De Rode Ridder

The series are characterized by subseries and stand alone albums (i.e. depicting a story which are not related to any other album as they do not impact the story line or are mentioned in other albums).

The first twelve albums give a general impression of Johan. He mostly wanders around in medieval Flanders as a lonely noble knight. A common theme in these albums is the investigation of believed-to-be supernatural things and events (1:The Broken Sword, 3:The Bog Ghost, #8:The Golden Sickle,#9:The Dragon of Moerdal, #11:The Silver Eagle, #12:The Horn of Horak). Johan investigates these things and comes to the conclusion that these are merely tricks, used to mislead and frighten people. In a few albums he travels around the world (#4:The Pearl of Bagdad (Iraq), #6:The Weapon of Rihei (Japan), #7: The Fall of Angkor (Cambodia). A common theme of these albums is the fascination of Johan for exotic cultures and his strong opposition to slavery. The chronology of the events in the series do not fit the chronology of real world events.{{Cite web |date=6 October 2020 |title=De Rode Ridder - Welkom |url=https://www.roderidder.net/nl/ |website=roderidder.net |language=nl}}

The Red Knight was originally conceived by Leopold Vermeiren as the main character in his short stories in 1946. Willy Vandersteen (most famous for his Spike and Suzy series), in cooperation with Leopold Vermeiren and Karel Verschuere, wrote the first comic in 1959. Verschuere was replaced with Frank Sels in 1963. Until Parcifal (album 43), Willy Vandersteen drew and wrote the story.

In 1966 the comic was declining in popularity, and Willy Vandersteen considered ending it. The remaining fans protested, however, and it was decided to continue the comic, written by Karel Biddeloo, who took the comic less in the direction of 'knightly tales' and more in the direction of fantasy and science fiction and more action, much to the displeasure of Vandersteen{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}}. Still, the comic remained popular. In 2004, after the 206th album, Biddeloo died, and was replaced with the team of the Dutch writer Martin Lodewijk and the German artist Claus D. Scholtz.

From the album De Grot van de Beer (The Cave of the Bear, album 207) onwards, the comic book is made by Claus Scholz (artist) and Martin Lodewijk (scenarist). The style of the series was completely revamped, in that the series obtained a more medieval character again, and Scholz has a different drawing style than Biddeloo. Martin Lodewijk wrote stories for De Rode Ridder until 2012, with album 235th being his last.

===Claus Scholz and Marc Legendre (236-245)===

While Martin Lodewijk left in 2012, Marc Legendre replaced Martin Lodewijk in 2013 as a new writer for De Rode Ridder. Marc Legendre made his debut with album 238, The Ordeal. Marc and Claus had several works together with 245, The Kidrobbers being their last one.

Peter van Gucht joined De Rode Ridder in 2016, with his first one being 248, The Dragon of Death followed by 249, The Satanic Fruit. After this comic, the whole comic regained an update with comic 250.

===Marc Legendre and Fabio Bono (250-)===

Marc Legendre returned at comic 250 with The Chosen One together with Italians Fabio Bono, who became the new drawer for De Rode Ridder after Claus Scholz's retirement and colorist Dimitri Fogolin.{{Cite web |date=27 October 2023 |title=DE RODE RIDDER REEKSOVERZICHT STRIPBOEKEN |url=https://www.stripweb.be/R-titels-de-rode-ridder.asp |website=stripweb.be |language=nl}}

File:De Rode Ridder-comics character.svg

Johan is the main character of the album, appearing in every single album. Johan's character embodies the chivalric ideal. He is brave to the point of intrepid, virtuous, loyal and an expert swordsman. Most of the albums portray him as a travelling knight, owning nothing except his horse and his equipment. Often he will enter a community under threat by evil. This can be mundane (bandits, barbarian tribes or ruthless noblemen) or magical (evil sorcerers, monstrous races or old curses). Sometimes these present straight out fights, while at other times, Johan has to investigate to find his foe. In the end, Johan and the forces of good are usually triumphant.

