Bert (comics)

Bert
Publication information
Publisher	Humo (Belgium). Published by Loempia, Kritak, De Bezige Bij and Standaard Uitgeverij.
First appearance	November 3, 1977
Created by	Kamagurka
In-story information
Full name	Bert Vanderslagmulders.
Team affiliations	Bobje the dog.

Bert is a Belgian comic strip, written and drawn by Kamagurka, which appeared exclusively in the Flemish magazine HUMO since 1977. The cartoons have also been published in the Dutch magazine Vrij Nederland, the French magazine Charlie Hebdo and the US magazine RAW. The series' protagonist, Bert, is Kamagurka's most recognizable character.

Bert is a middle-aged bespectacled man with a long nose who always wears a sweater and long trousers. His full name is Vanderslagmulders, but is seldom used in the series. He is a flat character, but does demonstrate absurd behaviour. In many cartoons he is giving absurd monologues, often with misanthropic comments.

In the early 1990s Bert received his own pet dog: Bobje ("Little Bob"). Bobje is an anthropomorphic dog with a human face. He is often seen walking on two feet or doing things only humans can. Despite all that he is unable to talk and still treats Bert as his master.

Bert made his debut on November 3, 1977 in the magazine Humo. Originally the series was named Van Maerlantstraat 23, which was Kamagurka's home address at the time. During the late 1970s the comic sometimes was several pages long, but later it because a one-page gag-a-day comic.

Bert is one of Humo's mascots and therefore often used on magazine covers or other related merchandising. He was seen in animated form in the opening titles of Kamagurka and Herr Seele's TV sketch show Lava (1989). During the annual Rock Werchter rock festival in Werchter, Belgium, when weather allowed it, a meters high inflatable doll of Bert and Bobje was inflated during several of the festival's editions.

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