The Indians

In 1968 Kresse illustrated various stories by Anton Kuyten for Pep about Native Americans. The first two were titled 'De Schreeuw van de Dondervogel' (1968-1969) and 'De Indiaanse Opperhoofden en Hun Oorlogen' (1971-1973). In the same genre Kresse reprised 'Matho Tonga' but under a different title, 'De Laatste der Mandans', followed by other comics about Native American chiefs, such as 'De wraak van Minimic' (1970), 'Mangas Coloradas' (1971-1972, script by Kuyten) and 'Wetamo' (1972-1973). The artist actually enjoyed drawing stories about Native Americans more than 'Eric de Noorman'. In 1972 he made a deal with publisher Casterman to create a comic series which can be best described as a saga about an Apache family. It follows them throughout the ages as they are confronted with colonial settlers. Ten stories in total were created: 'De Meesters van de Donder' (1973), 'De Kinderen van de Wind' (1973), 'De Gezellen van het Kwaad' (1974), 'De Zang van de Prairiewolven' (1974), 'De Weg van de Wraak' (1975), 'De Welp en de Wolf' (1976), 'De Gierenjagers' (1978), 'De Prijs van de Vrijheid' (1979), 'De Eer van een Krijger' (1982) and the unfinished story 'De Lokroep van Quivera'. The series never received any other name but the 'Indianenreeks' (the 'Indian series') and was recognizable by a font sporting the head of a Native American chief in the upper right corner of every book. While translated in more than ten countries, it never sold well. Yet 'De Welp en de Wolf' did win the Prix Alfred for "Best Foreign Comic Book" (1977) at the International Comics Festival of Angoulême.