When comics created weekly suspense

Comics are considered to have been born in the 19th century, from varied premises: illustrated stories, Epinal images, precise narratives with images and texts (Rodolphe Töppler), introduction of speech bubbles (Winor Mc Cay) at the very beginning of the 20th century... But we want to insist here, in the duanju spirit which is ours, on a particular dimension of this creation: the tendency which was hers to divide her story, which she would entrust to periodic supports responsible for gradually delivering the story in its entirety, before it was published in a complete album!

This type of publication aimed at young people began in the 1930s (Le Journal de Mickey , 1938) but especially after the Second World War with the launch of the weeklies Spirou (where Lucky Luke appeared, alongside many others!) and Le journal de Tintin (with, of course, each week, an episode of the adventures of the young reporter!). Later came Pilote (where the adventures of Asterix the Gaul, who was to acquire worldwide fame, appeared week after week!) And I can't name any other memorable comic strips that adorned these unforgettable newspapers every week!

This weekly division explains why, often, the bottom of the page where the mythical story to follow appears highlights an element of suspense or anxiety aimed at motivating the reader for the next issue of the newspaper!

As for manga, we should note the Weekly Shōnen Jump , presenting each week (the original Japanese version was weekly as the title indicates here) series intended to appear later in albums (including the famous Dragon Ball !)

Naturally, the emergence of digital formats has led to fundamental changes in this editorial system. We will have to come back to this!

Asterix & Obelix in the magazine Pilote, July 17, 1965.

Tanguy and Laverdure (aviation comic) and Lieutenant Blueberry (western comic) on the bottom of the page in Pilote magazine. With "TO BE CONTINUED" !

Cover of Le Journal de Mickey (October 1, 1959). Example of a single-page comic strip: "Lancelot and Princess Liselotte," with the mention "TO BE CONTINUED" at the bottom.

Article written by Jean-Marie Sanjorge

#JeanMarieSanjorge

Please note: Disney invested in a duanju platform "Dramabox" in July 2025. Read the article