We’re sorry to report the death of award-winning French comic artist Clément Oubrerie, who died aged just 59, on 1st March.
Clément Oubrerie, described by comic archivist Paul Gravett as “brilliant” and by graphic novelist Jordan Mechner as “a wonderful artist and joyful spirit“, was born in Paris in 1966, first studying the fine arts in Grenoble before leaving for the United States, where he spent two years and published his first children’s books, and serving jail time in New Mexico, for working without papers
Returning to France, his creative streak continued, with his illustrating dozens of books over the ensuing years, including the award-winning Les Mille mots de l’info with publisher Gallimard.
His transition toward comics and graphic novels came gradually, with Oubrerie making his mark in 2005 with the first volume of the series Aya de Yopougon, (“Aya of Yop City”), co-created with his then-wife Marguerite Abouet, published by Gallimard.
The original albums, inspired on the author’s life in the Ivory Coast, published in French have also been translated into English and published by Drawn & Quarterly, and also in 15 other languages.
The first two books have been adapted into an animated film of the same title, released in 2013. The eighth story was published in 2023.
Over the years, Oubrerie, also co-founder of the 3-D animation studio Station OMD and a drummer in a funk band in his spare time, accumulated a number of landmark titles, ranging from collaborations with Joann Sfar to, more recently, a series of biographical titles created alongside Julie Birmant.
He also illustrated the Northern Lights – The Graphic Novel by Philip Pullman, published in 2017, adapted by Stéphane Melchior and first published in French.
Their four-part series Pablo (published in French by Dargaud and in English by SelfMadeHero), recounting Picasso’s youth, and Isadora (Dargaud/SelfMadeHero) which tells the incredible story of American dancer Isadora Duncan, have become major references in the genre.
Most recently, the pair published the adventure series Renée Stone (Dargaud, published by Europe Comics in English), which follows a young British writer as she travels to Ethiopia in 1930.
Our sympathies to family and friends at this time.
Clément Oubrerie, 23rd December 1966 – 1st March 2026
Head downthetubes for…
• Clément Oubrerie: Europe Comics Profile
• Clément Oubrerie: Official Blog
• Real Ayade Yopougon Facebook Page
• Aya de Yopougon – French Editions (AmazonUK Affiliate Link)
• Aya de Yopougon – English Editions (AmazonUK Affiliate Link)
- About the Author
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
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