His travels have brought him far as well. Egypt, South America, China and even outer space have been the background for Johan's heroics. Chronological accuracy is not much of a concern, Johan having encountered King Arthur from the Dark Ages, as well as having fought in the Battle of the Golden Spurs in 1302.

While generally acting as a lonely knight, Johan has - on occasions - settled down. For a while, together with Lancelot, he was one of the Knights of the Round Table serving under King Arthur, until the king's death in De laatste droom (one of Vandersteen's final comics in this series). Later on, King Arthur would be 'revived' by Biddeloo. Also, Johan stayed at the Castle of Horst for a while, which served as his 'birthplace' and changed the meaning of "Rode" completely, as Johan turned out to be a member of the family of the Lords of Rode, which gave his name a dual meaning, the Red Knight and the Rode Knight, as in the Knight from Rode.

File:Horst_Castle1.jpg]]

One recurring character is Bahaal, the Prince of Darkness. An evil creature, initially mortal and slain by King Arthur, he returned as a demonic nemesis. Often, Johan's magic-using antagonists are revealed to be working for him. Galaxa, the Faerie of Light is a benevolent creature first seen in De toverspiegel. In this comic, Johan fell in love with her, but because of Bahaal's actions she can no longer stay in the real world for longer than a few moments. Demonia is Bahaal's henchwoman. Beautiful and malicious, she regularly clashes with Johan. Still, some romantic tension has been suggested between the two.

Another important, recurring character, is Galaxa. She is the polar opposite of Bahaal, and an extremely powerful, good faerie (although it's often been hinted that she is an angel or even a goddess). She has saved Johan's life more than once and is generally considered to be the big good of the series, however due to Bahaal's actions, the time she can spend on earth is rather limited. Galaxa has a wide array of magical powers, including teleportation, shapeshifting, pyrokinesis, aerokinesis and many more. When it comes to a confrontation with Bahaal, she nearly always wins. In one issue, she even does away with him by summoning Satan himself. Her looks were inspired by Austrian actress Senta Berger.{{Cite web |date=6 September 2022 |title=Galaxa uit De Rode Ridder krijgt vanaf vandaag eigen stripreeks: Antwerpse scenarist maakt er geen "flauwe trees" van |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2022/09/06/galaxa/ |website=VRT.be |language=nl}}

A camp parody of the Red Knight, the Pink Knight, appeared in the Flemish TV comedy series Buiten De Zone.

Cartoonist Jeroom drew a parody of "De Rode Ridder" called "Ridder Bauknecht".

A statue in Middelkerke, Belgium was erected in 2010.{{Cite web |date=17 September 2023 |title=De Rode Ridder |url=https://www.middelkerke.be/nl/toerisme/zien-en-doen/kids/de-stripgemeente-van-de-kust/bronzen-stripstandbeelden/de-rode-ridder |website=middelkerke.be |language=nl}}

Numbers 1–43 are by Willy Vandersteen. Numbers 44-206 by Karel Biddeloo. Numbers 207-249 are by Claus Scholz. And Fabio Bono started the series from number 250. Years stated are for their initial album release.

Source:{{Cite web |date=23 December 2023 |title=DE RODE RIDDER REEKSOVERZICHT STRIPBOEKEN |url=https://www.stripweb.be/R-titels-de-rode-ridder.asp |website=stripweb.be |language=nl}}

