Papyrus (comics)

"Papyrus" is a Belgian comic book series, written and illustrated by Lucien de Gieter. The story takes place in Ancient Egypt. It was first published in 1974 in the "Spirou" magazine in the form of episodes.

An animated series was created in 1998 that was two seasons long (52 episodes) and shown on TFOU TV in France and in Quebec on Radio-Canada. In 2000 a video game was made for Game Boy. The game was developed by Dupuis and published by Ubisoft.

Characters

The two main characters are:

*Papyrus: originally a young fisherman, is the hero of the comic, friend of the daughter of the Pharaoh, and possessor of a magic sword which was given to him by the daughter of the god Sobek; in exchange, he must protect the princess Théti-Chéri from all danger.
*Théti-Chéri: daughter of the pharaoh Merenptah, grand priestess of Isis, sacred dancer, and heiress to the throne of the Two Kingdoms.

Regular antagonists include:

*Phoetus: a small mummy.
*Pouin: a black dwarf.

Albums

Thirty albums have been published so far:
#"La Momie engloutie" (ISBN 2-8001-2721-X, ISBN 2-8001-0598-4 et ISBN 2-8001-2714-7)
#"Le Maître des trois portes"
#"Le Colosse sans visage"
#"Le Tombeau de Pharaon"
#"L'Égyptien blanc"
#"Les Quatre Doigts du Dieu Lune"
#"La Vengeance des Ramsès" (ISBN 2-8001-2727-9); English translation: "The Rameses Revenge" (ISBN 978-1905460359). The four colossi of the Temple of Rameses rise against bands of plunderers.
#"La Métamorphose d'Imhotep" (ISBN 2-8001-2728-7); English translation: "Imhotep's Transformation" (ISBN 978-1905460502): Papyrus must find an antidote for the poisoned Pharaoh while a friend plays the role of the ruler.
#"Les Larmes du géant" (ISBN 2-8001-2729-5): A Hittite princess arrives at court as a second wife for the Pharaoh, bringing with her the secret of iron. In the temple of Amonhotep III, plotters want to seize power for themselves and build invincible weapons, so they capture the Hittite princess as well as Théti.
#"La Pyramide noire" (ISBN 2-8001-2730-9): Papyrus takes an enchanted Théti to a mage who may be able to heal her.
#"Le Pharaon maudit"(ISBN 2-8001-2731-7): Théti and Papyrus fight against plunderers, six girls who call themselves Daughters of Akhenaton.
#"L'Obélisque": Amenope, the royal architect, and his assistant Imhotep, despite obstacles but with the help of Papyrus and Théti cut, transport, and erect an obelisk at Thebes.
#"Le Labyrinthe": Papyrus is named ambassador of Egypt by the King of Minos.
#"L'Île Cyclope" (ISBN 2-8001-2734-1): Théti goes to rejoin Papyrus in Crete with the mummy of the son of Minos. Papyrus sets off again, finally finding and rescuing the princess on a fantastic island.
#"L'Enfant hiéroglyphe": Imhotep, the successor of Amenope, is saved from a fire by Papyrus. The parchment that established the plans of Amenope for the new temple were saved. But the workers strike, and Imhotep is accused of sacrilege. Théti and Papyrus discover those responsible for the strike.
#"Le Seigneur des crocodiles" (ISBN 2-8001-2736-8): Captured by Libyan nomads, Papyrus and Théti escape into the desert where they meet a blind mage who asks Papyrus to give him his eyes.
#"Toutânkhamon, le Pharaon assassiné" (ISBN 2-8001-2737-6): Papyrus meets Ankhesenpaaton, the wife of Tutankhamen. He helps in the assassination of the Pharaoh and the intrigues that happen afterwards.
#"L'Œil de Rê" (ISBN 2-8001-2194-7): During the feast of Opet, Amenmes, one of the sons of Rameses II disputes the throne of the Pharaoh Merenptah.
#"Les Momies maléfiques" (ISBN 2-8001-2739-2): In the chambers of the temple of Montouhotep, ten bodies of archers of Seqenenre Taa II, dead in combat, are mummified in haste. Meanwhile, Théti's expedition enters the desert but forgets to render homage to Seth.
#"La Colère du grand sphinx" (ISBN 2-8001-2445-8 et ISBN 2-8001-2740-6): While searching for Théti, Papyrus angers the Great Sphinx.
#"Le Talisman de la grande pyramide" (ISBN 2-8001-2591-8): Wanting to discover the origin of the screams heard at the foot of the Great Pyramid each night, Papyrus angers the god Anubis.
#"La Prisonnière de Sekhmet" (ISBN 2-8001-2765-1): The goddess Sekhmet is upset: the ancient Great Priest of her temple has conceived a diabolical plan. The princess Théti, solely capable of calming this divinity, has disappeared.
#"Le Cheval de Troie" (ISBN 2-8001-2940-9): Papyrus and Théti arrive in Troy, ruined and occupied by thieves searching in vain for the treasure of King Priam.
#"La main pourpre" (ISBN 2-8001-3095-4): Papyrus and Théti find the "purple hand" in Tyre, along with victims of the leaders of the city.
#"Le Pharaon fou" (ISBN 2-8001-3229-9): After having escaped from the soldiers of Tyre, Papyrus and Théti find that Pouin has become the king of Dor. After having convinced him to return to Egypt, Papyrus meets curious character named Moses who is leaving Egypt with his tribe.
#"Le Masque d'Horus" (ISBN 2-8001-3354-6): The queen sends Papyrus on a secret mission: to find Théti's younger brother, who was taken by the priests of the temple of Kom Ombo.
#"La Fureur des Dieux" (ISBN 2-8001-2721-X): Rameses II the younger hunts a bull in the company of his father, Sethi I.
#"Les Enfants d'Isis": Papyrus and Théti embrace under the regard of the gods, while Seth swears to avenge himself.
#"L'Île de la reine morte"
#"L'Oracle"

External Links

* [http://www.egypteinedite.be/ Papyrus site by Lucien de Gieter and Jean-Pol Schrauwen]
* [http://papyrus.kidcomics.com/ Official site of the Papyrus animation]
* [http://cinebook.com/ Publisher of the English translation]