Jacques Van Melkebeke

Jacques Van Melkebeke was a Belgian painter, journalist, and writer who played a quiet but influential role in the early days of European comics. Born on 12 December 1904, he was a close friend of Hergé and contributed informally to the development of *The Adventures of Tintin*, enriching several storylines with cultural references. He also served as the first chief editor of *Tintin* magazine, though much of his script and article work for the publication was done anonymously. Van Melkebeke is sometimes linked to the *Blake and Mortimer* series, with his personality said to have inspired the character Philip Angus Mortimer—though co-creator Edgar P. Jacobs disputed any direct involvement. His credited writing spans 17 issues, most notably across various international editions of *Tintin* and the series *Corentin*. Van Melkebeke died on 8 June 1983. While his contributions were often behind the scenes, his early editorial leadership and creative input helped shape two of the most celebrated Franco-Belgian comic franchises.