Brussels Comic Strip Festival

       A total immersion into the most beautiful comic strips thanks to around thirty publishers and an International Pavilion

  From 14 to 16 September 2018, Brussels is once again shining a spotlight on the “ninth art”. As in previous years, publishers will be getting involved by organising a number of events and surprises. And because comic strips have no borders, an international pavilion will also be opening its doors for the comic strip festival.

  Every year, the Comic Strip Festival is THE place to come for many big names in the comic strip world. Don’t miss this year’s event. From an improv competition to a special screening, via a treasure hunt, comic book fans of all ages will be able to dive into the world of some of the big names in the world of the “ninth art”.

  Publishers

  As well as having the chance to meet the most loyal publishers to the Comic Strip Festival, this year, visitors will also get the opportunity to see a large number of Flemish publishers. Indeed, there has been one major publisher from the north of the country missing from the event in the past: This year, the Comic Strip Festival is proud to welcome Standaard Uitgeverij. It is also delighted to be welcoming ten or so independent publishers who do our capital proud, including L’Employé du Moi, FRMK, La 5e couche & Les Impressions Nouvelles.

  And that isn’t all. When you think of publishers, you also think of authors and book signings. All sorts of activities and events will be put on for visitors. Here is a taster of what to expect.

  STANDAARD UITGEVERIJ

  Standaard Uitgeverij is joining the Comic Strip Festival for the first time this year. The perfect opportunity for this major Flemish publisher to celebrate the release of the 100th FC De Kampioenen album. Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the world of this hugely successful comic book. There will be plenty more activities and installations, like signing sessions, the chance to meet authors, a selfie wall, a reading corner and much more.

  The icing on the cake is the chance to meet Flemish icons Suske en Wiske (AKA Spike and Suzy).

  BALLON MEDIA

  Looking for some comics in Dutch? Then head straight to the Ballon Media stand. For Dutch- speaking comic book fans, Ballon Media has everything that Belgian comics do best: Jommeke, Robbedoes Special, Baba Yega, Thorgal, XIII, Largo Winch, fantastic graphic novels, rare gems and plenty more unmissable titles. The programme includes signing sessions, the chance to meet Jommeke and a major competition offering some fantastic prizes for the winners!

  STRIPGIDS – PULP DELUXE – STRIPGILDE

  Stripgids, Pulp deLuxe and the Vlaamse Onafhankelijke Stripgilde have joined forces to put on an irresistible range of magazines, books and exclusives in Dutch and English. So you know where to come to find out more about comics from Flanders (and beyond). On Saturday, the winner of the 2018 Bronzen Adhemar prize will be at the stand for a signing session between 2pm and 4pm.

  DARGAUD

  Les Vieux Fourneaux

  With more than a million copies sold, Les Vieux Fourneaux are still creating quite a buzz. Find your favourite characters at the Loup en Slip van in the Parc de Bruxelles, with all sorts of surprises and activities, as well as on the big screen with an exclusive screening of Christophe Duthuron’s film as part of the Comic Strip Festival. An hysterically funny feel- good movie, totally in keeping with the tone of the series. An opportunity not to be missed! Life size Batman!

  Come and see Enrico Marini for a chance to see him draw Batman and the Joker live... and life size! A tribute to the two main characters of his gripping two-volume tale: Batman, The Dark Prince Charming. Come and admire the artist at work, and you might even go home with a great surprise...

  Exhibition: Empress Carlota

  Fabien Nury and Matthieu Bonhomme have taken on the story of Empress Carlota, for a new series with a gripping plot and captivating illustrations! The perfect opportunity to get a really good look at the work of Matthieu Bonhomme, thanks to a selection of reproductions of storyboards. Come and find out more on the Dargaud stand!

  Area dedicated to youngsters focusing on their favourite heroes

  Emma et Capucine, La Famille Blaireau Renard, Le Loup en Slip, Boule et Bill, Lucky Luke and many more will be here with free face painting, readings, workshops, light boxes so you can draw like the great authors, a mural for budding artists to decorate and lots (and lots) of gifts to give away!