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

1. {{proper name|Het gebroken zwaard}} (1959)
2. {{proper name|De gouden sporen}} (1960)
3. {{proper name|Het veenspook}} (1960)
4. {{proper name|De parel van Bagdad}} (1960)
5. {{proper name|De vrijschutter}} (1960)
6. {{proper name|Het wapen van Rihei}} (1961)
7. {{proper name|De val van Angkor}} (1961)
8. {{proper name|De gouden sikkel}} (1961)
9. {{proper name|De draak van Moerdal}} (1961)
10. {{proper name|Storm over Damme}} (1962)
11. {{proper name|De zilveren adelaar}} (1962)
12. {{proper name|De hoorn van Horak}} (1962)
13. {{proper name|De vuurgeest}} (1963)
14. {{proper name|De galmende kinkhoorns}} (1963)
15. {{proper name|De zwarte wolvin}} (1963)
16. {{proper name|Baloch de reus}} (1963)
17. {{proper name|De zeekoning}} (1963)
18. {{proper name|De witte tempel}} (1964)
19. {{proper name|Koning Arthur}} (1964)
20. {{proper name|Kerwyn de magiër}} (1964)
21. {{proper name|De wilde horde}} (1964)
22. {{proper name|De ring van Merlijn}} (1964)
23. {{proper name|Hugon de hofnar}} (1965)
24. {{proper name|De zwarte banier}} (1965)
25. {{proper name|Het rijk van Enid}} (1965)
26. {{proper name|De kroon van Deirdre}} (1965)
27. {{proper name|Het graf van Ronjar}} (1965)
28. {{proper name|De maansteen}} (1966)
29. {{proper name|De zwaneburcht}} (1966)
30. {{proper name|Mysterie te Camelot }}(1966)
31. {{proper name|De groene mummie}} (1966)
32. {{proper name|Angst over Nevelland}} (1967)
33. {{proper name|Het beleg van Crowstone}} (1967)
34. {{proper name|De stenen beelden}} (1967)
35. {{proper name|Het derde wapen}} (1967)
36. {{proper name|De zwarte roos}} (1968)
37. {{proper name|De wilde jacht}} (1968)
38. {{proper name|De verzonken klok}} (1968)
39. {{proper name|Noodkreet uit Cambor}} (1968)
40. {{proper name|De barst in de Ronde Tafel}} (1969)
41. {{proper name|De laatste droom}} (1969)
42. {{proper name|Het testament}} (1969)
43. {{proper name|Parcifal}} (1969)
44. {{proper name|Drie huurlingen}} (1969)
45. {{proper name|De hamer van Thor}} (1970)
46. {{proper name|De Lorelei}} (1970)
47. {{proper name|De weerwolf}} (1970)
48. {{proper name|De voorspelling}} (1970)
49. {{proper name|Met masker en zwaard}} (1971)
50. {{proper name|De terugkeer}} (1971)
51. {{proper name|Excalibur}} (1971)
52. {{proper name|De watermolen}} (1971)
53. {{proper name|De samoeraï}} (1971)
54. {{proper name|De kluizenaar van Ronceval}} (1972)
55. {{proper name|De koraalburcht}} (1972)
56. {{proper name|Mandragora}} (1972)
57. {{proper name|De verboden berg}} (1972)
58. {{proper name|De toverspiegel}} (1973)
59. {{proper name|De ijzeren hand}} (1973)
60. {{proper name|Sidarta}} (1974)
61. {{proper name|In de schaduw van de Thughs}} (1974)
62. {{proper name|Het sprekende zwaard}} (1974)
63. {{proper name|De Walkure}} (1974)
64. {{proper name|Het dodenschip}} (1974)
65. {{proper name|Het adelaarsnest}} (1975)
66. {{proper name|Het nimfenwoud}} (1975)
67. {{proper name|De verrader van Yarkand}} (1975)
68. {{proper name|Het labyrint}} (1975)
69. {{proper name|De ijsvorstin}} (1975)
70. {{proper name|De riviergod}} (1976)
71. {{proper name|De lijfwacht}} (1976)
72. {{proper name|De ster van het oosten}} (1976)
73. {{proper name|De Moloch}} (1976)
