Seccotine

Seccotine is a recurring character from the Spirou et Fantasio comics, and the first major female character of the series, a strong-willed reporter. She was created by André Franquin, and made her first appearance in La turbotraction serialised in 1953 and published in the album La corne de rhinocéros in 1955.

Character

She is an energetic journalist with a knack for outwitting Fantasio as they compete to uncover interesting and/or sensational stories, much to his frustration. Because of this, there is always some antagonism between them, though Spirou is much more friendly with her. However, she has also been very helpful, such as during the events in Palombia in Le dictateur et le champignon, when she helped Spirou and Fantasio send a secret message to the Count of Champignac, and later assisted Spirou with co-piloting an English Electric Canberra bomber plane to prevent General Zantas (a.k.a. Zantafio) from starting a war.

She was the central character in Le nid des Marsupilamis, revolving around her documentary about the life of a Marsupilami family in the Palombian jungle. Even Fantasio was impressed by her story.

Seccotine (adhesive)

Seccotine is a brand of refined liquid fish glue.

Seccotine originated in Ireland and it was first marketed and patented in 1894 by John Stevenson MA (1851-1931). The original manufacturer was the well known commercial printing company McCaw, Stevenson & Orr Limited of Belfast (founded 1876). In the early 1960s a new product - Seccotine No.2 PVA general-purpose adhesive was introduced.

The products and their registered trade marks for the UK and other clearly defined countries throughout the world were sold in 1968 to the English-based Royal Sovereign Group of Companies. Etablissements Martin, of Paris, which was already manufacturing in France under licence, acquired the trade marks for use in what were then the EEC countries, and certain other scheduled territories.

It is one of the few tradenames to have its entry and etymology recorded in the Oxford English Dictionary (1933 edition) where the name is explained as "apparently suggested by Italian secco, dry", though it is possible that the French sec (dry) may also have been an influence.