Jojo - 'La Ballade des Quatre Saisons' (2004).
After completing his studies at the Institut Saint-Luc in Brussels, André Geerts made his debut in Le Soir Jeunesse in 1974. He then contributed to the fanzine Zazou, where he met fellow artists Bosse, Darasse, Hislaire and Watch. The team was brought over to the magazine Spirou in 1976, where Geerts started out drawing 'La Petite Chronique Vénusienne' with scripts by Jean-Marie Brouyère and several editorial illustrations. He continued doing illustration work and short stories until 1982, when he began a series of cartoons. These cartoons, strongly inspired by Jean-Jacques Sempé, were collected in the album 'Bonjour, Monde Cruel' at Dupuis in 1985. In 1997, a second album followed, called 'Bonsoir, Monde Cruel!'.
'Une Légende Vraie de Noël' (Robbedoes/Spirou #2280, 1981).
In addition, Geerts cooperated on the magazine Aïe! and created his first album, 'Gens de la Lune', with Éditions Crocodille in 1981. In 1983, Geerts created the character 'Jojo' for Spirou. This poetic children's series started as stop-gap, but soon was given full pages and even continuing stories.
Jojo #6 - 'Le Serment d'Amitié' (1994).
As an illustrator, Geerts has contributed to Bonnes Soirées, Tremplin and Schtroumpf. In 1990, he illustrated 'Jabert contre l'Adversité' with text by Pierre le Gall in a more realistic style at Delcourt. In 1993, he teamed up with Sergio Salma to start the series 'Mademoiselle Louise' at Casterman.
'Mademoiselle Louise #4 - Cash-Cache' (2009).
André Geerts suddenly passed away in July 2010, at the age of 55. His legacy lives on in the 18 albums of 'Jojo', four of 'Mademoiselle Louise' and his two cartoon books. Geerts' final 'Jojo' story, titled 'Mamy Blues', was finished by his good friend Mauricet and published by Dupuis in 2011.
Geerts was one of several artists to make a graphic contribution to 'Baston Labaffe no. 5: La Ballade des Baffes’ (Goupil, 1983), an official collective parody comic of André Franquin’s 'Gaston Lagaffe’. In 1987-1988 the publishing company Brain Factory International released a four-volume comic book series where Franco-Belgian comic authors visualized several songs by singer Jacques Brel in comic strip form. The second volume, 'Les Prénoms' (1987) featured a contribution by Geerts. In 1990 Geerts paid graphic tribute to François Walthéry in the collective homage book 'Natacha. Special 20 Ans' (Marsu Productions, 1990), which celebrated the 20th anniversary of Walthéry's series 'Natacha'.
In September 1996 a mural depicting 'Jojo' was inaugurated in the Rue Pieremans/Pieremansstraat in Brussels, as part of the Brussels' Comic Book Route.
'Jojo' #4 - 'Le Mystère Violaine' (1991).