The first time Marsupilami appeared was in the comic magazine Jornal Spirou, on March 13, 1952 in The Heirs (Spirou Et Les Héritiers). [2] One of the conditions for Fantasio to receive his uncle's inheritance was that he had to go to the Palombia forest and capture a marsupilami, a yellow-colored animal with black spots and a long tail, never seen before the eyes of humans (except by Fantasio's uncle). Marsupilami is captured and becomes an inseparable companion in the adventures of Spirou, Fantasio and the squirrel Spip.

He appears in several books: The Theft of Marsupilami, The Moray Refuge, The Silent Pirates, The Gorilla, The Marsupilamis' Nest, The Frozen Dinosaur, The Buddha's Prisoner, Z as Zorglub.