Edika, Iconic Comic Artist of Fluide Glacial, Passes Away at 84

Edika, the celebrated French comic artist known for his absurd humor and unique narrative style, has died at the age of 84. Born Édouard Karali on December 17, 1940, in Héliopolis, Egypt, he later moved to Lebanon at age 19 and subsequently settled in France in 1976. He joined the famed French comic magazine Fluide Glacial in 1979, becoming a pillar of the publication.

Before his comic career, Edika worked in advertising and was influenced by the magazine Fluide Glacial’s approach, which embraced humor over satire, incorporating elements like absurdity and parody. His iconic characters included the eccentric family led by Bronsky Proko, his wife Olga, their children Paganini and George, and their cat Clark Gaybeul, all beloved by readers.

Fluide Glacial mourned Edika as "the Prince of absurd humor" and the "master of narrative acrobatics," highlighting the significant impact of his work on French comics. His brother Paul Karali, also a cartoonist known as Carali, lived near Paris, and the two maintained a creative bond by exchanging illustrated letters. Edika’s death marks the loss of a key figure in French comic art, renowned for his absurdist style and influential contributions since 1979.