74. {{proper name|De vete}} (1976)
75. {{proper name|De hellebron}} (1977)
76. {{proper name|De barbaar}} (1977)
77. {{proper name|De galeislaaf}} (1977)
78. {{proper name|Het verloren legioen}} (1977)
79. {{proper name|De banneling}} (1977)
80. {{proper name|De schildknaap}} (1978)
81. {{proper name|De vluchtelingen}} (1978)
82. {{proper name|Karpax de stalen man}} (1978)
83. {{proper name|Het spook}} (1978)
84. {{proper name|De duistere bondgenoot}} (1979)
85. {{proper name|De zwarte cobra}} (1979)
86. {{proper name|De Duivelszee}} (1979)
87. {{proper name|De beelden van Djomaz}} (1979)
88. {{proper name|Het oog van Toth}} (1979)
89. {{proper name|De ontvoering}} (1980)
90. {{proper name|Het dievengilde}} (1980)
91. {{proper name|Het grote geheim}} (1980)
92. {{proper name|Zygmud en de beren van Kragero}} (1980)
93. {{proper name|Nevelsteen}} (1980)
94. {{proper name|Xanador}} (1981)
95. {{proper name|Heerser der diepten}} (1981)
96. {{proper name|De dame van de poorten}} (1981)
97. {{proper name|De vesting}} (1981)
98. {{proper name|Het bronzen gevaar}} (1982)
99. {{proper name|De gijzelaars}} (1982)
100. {{proper name|De vervloekte stad}} (1982)
101. {{proper name|De scharlaken brigade}} (1982)
102. {{proper name|De maagdenburcht}} (1983)
103. {{proper name|De gezellen van Nimrod}} (1983)
104. {{proper name|De monsterman}} (1983)
105. {{proper name|De bewaker}} (1983)
106. {{proper name|De levende doden}} (1983)
107. {{proper name|De Troglods}} (1984)
108. {{proper name|De overlevenden}} (1984)
109. {{proper name|De leeuw van Vlaanderen}} (1984)
110. {{proper name|De kraken}} (1984)
111. {{proper name|Ninja!}} (1985)
112. {{proper name|De schemerzone}} (1985)
113. {{proper name|Nirwana}} (1985)
114. {{proper name|Vrykolakas}} (1985)
115. {{proper name|Prinses Kin-Lien}} (1985)
116. {{proper name|In de witte hel}} (1986)
117. {{proper name|De magische scepter}} (1986)
118. {{proper name|Gilgamesj}} (1986)
119. {{proper name|Stille getuigen}} (1986)
120. {{proper name|Het verdronken land}} (1987)
121. {{proper name|De zwarte toren}} (1987)
122. {{proper name|De duinenabdij}} (1987)
123. {{proper name|Oniria}} (1987)
124. {{proper name|Necronomicon}} (1987)
125. {{proper name|Medusa}} (1988)
126. {{proper name|De duivel van de Lichtenberg}} (1988)
127. {{proper name|De rode herberg}} (1988)
128. {{proper name|De boeienkoning}} (1989)
129. {{proper name|Hydra}} (1989)
130. {{proper name|De zoon van de draak}} (1989)
131. {{proper name|De heren van Rode}} (1989)
132. {{proper name|De slag van Woeringen}} (1989)
133. {{proper name|De spookkaros}} (1990)
134. {{proper name|De koningmaker}} (1990)
135. {{proper name|De witte duisternis}} (1990)
136. {{proper name|Sol Invictus}} (1991)
137. {{proper name|De slangegod}} (1991)
138. {{proper name|Het toernooi}} (1991)
139. {{proper name|Bloed in de branding}} (1991)
140. {{proper name|De doodsvlinders}} (1991)
141. {{proper name|De tuin van Eden}} (1992)
142. {{proper name|De rattenkoning}} (1992)
143. {{proper name|Prins der duisternis}} (1992)
144. {{proper name|De alchemist}} (1992)
145. {{proper name|De steen der wijzen}} (1993)
146. {{proper name|De zwarte spiegel}} (1993)
147. {{proper name|Het levenselixir}} (1993)
