View source for Wiske

{{Short description|Belgian comic strip character}}
{{for|the river in Yorkshire, England|River Wiske}}
{{Infobox comics character
| character_name = Wiske
| image          = [[Image:Wiske.jpg| Wiske in her trademark winking pose, which concludes every story.]]
| imagesize      =
| caption        =
| alt            = Publicity shot of Wiske. 1980s. Drawn by [[Willy Vandersteen]].
| publisher      = [[Standaard Uitgeverij]] (Belgium)
| debut          = ''[[Suske en Wiske]]'':<br />''Rikki en Wiske in Chocowakije'' (1945).
| creators       = [[Willy Vandersteen]]
| full_name      =
| alliances      =
| supports       =
| converted      = y
}}
'''Wiske''' (English: '''Wanda''', '''Suzy''', '''Bobette''', '''Lucy''') is one of the main characters in the popular Belgian comic strip ''[[Suske en Wiske]]'' by [[Willy Vandersteen]]. She is the girl of the duo. Together with [[Lambik]] she is one of the most popular characters in the franchise.
==History==
Wiske made her debut in the very first ''Suske and Wiske'' story "Rikki en Wiske in Chocowakije" (1945) ("Rikki and Wiske in Chocowakije").<ref>Vandersteen, Willy, "Rikki en Wiske in Chocowakije", Standaard Uitgeverij, 1945.</ref> Her companion in this story is her older and stronger brother Rikki, who was written out of the series at the start of the next story "Het Eiland Amoras" (1945-1946) ("The Isle of Amoras"). When Wiske travelled to the isle of Amoras along with [[Tante Sidonia]] and [[Professor Barabas]] she met [[Suske]] there, who took Rikki's place as her male companion.<ref>Vandersteen, Willy, "Het Eiland Amoras", Standaard Uitgeverij, 1947.</ref>
Wiske is adopted by her aunt, [[Tante Sidonia]]. It is never directly implied, but just like [[Suske]] she is likely an orphan, as her parents are never seen around.
Vandersteen named Wiske after the Flemish opera singer [[Louisa Ghijs|Wiske Ghijs]].<ref name=hooy>Van Hooydonck, Peter, "50 Jaar Suske en Wiske", Standaard Uitgeverij, 1995.</ref> Her real name is "Louisa", but this is hardly used in the series. The nickname "Wiske" is a Flemish diminutive form of "Louisa".
==Character==
Contrary to Suske Wiske is more flawed as a person. She is stubborn, prone to anger and jealousy, too curious for her own good and can be vain, disobedient, lazy and impulsive. However, she still has a heart of gold. Her impulsiveness and curiosity often bring her and others in trouble. This also explains why more stories center around her than the good-natured Suske. Just like [[Lambik]] Wiske is one of the most popular characters in the franchise because readers can relate to her human personality flaws more.<ref name="hooy"/>
==Relation with Suske==
Suske and Wiske are best friends, despite quarreling once in a while. One of the recurring storylines is Wiske's [[jealousy]] whenever Suske receives attention from other young, attractive females.
==Schanulleke==
Wiske has a little doll, [[Schanulleke]], whom she carries along with her wherever she goes. She adores her doll so much that she is heartbroken whenever it is lost or someone threatens to destroy it.
==Wiske's story-concluding wink==
Wiske traditionally concludes every story by winking at the audience, which has become a trademark of the franchise.<ref name="hooy"/>
==In spin-offs==
Suske plays the central role in the spin-off series ''Amoras''. The first volume is named after him. He is also the central character in the junior version ''Klein Suske en Wiske'' ("Little Suske and Wiske").
==In popular culture==
Both she and Suske have their own statue in the [[Antwerp Zoo]] in [[Antwerp]]. It was sculpted by René Rosseel in 1978.<ref>http://www.standbeelden.be/standbeeld/912{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> They also have a statue in [[Middelkerke]], sculpted by Monique Mol in 2002.<ref>http://www.standbeelden.be/standbeeld/2781{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
On June 15, 1995 an illustrated wall was dedicated to Suske and Wiske in the Laekenstraat in [[Brussels]], Belgium.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://suskeenwiske.ophetwww.net/curiosa/muren/brussel.php|title = Suske en Wiske-muur in Brussel}}</ref><ref>http://www.brussel.be/dwnld/40015738/BOB_et_BOBETTE.RUE_DE_LAEKEN.0374.JPG{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
Suske and Wiske are also part of an illustrated wall in the Korte Ridderstraat 8 in Antwerp, which was revealed on May 13, 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://suskeenwiske.ophetwww.net/curiosa/muren/amoras.php|title=Muur in Antwerpen versierd met afbeelding van Suske en Wiske}}</ref> On April 24, 2009 a similar wall was revealed in [[Kalmthout]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gva.be/cnt/aid827217/suske-en-wiske-onthullen-hun-eigen-stripmuur|title = Suske en Wiske onthullen eigen stripmuur}}</ref>
In the 1975-1976 Dutch TV puppet series ''Suske en Wiske'' Wiske's voice was done by Helen Huisman.
In the 1994 musical "De Stralende Sterren" Hilde Vanhulle played the part of Wiske.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://suskeenwiske.ophetwww.net/musical/musical1.php|title = Suske en Wiske de Musical}}</ref> In the 2002, musical "De Spokenjagers" Wiske was played by Femke Stoop.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Suske-En-Wiske-De-Spokenjagers/release/3520465|title=Suske en Wiske – de Spokenjagers (2002, CD)|website=[[Discogs]] }}</ref> Liesbeth De Wolf played Wiske in the 2008 musical "De Circusbaron".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musichall.be/nl/kalender/alle-genres/p/detail/suske-en-wiske-de-circusbaron-de-musical |title=Overzicht - Suske en Wiske: De Circusbaron, de Musical - Alle genres - Music Hall |accessdate=2015-11-03 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040727/http://www.musichall.be/nl/kalender/alle-genres/p/detail/suske-en-wiske-de-circusbaron-de-musical |archivedate=2016-03-04 }}</ref>
In the 2004 live-action film ''{{Ill|De duistere diamant|nl|3=De duistere diamant (film)|lt=De duistere diamant}}'' Céline Verbeeck played Wiske. In the 2009 3-D animated feature film ''[[Luke and Lucy: The Texas Rangers]]'' Evelien Verhegge played Lucy (Wiske).
==Sources==
{{reflist}}
{{Spike and Suzy}}
[[Category:Spike and Suzy]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1945]]
[[Category:Female characters in comics]]
[[Category:Fictional adoptees]]
[[Category:Orphan characters in comics]]