Blutch

Blutch, born Christian Hincker in 1967 in Strasbourg, is a cartoonist, illustrator and scriptwriter. He was discovered during a competition organised by the monthly magazine Fluide Glacial, with which he subsequently worked for several years. His caustic humour, his predilection for words and his graphic style give him a very contemporary slant on life, anchoring him in reality and in his little adventures. He is the scriptwriter of a recent animated film, Peur(s) du Noir (Fear(s) of the Dark), and has just published a work, La Beauté, a collection of beautiful images, this time without words, with Editions Futuropolis. He was also the president of the Grand Jury at the Angouleme Festival in 2008.

Earliest memories
I remember rubber boots red with the earth that stuck to them, in the countryside, where I grew up. I also dreamt of a pair of cowboy boots with spurs. The spurs were very important.They gave an image of virility and authority.

First feelings
As an adolescent I didn’t have any boots. I wore moccasins. Boots were intimidating. They made a noise when you walked through the school corridors. You have to be able to carry that off. A boot is not an anodyne thing.

Last wishes
The ‘shoe makes the man’. If I were President of the Republic, I would issue a decree that made boot-wearing compulsory for women.