Batem

Luc Collin, working under the pen name Batem, is a Belgian comics artist best known for carrying forward the visual legacy of the beloved jungle creature Marsupilami. He was born on 6 April 1960 in Kamina, then part of the Belgian Congo. Batem entered the comics field as the artistic successor to André Franquin on the *Marsupilami* series, a role he assumed in the late 1980s. Over a career spanning from 1987 to 2023, he has been credited as artist, inker, and writer on over 110 issues, with his most prominent work appearing in the *Marsupilami* titles, as well as the series *Spiralis* and its related collections. His style maintains the energetic, expressive linework and playful character design established by Franquin, while bringing his own sense of composition and storytelling to the franchise. Batem’s contributions have helped keep the Marsupilami a fixture in European comics, and his long tenure on the property has made him a key figure in its continued popularity. He has received recognition within the industry for his work, though specific awards are not detailed in available records. His legacy is that of a dedicated craftsman who took on a cherished character and made it his own over decades of consistent, high-quality work.