Thorgal

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Thorgal is a popular Franco-Belgian fantasy adventure comic created by writer Jean Van Hamme and artist Grzegorz Rosiński. It began in 1977 and blends Norse mythology, Atlantis, science fiction, and horror. The stories first appeared in Tintin magazine and were collected as graphic novels by Le Lombard. Rosinski draws all the covers, including for spin-offs. The series has been translated into many languages and sold over 11 million copies, making it one of Lombard’s most popular titles.

Plot in brief: During a Viking voyage, Leif Haraldson finds a newborn baby in a mysterious capsule and names him Thorgal Aegirs-son, raising him as his own. On his sixth birthday, Thorgal receives a jewel from the capsule, setting him on adventures and linking his fate with Aaricia, his future wife. When Thorgal is twelve, an old wise man reveals that he is one of the last survivors from a space-faring people with advanced powers, though the memory of this encounter is erased to let him grow up as a “normal” Viking. As he grows up, Thorgal is often treated as an outsider. After Leif’s death, Gandalf the Mad becomes his rival and plots to kill him, while Aaricia proves to be a resourceful ally. The first album jumps ahead to Thorgal as an adult; the narratives unfold in long story arcs and many stand-alone adventures.

Creations and editions: The 29th volume, The Sacrifice, was the final one written by Van Hamme. Afterward, Yves Sente wrote many later albums, initially focusing on Jolan. Over the years, other writers and artists have contributed, and from 2023 a new line of stories set in the Thorgal universe appears, created outside the main canon by different creators.

English-language publication: In the US, Donning published the early titles; in the UK, Cinebook released the main series in print up to volume 24 and later, Europe Comics releases the main series and spin-offs digitally. Since 2019, Europe Comics (with Cinebook and others) has released the main series digitally, and volumes 22 onward have often appeared digitally before print.