French publishing heavyweights Dargaud and Kana announced the passing of Yves Schlirf, a visionary figure in European comic book culture and the founding architect of one of the continent's most influential manga imprints. Schlirf, who served as the director-general for Dargaud in Belgium and editorial director at Dargaud Benelux, died on September 13.
Born in Brussels, Schlirf's lifelong romance with the medium began in 1972 when he opened Schlirfbook, standing among the earliest specialty bookstores dedicated entirely to comic art in the Belgian capital. His industry footprint expanded significantly in the 1980s when Jean Van Hamme recruited him into the marketing department at Dupuis. Schlirf later established the Belgian branch of Dargaud, championing celebrated European BD (Bande Dessinée) titles such as Murena, XIII, and The Lament of the Lost Moors.
The Birth of Kana Publishing
Following transformative journeys to Japan, Schlirf cemented his legacy in 1996 by founding Kana publishing. Recognizing the untapped potential of Japanese storytelling for European audiences, Kana rapidly evolved into a cornerstone of the French manga market. Under his stewardship, French readers gained access to monumental titles including Naruto, Hunter x Hunter, YuYu Hakusho, Death Note, and Slam Dunk.
Publishing partners remembered Schlirf not merely as an astute executive, but as a passionate advocate for the Ninth Art who understood the deep mechanics of serial narrative and human adventure. Even in his final months, he remained active in the community, preparing a celebratory anniversary volume for the legendary 1946 Belgian series Blake and Mortimer.
