Youri Jigounov

Youri Jigounov is a Russian comic book writer and artist, best known for his work on the long-running espionage series *XIII* and its spin-offs *Alpha*, *Alfa*, and *Agent Alpha*. Born in 1967, Jigounov came to prominence in the mid-1990s, with his earliest credited work appearing in 1996. He is recognized for a clean, dynamic line style that balances realistic figure work with expressive storytelling, often handling art, colors, and inks on his projects. His most significant collaboration has been with writer Jean Van Hamme, taking over the art on *XIII* after the series' original artist departed. Jigounov also co-created the *Alpha* subseries, which expanded the universe of *XIII* with a new protagonist. Over a career spanning more than two decades, he has been credited on 19 issues in our catalog, with his work collected in volumes such as *Collection Cabrio*. While he has not received major international awards, his steady, professional output has made him a key figure in European adventure comics. Jigounov remains active, with his later work continuing to refine the gritty, suspenseful tone of the *XIII* franchise.