Peyo

Pierre Culliford, who published under the name Peyo, was born on 25 June 1928 in Belgium and died on 24 December 1992. He spent his career as both writer and artist, accumulating credits across more than 400 issues spanning work from 1954 onward, with his contributions appearing in publications such as Spirou and Pif Gadget among others.

Peyo is best remembered for two interconnected series: Johan and Peewit, a medieval adventure strip following a young page and his quick-witted companion, and The Smurfs, the small blue creatures who first appeared within the pages of that very series before growing into a phenomenon of their own. The Smurfs — known in French as Les Schtroumpfs and in German as Die Schlümpfe — eventually eclipsed nearly everything else in popular recognition, spawning animated adaptations and merchandise that reached audiences far beyond the original comics readership.

His draftsmanship was characterized by expressive, rounded character design and a light comedic sensibility that translated naturally across languages and cultures, as reflected in the many international editions of his titles. Working primarily within the Belgian Franco-Belgian comics tradition, Peyo built a body of work that balanced gentle humor with accessible storytelling. His creations have remained in continuous publication well past his death, a testament to their enduring appeal across generations of readers.