Pierre Fournier, front cover, Les Aventures du Capitaine Kébec No. 1, July- Sept. 1973 Copyright/Source

CAPITAINE KÉBEC

Les Aventures du Capitaine Kébec No. 1 (1973); L'Illustré No. 8 (Sept. 1974), two pages; Titanic Nos. 5-7 (March–May 1984).

Pierre Fournier (all issues and stories except one-page story in L'Illustré No. 8), with assistance from Francoise Barrette (No. 1), Dan May (No. 1), Réal Godbout (No. 1 and Titanic Nos. 5-7), and Gilles Desjardins (Titanic Nos. 5-7). Fernand Choquette (L'Illustré No. 8 [one-page story]).

Capitaine Kébec grew out of the activities of L'Hydrocéphale entêté, a group of young Montreal comics creators active in the early 1970s. Assisted by a federal Opportunities for Youth grant, Hydrocéphale embarked in 1973 on an ambitious series of projects, including two magazines, an artists' cooperative (Les Petits Dessins), and a Quebec comic-art exhibition. One of the two magazines issued by Les Éditions de L'Hydrocéphale entêté was Quebec's first national superhero comic, Les Aventures du Capitaine Kébec, which appeared in the fall of 1973. Although a number of different artists and writers assisted with the production of Capitaine Kébec, the chief creator was Pierre Fournier. Like Captain Canada's creators, Evans and Berneche (the latter was a friend of Fournier's), Fournier utilized his character both to spoof the U.S. superhero genre and to poke fun at his own society. Unlike Captain Canada, however, Capitaine Kébec was not preceded by a number of serious superheroes from Quebec.

Powers mysteriously arrived after a little communing with nature, some drugs, and some meditation. It is revealed in the third adventure that there have been several different Kébecs since the 1920s.

First main adventure: n/a. At end of third adventure, a TV journalist named Josée

Pierre Fournier, Les Aventures du Capitaine Kébec No. 1, p. 5, July- Sept., 1973 Copyright/Source

Welder's safety goggles, aviator's helmet, Saint-Jean-Baptiste sweater, sneakers, a watch without hands and a towel for a cape

Super-strength, super-speed, and the ability to fly.

Montreal

Christopher Lastile (Les Aventures du Capitaine Kébec No. 1)

Pierre Fournier, back cover, L'Illustré No. 8, September 1974 Copyright/Source

1. FROGUEMAN (Les Aventures du Capitaine Kébec No. 1, one page of L'Illustré No. 8) As he flies over Montreal, Capitaine Kébec (whose only true fan is an anglo boy, Christopher Lastile) is hit by a blast of pea soup. Kébec discovers that he has been attacked by a super-villain, Frogueman, who is armed with a pea-soup gun! As Kébec and Frogueman battle, Christopher (who has spotted his hero), the police, and a mysterious tycoon-type in a wheelchair all race to the scene from different directions. It turns out that Frogueman is an ex-cop who is dismayed by the new generation's lack of respect for authority. Just as Frogueman is about to destroy Kébec, his gun jams and Christopher is able to lead his injured hero away to safety. However, the mysterious stranger intervenes, convincing Christopher to hand over the unconscious Kébec...

2. CAPTAIN HADDOCK (one-page story, L'Illustré No. 8) Kébec enters a bar, where he is challenged by a patron. Kébec confronts the sailor and then realizes that the patron is none other than Captain Haddock (Tintin). As Kébec expresses his admiration for Haddock and his comic-strip adventures, he confuses Tintin and Astérix and so infuriates Haddock that the latter knocks Kébec through the front window of the bar!

2. DR. BÉBITTE (Titanic Nos. 5-7) Josée of the TV programme Profil has committed herself to preparing a profile of Kébec. However, as her deadline fast approaches, she is unable to contact Kébec or to find out anything definite about him, although she does unearth information suggesting that there has been a long line of Capitaine Kébecs since the 1920s. Realizing that her career is on the line, she pleads with various male friends to masquerade as Kébec on Profil. Initially they refuse, so she decides to show up at the studio herself dressed as Kébec.

Pierre Fournier, Titanic No. 7, p. 39, May 1984 Copyright/Source

Meanwhile, her friends reconsider her request, and each one decides to appear at the TV studio in his own version of the Kébec costume. In the confusion that ensues, Josée slips out of the station. Unbeknownst to her, she is being watched by the real Kébec and by a menacing robot (controlled by the super-villain Bébitte). After the robot kidnaps Josée, Kébec rescues her but is injured in the melee, so Josée takes him back to her apartment to nurse him.

Pierre Fournier, front cover, Titanic No. 7, May 1984 Copyright/Source

As the villainous Bébitte threatens to take over the world, Kébec forces Josée to don the Kébec costume and assume her place in the long line of Capitaine Kébecs. After Kébec pushes her out of a window, Josée is shocked to find that she has somehow acquired super-powers. Racing to the TV station from which Bébitte is broadcasting, Josée sneaks into the station and then does battle with Bébitte and his army of robots. Bébitte retreats, leaving behind a time bomb. Josée throws the bomb from the building and it lands on Bébitte. Josée returns to her apartment, where she finds a note from Kébec indicating that she is now Capitaine Kébec!