148. {{proper name|De bierkoning}} (1993)
149. {{proper name|De groene steen}} (1994)
150. {{proper name|Klingsor}} (1994)
151. {{proper name|Mysterie op Ararat}} (1994)
152. {{proper name|Lyonesse}} (1994)
153. {{proper name|De toverstaf}} (1995)
154. {{proper name|De slavenmeester}} (1995)
155. {{proper name|Montsalvat}} (1995)
156. {{proper name|De graalkoning}} (1995)
157. {{proper name|Avalon}} (1996)
158. {{proper name|De duivelstuin}} (1996)
159. {{proper name|De waterdemon}} (1996)
160. {{proper name|Het gouden masker}} (1996)
161. {{proper name|Catacomben}} (1997)
162. {{proper name|Nemesis}} (1997)
163. {{proper name|De holle aarde}} (1997)
164. {{proper name|Reis naar Atlantis}} (1997)
165. {{proper name|Magiërs van Atlantis}} (1997)
166. {{proper name|De drakenmeester}} (1998)
167. {{proper name|Het masker van de draak}} (1998)
168. {{proper name|Fata Morgana}} (1998)
169. {{proper name|De maangodin}} (1998)
170. {{proper name|De woudgeest}} (1998)
171. {{proper name|De boetelingen}} (1999)
172. {{proper name|De heksenmeester}} (1999)
173. {{proper name|Het zwarte teken}} (1999)
174. {{proper name|De erfgenaam}} (1999)
175. {{proper name|De naamloze ridder}} (1999)
176. {{proper name|Het drakengraf}} (1999)
177. {{proper name|De veldtocht}} (2000)
178. {{proper name|Het klooster van de dood}} (2000)
179. {{proper name|De nachtridders}} (2000)
180. {{proper name|De schat van Dijkenland}} (2000)
181. {{proper name|De lamp van Aladdin}} (2000)
182. {{proper name|Wraak van de nachtridders}} (2000)
183. {{proper name|Het veemgericht}} (2001)
184. {{proper name|De Berserkers}} (2001)
185. {{proper name|Het geheim van St. Idesbald}} (2001)
186. {{proper name|De dodecaëder}} (2001)
187. {{proper name|Gorgonia}} (2001)
188. {{proper name|Het putmonster}} (2001)
189. {{proper name|Nosferatu}} (2002)
190. {{proper name|De spookvallei}} (2002)
191. {{proper name|De riddershoeve}} (2002)
192. {{proper name|Het geheime wapen}} (2002)
193. {{proper name|De schat van Carthago}} (2002)
194. {{proper name|De golem}} (2002)
195. {{proper name|Olavinlinna}} (2003)
196. {{proper name|Het magische licht}} (2003)
197. {{proper name|De vloek van de Tupilak}} (2003)
198. {{proper name|Zimbabwe}} (2003)
199. {{proper name|Loch Ness}} (2003)
200. {{proper name|Oude vijanden}} (2003)
201. {{proper name|Het boze oog}} (2004)
202. {{proper name|De piraten van Sluis}} (2004)
203. {{proper name|De vulkaangod}} (2004)
204. {{proper name|De rode gezant}} (2004)
205. {{proper name|Het scheepskerkhof}} (2004)
206. {{proper name|Gog en Magog}} (2004)
207. {{proper name|De grot van de beer}} (2005)
208. {{proper name|De blauwe heks}} (2005)
209. {{proper name|De Judasgraal}} (2006)
210. {{proper name|Het zwaard van de maagd}} (2006)
211. {{proper name|Het vuur en de maagd}} (2006)
212. {{proper name|De zwarte inquisiteur}} (2006)
213. {{proper name|De tweede terugkeer}} (2007)
214. {{proper name|De regensteen}} (2007)
215. {{proper name|De rode kogge}} (2007)
216. {{proper name|Modgudur}} (2007)
217. {{proper name|De man zonder verleden}} (2008)
218. {{proper name|Doodbrenger}} (2008)
219. {{proper name|De zwaardbroeders}} (2008)
220. {{proper name|De vedelaar van Sint-Pauwels}} (2008)
