Krimson
Krimson | |
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Suske en Wiske: Het Rijmende Paard (1963). | |
Created by | Willy Vandersteen |
Krimson is a Flemish comic book character and the main
Debut
Krimson made his debut in the album "Het Rijmende Paard" ("The Rhyming Horse" (1962-1963), in which he appears as a cranky millionaire with his own private chauffeur who nearly runs
Krimson's physical appearance was based on a man, Henri Vinoelst, who often visited the manège where Vandersteen's daughter was a regular customer. Initially he resembled Vinoelst so much that the man complained about being misrepresented. As a result, Vandersteen was forced to make him less recognizable [2] by stylizing Vinoelst's features and giving Krimson a goatee.[3]
Krimson returned in "De Sissende Sampan" ("The Hissing
Biography and criminal record
Krimson was born in the fictional village Dievegem. He wanted to become a hero, but his father didn't support his dream, even when Krimson received his medical diploma. As a result, he decided to become the biggest criminal of all time.[5] We get an impression of what he may have looked like as a child in "De Zeven Schaken" (1995).[6]
Krimson runs a powerful and global criminal network. He employs many henchmen and has occasionally worked together with other recurring
Krimson favors world domination and has tried to gain it several times. In "De Kwaaie Kwieten" ("The Evil Weirdos") (1986) he attempts to gain all the
Krimson has resorted to enforcing
In some stories Krimson merely wants to enlarge his fortune. In "Amoris van Amoras" ("Amoris of Amoras") (1984) by building apartment buildings in the medieval city of Amoras and trying to make the local cathedral collapse to make space. Krimson bought the second biggest mountain of the Alps in "De Begeerde Berg" ("The Desired Mountain") (1995) and wants to blow off the top of the Mont Blanc in order to own the highest mountain in Europe. In "De Ongelooflijke Thomas" ("The Unbelievable Thomas") (2000) he wants to use the micro-energetica of children to make older people younger again. He tries to steal the copyright of Suske en Wiske in "De Verdwenen Verteller" ("The Disappeared Narrator") (2002). He tries to sell an atomic aeroplane to international governments in "Het Machtige Monument" ("The Mighty Monument") (2008).
Krimson is often arrested near the end of the story, but always manages to escape from jail. Sometimes he is able to flee before anyone can stop him, usually taunting Suske, Wiske and their friends during his fleight by yelling: "Krimson always wins!"
In one story, "De Zwarte Tulp" ("The Black Tulip") (2014) he becomes temporarily cured of his evilness by drinking a serum extracted from a white tulip. However, since Krimson feels so much remorse for his past he is unable to eat, drink or sleep anymore. Fearing for his health Suske, Wiske and Lambik travel back in time to 1637 to find a black tulip as an antidote. At the end of the story Krimson's butler Achiel refuses to balance the white and black tulip serums out and only feeds his master the black serum, making Krimson evil again.
Wealth
Krimson is rich enough to live in a mansion and have his own personal butler, Achiel, under his employ. He has access to helicopters and many other hi tech machinery. He dresses himself as a dandy: high hat, black coat and a cane.
Nervous breakdowns
Krimson is easily agitated or unnerved and takes pills to calm him down. They are usually provided by his trusty butler Achiel who is ordered to quickly bring him his daily dose of pills. Krimson swallows a wide variety of pills, often for contradictive means such as calming down as well as make him feel happier again.
Appearances in spin-off series
In
Appearances in other media
He was voiced by Wim Wama in the TV puppet series Suske en Wiske (1976). Contrary to his image in the comic books his puppet version acts more like a clumsy crook who constantly falls and trips over objects. He also operates alone, rather than with henchmen.[10]
In the 1994 musical adaptation "De Stralende Sterren" Krimson's part was played by Guido Naessens in the Flemish version and Hans Wellens in the Dutch version.[11]
In a card game based on Suske en Wiske, called "De Kaartendans", he fulfills the part of the joker.
Sources
- ^ Vandersteen, Willy, "Suske en Wiske: Het Rijmende Paard", Standaard Uitgeverij, 1963.
- ^ Van Hoeydonck, Peter, "Vandersteen: De Bruegel van het Beeldverhaal", Standaard Uitgeverij, 1994.
- ^ "Het rijmende paard".
- ^ Vandersteen, Willy, "Het Zoemende Ei", Standaard Uitgeverij, 1965.
- ^ This is revealed in the "Suske en Wiske" story "De Bloedbroeder" ("The Blood Brother"), Standaard Uitgeverij, (2013), where Krimson feels depressed and no longer wants to commit crimes. His butler Achiel acts as his shrink and Krimson confesses he had a miserable youth.
- ^ Vandersteen, Willy, "De Zeven Schaken", Standaard Uitgeverij, 1995.
- ^ The mad scientist Savantas made his debut in "De Sprietatoom" ("The Tiny Atom") (1947) and the witch De Zwarte Madam ("The Black Madame") in "De Zwarte Madam" (1947). They both make a pact with Krimson in the story "Amoris van Amoras" ("Amoris of Amoras") (1978), where they try to make the local cathedral collapse. In "De Verdwenen Verteller" ("The Disappeared Narrator") (2002) they and other recurring villains from the series try to kidnap Paul Geerts.
- ^ Rosarius was an antagonist from the spin-off series Jerom. In "De Kaduke Klonen", Standaard Uitgeverij (2005) he made his debut in Suske and Wiske, where he and Krimson try to clone an army of villains to take over the world.
- Wild West. In "De Efteling-elfjes" ("The Efteling Elves") (1977) he wants a huge diamond which crash landed in the Dutch theme park Efteling. In "Het Laatste Dwaallicht" ("The Last Will-o'-the-wisp") (1979) he attempts to rob Oberon's treasure, while in "De Regenboogprinses" ("The Rainbow Princess") (1981) he tries to do the same for the treasure of the Rainbow Princess in the Caribbean. In the non-canon story, "Sprookjesnacht aan Zee" ("Fairy Tale Night By Sea") (1983) Krimson seeks the golden eggs of a group of sand gnomes. Another non-canon story, "De Gouden Friet" ("The Golden French Frie") (1990), has him trying to steal the "golden French Frie". In "Tazuur en Tazijn" (1991) (????) In the non-canon story "Spruiten voor Sprotje" ("Sprouts for Sprotje") (1991) he tries to get a scientific formula. In "De Pronte Professor" ("The Neat Professor") (2006) he tries to get his hands on a DNA-scanner. A super juice to make trees grow is his obsession in "De Bosbollebozen" ("The Forest Know-it-alls").
- ^ "Het rijmende paard".
- ^ "Suske en Wiske de Musical".