The Return of the Iconic Gaston Lagaffe

Since childhood, Delaf has dreamed of making comics. After studying visual arts, he began his career in animation, working on storyboarding, inking, and layout for several animated series. He finally achieved his dream by creating Les Nombrils with Maryse Dubuc. This series offers a sharp satire of adolescence through the trio of Jenny and Vicky, two self-absorbed bullies, and Karine, their hapless target. First published in 2005 in the Quebec magazine Safarir before being picked up by the Belgian publisher Dupuis, it follows a format of single-page gags that gradually intertwine to form an ongoing storyline across the albums. With over 2.5 million copies sold, Les Nombrils, a true serialized phenomenon that has marked an entire generation of readers, now includes 8 volumes, two collected editions, and a spin-off series, Les Vacheries des Nombrils, with two volumes published. In 2022, Dupuis selected Delaf to take over Gaston Lagaff, the iconic character created by André Franquin, a true master of the ninth art and an undisputed genius of comics. For Delaf, it was a dream come true, as Gaston was the comic that first inspired him to draw. After four years of dedicated work, he delivered an album that remains true to the spirit and universe of the original series. This highly anticipated return became a huge bestseller, reaffirming the public’s deep attachment to Gaston. In 2025, another major project takes shape as Delaf collaborates with Lewis Trondheim and Joann Sfar to illustrate an album in the cult series Donjon.