René Follet

René Follet (10 April 1931 – 13 March 2020), also known by the pen name Ref, was a Belgian illustrator and comics artist whose career spanned more than six decades. He is best remembered for his clean, expressive ligne claire style and his work on adventure series such as *Ikar*, *Steven Severijn*, and *Stany Derval*. Follet began his professional path in the 1950s, contributing to magazines like *Eppo* and *Collection Cabrio*, and later took over the art on *Les aventures de Jean Valhardi*, a long-running series originally created by Jean-Michel Charlier. He collaborated closely with writers such as Yves Duval and Jacques Stoquart, bringing a meticulous, atmospheric touch to their scripts. Among his notable co-creations is the series *Ikar*, which he both wrote and illustrated. Follet worked steadily through the late 20th century, with credits as artist, colorist, inker, and letterer on 32 issues in our catalog, active from 1953 to 2017. His later years saw continued recognition for his contributions to European comics, though he never sought the spotlight. Follet passed away in 2020 at age 88, leaving behind a body of work admired for its craftsmanship and quiet storytelling power.