left, hidden by the bushes, never mind. The lady with the short pink skirt and red-hair (top center) is Carmen- an extrovert gossipmonger, and the young father with the baby is Marc Vertongen.

35. Yoko Tsuno (by Roger Leloup) – located at Rue Terre Neuve

Yoko Tsuno, an electrical engineer and a competent woman of Japanese origin, is created by a Belgian comic strip artiest- Roger Leloup.
Drawn on the murals, Yoko flies around a satellite in the space (somewhat close to Saturn) probably for fixing major technical errors. Her miniature robot is backing her up.

36. XIII (by William Vance & Jean Van Hamme) – located at Rue Philippe de Champagne

William van Cutsem aka William Vance, was a Belgian comics artist, known for his realistic style and work in Franco-Belgian comics. XIII (Thirteen), is all about a man trained to be an assassin, suffering from amnesia and seeking answers to discover his past. The only link to his past is a tattoo of Roman numerals “XIII” on his collarbone. XIII series bears some resemblance to the modern day Jason Bourne series.

37. Corto Maltese (by Pratt) – located at Quai des Péniches

THE LARGEST MURALS IN BRUSSELS – CORTO MALTESE is around 80 m long. It revolves around the life of an adventurous sailor, waiting for his ship to arrive at an unknown island. It is created by the Italian comic book artist Hugo Pratt.

38. Natacha (by François Walthéry) – located at Rue Jan Bollen, 1020 Laeken

Natacha, portrayed by a Belgian comics artist François Walthéry, is a young and charming flight attendant. Usually accompanied with her colleague Walter, they are pictured coming out of an airplane, while Walter playing the role of her baggage handler. Of course, the crazy man is in love with the flight attendant.

39. Gil Jourdan (by Maurice Tillieux ) – located at Rue Léopold, 1020 Laeken

We see a yellow- vintage car racing towards us. The driver Gil Jourdan, is a Paris-based detective. On the passenger seat we find Andre Papignolles alias Libellule (French for “Dragonfly”), a former burglar and Jourdan’s right-hand. This comics series is created by Maurice Tillieux, a Belgian comic artist.

40. Kiekeboe (by Merho) – located at Avenue du Gros Tilleul, 1020 Laeken

De Kiekeboes debuted in the year 1977, is a comic strip series created by Belgian artist Merho.
The main characters as shown in the murals are – Marcel Kiekeboe, the man with the moustache behind the camera, his wife – Charlotte Kiekeboe (in red jacket), their son – Konstantinopel Kiekeboe who’d like to be an ace reporter, Fanny Kiekeboe, their daughter, around 20 years old playing with hula hoop. There are many other details one can notice such as rope way connection to the Atomium and a couple exiting from the World Exhibition icon.

41. Marsupilami (by Franquin) – located at Avenue Houba de Strooper, 1020 Laeken

Another masterpiece by André Franquin apart from Gaston is Marsupilami, a black-spotted yellow monkey-like creature with dog-like ears and an incredibly long, strong, flexible tail. Marsupilamie (Marsupilami’s wife ) and their little ones -Bibi, Bibu and Bobo are portrayed in the mural. At the bottom of the painting, we see a tiger wondering how Marsupilami has tightened the end of his tail into a fist.

42. Thorgal (by Grzegorz Rosinski & Jean Van Hamme) – located at Place Anneessens

Belgian writer Jean Van Hamme and Polish graphic artist Grzegorz Rosiński, created Polish-Belgian fantasy series Thorgal.

Thorgal – the courageous and skilled archer’s main mission is to find peace and solace on planet Earth and settle with his wife Aaricia. The series combines several genre such as drama, horror and adventure altogether.

43. Boule & Bill (by Roba) – located at Rue du Chevreuil

Boule and Bill is created by Belgian writer-artist Jean Roba.
The series relates the adventures of a young boy Boule, always dressed in a blue overalls and a yellow T-shirt & his slightly anthropomorphized dog Billy (a cocker spaniel breed). They are seen walking past the street happily with the toys around the town.

44. Spirou (by Yoann) – located at Rue Notre-Dame de Grâces

Another Spirou (in red attire) mural in the Comic strip Wall of Brussels.

Being chased by several villains, the murals illustrates the course of Spirou’s action of justice has definitely lead him to this troublesome scene. His friend Fantasio (journalist counterpart) and pet squirrel Spip seems to have nothing but escape plans.

45. Froud & Stouf (by F. Jannin & S. Liberski) – located at Boulevard Lemonnier

Froud and Stouf are two little blue dogs, who are full of philosophies about life, created by Frédéric Jannin (drawings) and Stéphane Liberski (scenario).
In order to find them, have a look at the first mural on the bottom right of the wall.

46. Jommeke (by Jef Nys) – located at Rue de la Chanterelle, 1020 Laeken

Jozef “Jef” Nys was a Belgian comic book creator, best known for his comic strip Jommeke, an 11 year old blonde-hair boy who lives with his parents in Zonnedorp. He owns a green, red-winged parrot Flip who accompanies him everywhere.
The mural depicts Jommeke and his friend Filiberke starting their crazy adventurous journey on a perfect day.

47. Benoît Brisefer (by Peyo) – located at Rue Haute

Benoît Brisefer is a blond-haired little boy, with exceptional physical abilities whose trademark outfit includes beret, blue scarf, red jacket and black shorts. Belgian artiest Pierre Culliford also known as Peyo has introduced one of the most famous comic character The Smurfs, including Johan et Pirlouit and Benoît Brisefer.

48. Léonard (by Bob de Groot and Turk) – located at Rue des Capucins

Belgian comic artists Bob de Groot and Turk, joined forces to promote Belgian comic series. Their notable works include Léonard, Colonel Clifton and Robin Dubois.

Léonard- a crazy inventor and self- proclaimed genius, is generally followed by his disciple Basile. The murals illustrates Léonard painting the beautiful Palais de Justice (Law Courts of Brussels). Looking on the painting are Raoul (the cat) and Basile. One of the comic series “The Genius Strikes Back” depicts the furious feud between Léonard and his arch-rival Albert Einstein, as both the genius inventors reside in the same town.

49. LGBTQ (by Ralf König) – located at Rue de la Chaufferette

Ralf König (German) & Fotini Tikkou (Greek) collaborated on this project showing light to LGBTQ community.

50. Kinky & Cosy (by Nix) – located at Rue des Bogards

Kinky & Cozy-the twin sisters is a Belgian comic series created by Nix and Bart Schoofs. They are seen raising the flag of peace, soon after turning the room upside down.

51. Parchis (by Peter Willems) – located at Parckfarm Tour & Taxis

Parchis represents the daily life of people – from playing in the park, romance in the garden, cycling, painting murals to aligning the pedestrian walkways, all is represented in the Comic strip mural.

52. Quick & Flupke (by Hergé)- located at Rue des Capucins / Rue Haute 191

The two sides of the wall – Quick and Flupke trying to hide from the police on the other side of the wall, obviously for the mischief they’ve done.

The city will never get old. Every year two to three new characters are added to the Comic Book route. Following the Comic Book trail to discover your favorite mural can really be both compelling and enjoyable.

This is a never ending process and I like it this way. What about you?

Pic credit: Google