Mårdøn Smet, real name Morten Schmidt, is a Danish cartoonist, author and illustrator with extensive experience in the comic book world since the 1980s. Mårdøn is self-taught and originally trained as a stonemason.
In 1979, Morten Schmidt’s drawings and comics began appearing in the publisher Balder & Brages amateur booklet På stribe. This was followed by contributions to other alternative publications under the signature Mårdøn Smet, such as Danske striber in 1982, Besat af begær in 1983, Dannebrog Comics in 1984 and Blomstrende spaghetti in 1986.
He also teaches at the Animation Workshop at University College Viborg. Smet is known for his work with characters from Tove Jansson’s Moomins and characters from the Donald Duck universe.
He has created a wide range of works, including comics such as Truslen fra det Ubevidste, Blod er tykkere end vodka, and Rejsen til Misanthropolis. Especially his 1984 work Spildte Guds ord på Balle-Lars (which is Mårdøn Smet’s first professional cartoon series work) is well worth reading. It’s a collection of salacious, pornographic, bottom-of-the-barrel nastiness drawn in an extremely confident and expressive line. Then you’ve been warned.
He has also made a name for himself as a book illustrator and as the reteller and illustrator of a number of Hans Christian Andersen picture books published by Carlsen.
So if you’re a fan of Danish comics, Mårdøn Smet is an artist you should know!
You can experience Mårdøn Smet and many more exciting guests at Copenhagen Comics 2024 on May 18-19, 2024.