221. {{proper name|De spiegeldemon}} (2009)
222. {{proper name|De duisterburcht}} (2009)
223. {{proper name|De sluier van Wuustwezel}} (2009)
224. {{proper name|Het behouden zwaard}} (2009)
225. {{proper name|De furiën}} (2010)
226. {{proper name|Het helse verbond}} (2010)
227. {{proper name|De ijzeren kroon}} (2010)
228. {{proper name|De verborgen vesting}} (2010)
229. {{proper name|De vreemdeling}} (2011)
230. {{proper name|De amazones}} (2011)
231. {{proper name|Het koekoeksjong}} (2011)
232. {{proper name|Duivelsmist}} (2011)
233. {{proper name|Dokter Faustus}} (2012)
234. {{proper name|De Elfenring}} (2012)
235. {{proper name|De witte waan}} (2012)
236. {{proper name|De zwarte narcis}} (2012)
237. {{proper name|De wederopstanding}} (2013)
238. {{proper name|Het godsgericht}} (2013)
239. {{proper name|De duivelse poppenspeler}} (2013)
240. {{proper name|De indringers}} (2013)
241. {{proper name|De zwarte weduwe}} (2014)
242. {{proper name|De spookkrijgers}} (2014)
243. {{proper name|De hellevliet}} (2014)
244. {{proper name|Mensenjacht}} (2014)
245. {{proper name|De kinderrovers}} (2015)
246. {{proper name|Dodendans}} (2015)
247. {{proper name|De klauw}} (2015)
248. {{proper name|De drakar des doods}} (2015)
249. {{proper name|De satansvrucht}} (2016)
250. {{proper name|De uitverkorene}} (2016)
251. {{proper name|De gevangene}} (2016)
252. {{proper name|De Hellemond}} (2016)
253. {{proper name|Het eindeloze eiland}} (2017)
254. {{proper name|De vuurproef}} (2017)
255. {{proper name|De heks en Merlijn}} (2017)
256. {{proper name|Het offer}} (2017)
257. {{proper name|De onmogelijke opdracht}} (2018)
258. {{proper name|De hellehond}} (2018)
259. {{proper name|De slavin}} (2018)
260. {{proper name|De razende magiër}} (2018)
261. {{proper name|Het bloedkleed}} (2019)
262. {{proper name|De laatste waarschuwing}} (2019)
263. {{proper name|De vervloekte talisman}} (2019)
264. {{proper name|Een zachte dood}} (2019)
265. {{proper name|De moordaanslag}} (2020)
266. {{proper name|Gedoemd}} (2020)
267. {{proper name|Mordred}} (2020)
268. {{proper name|De mayameester}} (2020)
269. {{proper name|Kilyon}} (2021)
270. {{proper name|Het boek van Thot}} (2021)
271. {{proper name|De kruisvaarder}} (2021)
272. {{proper name|De heksenjager}} (2021)
273. {{proper name|De duivelspenning}} (2022)
274. {{proper name|De hundeprest}} (2022)
275. {{proper name|De bastaard}} (2022)
276. {{proper name|Het einde van alles}} (2022)
277. {{proper name|Tuan de Barbaar}} (2023)
278. {{proper name|Het bloedmoeras}} (2023)
279. {{proper name|De poort van angst}} (2023)
280. {{proper name|De monstermaker}} (2023)
281. {{proper name|De vleerkoning}} (2024)

{{div col end}}

• Ligne claire

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{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.roderidder.net Fan page and forum (Dutch)]

{{Willy Vandersteen}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rode Ridder, De}}

Category:Belgian comic strips

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Category:Comics set in the Middle Ages

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Category:Belgian comics characters

Category:Comics based on novels

Category:Comics by Willy Vandersteen