With his friends Pingo, Pelle and Old Salt, Petzi always goes out to sea again. Every time they do, they make new friends across the oceans, in foreign countries. Funny and fairy-like, full of ideas and surprises.
Petzi’s real name is Rasmus Klump, and he’s Danish. His friends Pelle, Pingo and Old Salt, are originally known as Pelle, Pingo and Skaeg. His parents are Wilhelm and Carla Hansen. They started drawing him in 1951, that year Petzi first appeared in a Danish newspaper. That’s where this success story began. The first album of Petzi, ‘Petzi builds a ship’ (Rasmus Klump bygger skib) came out in 1952 and after that, 35 other albums followed. Arguably, the first albums are the best, with the last becoming less imaginative and less rich in ideas.
But still, Petzi is an extraordinary and charming comic, without the big, dramatic effects. He is liked very much by the children, who love the big, clear pictures.
History
In their first adventure, Petzi and his friend build a ship. They name it ‘Mary’ and they sail across the oceans. With Petzi behind the wheel they have many adventures, but always come back home for some pancakes.
They love making new friends in strange, foreign countries, but they love to come home and eat pancakes as much as making friends.
Petzi is loved all over the world. It’s one of the most successful children’s comic in the world. It has been translated in several European and Asian languages. Although there are only 36 ‘original’ albums, new ones are also made, all still in the style of Wilhelm and Carla Hansen. There was even an animated film series made in the 1970’s, but that was not of great quality. In 1996 a new series was made by Danish en German TV-networks
Wilhelm & Carla Hansen
Wilhelm Hansen was born in 1900, he made a living as an advertising artist from 1917-39. In the 1940’s he began to illustrate stories written by his wife Carla Hansen (born 1906). He also created a weekly comic strip Firlingerne (the Quadruplets), before making his biggest success: Petzi. Also bases on stories written by Carla. The daily strips they produced were used as a base for the albums. They kept doing so until the mid 1960’s. Then came new artists, writing and drawing the Petzi albums, like Tove Norgaard, Ole Munk Rasmussen and Paul Arne Kring. Now the series is drawn by a Swedish artist, called Harald Suneson.
International names
Because Petzi was translated into lots of different languages, lots of countries have their own names for the main characters. We know a few and those are below.
| countries | names | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denmark | Rasmus Klump | Pelle | Pingo | Skaeg |
| England | Petzi | Pelle | Pingo | Old Salt |
| Finland | Rasmus Nalle | Pelle | Pingo | Kalle |
| France | Petzi | Riki | Pingo | l’Amiral |
| Germany | Petzi | Pelle | Pingo | Seebär |
| Iceland | Rasmus Klumper | – | – | – |
| Italia | Petzi | Pelle | Pingo | Otario |
| Netherlands | Pol | Pel | Pingo | Admiraal |
| Norway | Bamse Bjørn | – | – | – |
| Portugal | Petzi | Riki | Pingo | Almirante |
| Spain | Pechi | – | – | – |
| Sweden | Rasmus Nalle | Pelle | Pingo | Sälle |
Albums
Now follow the 36 albums, all with the original titel.
1. Rasmus Klump bygger Skib
2. Rasmus Klump møder Ursula
3. Rasmus Klump Troeffer Mutter Ansjos
4. Rasmus Klump i Syvsoverland
5. Rasmus Klump i Pyramiderne
6. Rasmus Klump på Skildpaddeøen
7. Rasmus Klump på Nordpolen
8. Rasmus Klump som Bjergbestiger
9. Rasmus Klump på Landet
10. Rasmus Klump høster
11. Rasmus Klump jorden rundt
12. Rasmus Klump som Dykker
13. Rasmus Klump på Robinson Crusoe’s
14. Rasmus Klump i Pingonesien
15. Rasmus Klump på Jagt efter en Møjsengøjser
16. Rasmus Klump på Skattejagt
17. Rasmus Klump bliver Konge
18. Rasmus Klump sjov på Slottet
19. Rasmus Klump i Aladdins Hule
20. Rasmus Klump i undervandsbåd
21. Rasmus Klump og Futkarl
22. Rasmus Klump og Hans Lillebror
23. Rasmus Klump i Fortidsland
24. Rasmus Klump kapsejlads i Fortidsland
25. Rasmus Klump i Troldeskoven
26. Rasmus Klump i høj Sø
27. Rasmus Klump blandt Hattesvingere
28. Rasmus Klump til Fødselsdagssjov
29. Rasmus Klump på Flodtur
30. Rasmus Klump får brev fra Bedstafar
31. Rasmus Klump bygger Radiostation
32. Rasmus Klump møder Tik Tak og andre Venner
33. Rasmus Klump i Vangskeligheder
34. Rasmus Klump klarer en Raevestreg
35. Rasmus Klump har fart på
36. Rasmus Klump i Spøgelseshuset