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 disappeared from the series when Fournier took over (her only appearance in Fournier's period was a brief appearance in the Franquin tribute Joyeuses Pâques, Papa!). Fournier replaced her with Ororéa, another rival reporter but with whom Fantasio was madly in love, whereas he loathed Seccotine. When Tome & Janry took over the Spirou series, they dropped Ororéa and brought Seccotine back in their second album, Aventure en Australie and later in Machine qui rêve. Love interest with Spirou There have been various hints towards a romantic link between Seccotine and Spirou. In "Machine qui rêve" she gets in touch with him to do a report she actually wanted Fantasio to do. When she speaks to him over the phone detailing the mission and he addresses her as "Seccotine" she tells him to drop that silly nickname and instead use her real name. Later in the album she and the Spirou clone are seen on board a ship with her asking him what his real name is. In the stand-alone comic "Le tombeau des Champignac", by Yann and Fabrice Tarrin, Seccotine and Spirou are seen flirting and are even caught kissing by Fantasio. As the album ends and Seccotine and Spirou depart, they can be seen looking at each other with the look of two lovers departing.