Yves Schlirf, a prominent figure in the world of comic book publishing, has passed away on Saturday, September 12. The news was confirmed by the companies he worked with, Dargaud and Kana, in a statement released on Sunday. Schlirf, who had spent nearly five decades in the comics industry, held several key roles, including general director of Dargaud editions in Belgium and editorial director of Dargaud Benelux and Blake and Mortimer editions. He was also the founder of Kana, a publishing house established in 1996 after Schlirf made multiple trips to Japan. Kana became known for publishing popular manga titles in French-speaking regions, including Naruto, Saint Seiya, Detective Conan, and others. Before founding Kana, Schlirf worked as a bookseller in Brussels. Colleagues and former employers described him as having a strong sense of public taste, which helped him identify and support major popular series. Dargaud and Kana highlighted his ability to combine editorial instinct with a deep curiosity, making him a key figure in the publishing world. Schlirf played a significant role in the production of Franco-Belgian comics. He was the publisher of the long-running series XIII, created in the 1980s by his friend Jean Van Hamme. He also oversaw the continued development of the Blake and Mortimer series, which was revived after the death of its original creator, Edgar P. Jacobs, in 1987. Jacobs had launched the series in 1946. Schlirf was reportedly working on a special anniversary album to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Blake and Mortimer, focusing on secondary characters from the series. In his role as editorial director of Dargaud Benelux, Schlirf was instrumental in bringing several successful comic series to the public. These included Pin-Up by Yann and Berthet, Murena by Dufaux and Delaby, Le Scorpion by Desberg and Marini, and La Complainte des landes perdues by Dufaux and Rosinski, among others. His contributions to the comic book industry were widely recognized, and his passing marks the end of an era for many in the field.