Henk Sprenger (1919-2005)

Kick Wilstra. Complete page consisting of two pages, printed in the way they were published in the book. These pages belong to issue 12, "Kick Wilstra gaat op de vuist". Was also published in Ketelbinkiekrant and Rob's Vrienden in the early 1950s. Indian ink with blue support colour. 42x30 cm.

There were four comics that dominated the post-war years (until ca. 1963): for both boys and girls there was Tom Poes (Marten Toonder), and the most popular comic books for boys were Kapitein Rob (by Pieter Kuhn), Eric de Noorman (by Hans Kresse) and Kick Wilstra (by Henk Sprenger). Football hero Kick Wilstra was many people's hero and was named after football legends Faas Wilkes, Abe Lenstra and Kick Smit. Famous football lovers such as Johan Cruijff, Jan Mulder, Freek de Jonge, Kees Jansma etc. often express in interviews how important Kick Wilstra was (and often still is) to them. Youth hero to many generations and miracle forward of boys' dreams. The stories recount his athletic achievements at school, his first games for the Veendorpse VV - and, later, for his club Victoria - his crossing during the war to England, his studies to become an engineer and his contribution to the rebuilding of the Netherlands. At the very pinnacle of his fame Kick Wilstra marries his childhood girlfriend Janny Robijn. Janny gives birth to twins: Rob en Rudi, who have both inherited their father's talent for sports. In the final story the readers have to say goodbye to Kick Wilstra, but not without the delivering of a beautiful promise for the future (Kick's daughter is born). In total, 18 books were published which were sold out time and again due to their immense popularity. Originals of Kick Wilstra are hardly ever brought on the market (also see lots 961 en 962).