  Live drawing

  Admire our featured authors as they create their images before your very eyes, via screens showing their signing sessions.
And that’s not all!
Dargaud are constantly striving to make this year’s Comic Strip Festival an unforgettable experience. Follow them on Dargaud’s social media accounts so you don’t miss the release of the official programme and the final times for your favourite authors.

  Facebook: Editions Dargaud Instagram: @dargaud Twitter: @EditionsDargaud

  SPIROU FESTIVAL

  As part of the Comic Strip Festival, Les Éditions Dupuis look forward to meeting lots of comic book fans in the Parc de Bruxelles for the 5th ever SPIROU Festival!
The perfect opportunity to take part in signing sessions, workshops, exhibitions, and discussions... as well as the chance to win gifts, meet the authors and some of the team behind the SPIROU Journal and Les Éditions Dupuis, and even pick up a scoop or two!

  More than 40 authors will be there, including Bailly, Batem, Bercovici, Bravo, Collin, Dairin, Dan, Darasse, Del, Delaf, De Pins, Dodier, Domecq, Dubuc, Erre, Feroumont, Findakly, Fortin, Fournier, Hardy, Henriet, Janry, Johan, Jousselin, Kox, Libon, Munuera, Obion, Frank Pé, Pico, Reynès, Savoia, Schwartz, Sowa, Sti, Tome, Toussaint, Trondheim and Vehlmann. https://www.spirou.com/blog/642-le-festival-spirou-c-est-bientot.html

  LE LOMBARD

  Ducobu & Léonie are back: Fancy Fair

  Saint-Potache school will be on its holidays again on Saturday and Sunday, at the Lombard stand! The programme includes a Fancy Fair organised by the famous dunce, assisted by his rival and classmate Léonie! A giant game of Pairs, wheel of fortune, games of skill, a target game, plus many more activities that children will love.

  Timo l’Aventurier: Treasure hunt – Set off on an adventure with Timo!

  As part of Timo l’Aventurier’s adventures, explore the Parc de Bruxelles to find out all about his characters and his world, and have your own adventure alongside this plucky little hero. Plus there are Timo posters and goodies to win. So what are you waiting for? Pick up your activity pack and set off on an adventure! (Starts at the activity area on the Lombard stand) Klaw: Treasure hunt – Dizhi’s quest

  Inspired by the series, this treasure hunt will take young and old alike on an adventure through the Comic Strip Festival to find the clues that you need to collect to awaken your supernatural power, or “Dizhi”! Plus there are Klaw posters and goodies to win.

  Our heroes are invading the Park!

  A number of exhibitions dedicated to Lombard’s heroes will introduce visitors to comic strips as soon as they step into the park. From Gagner la Guerre, the comic book adaptation of the cult French fantasy novel, and Irons, a baffling and chilling police thriller, to Jean Van Hamme and Christophe Simon’s action album, Kivu, visitors will be able to find out more about how a comic book is created, as well as exploring the worlds of these albums.

  Exhibitions to be found in the Parc de Bruxelles, around the Lombard Stand.

  Plus... live drawing sessions, an adventure course for children, a “forest” area dedicated to Lombard’s heroes, a reading corner, and lots more!

  GLÉNAT

  Glénat will be putting together a fantastic play area for little ones around its stand, while older visitors will be able to attend a talk given by Jade Lagardère, author of “Amber Blake”, the comic strip that she wrote herself (artist: Butch Guice).

  Then there’s BOZAR, where you can enjoy the free exhibition entitled “Dickie - Vous ne pourrez plus le voir en peinture !!!” (Dickie - You won’t be able to stand the sight of him any more!!!): “Everybody knows Dickie (or Boerke), the little farmer who ruins everything he touches. Well, he’s tackled epic stories, film, fairy tales and science fiction, and now he’s having a go at museums! From cave paintings to modern art, via Renaissance and Impressionist masterpieces, rediscover Picasso, Van Gogh, de Vinci, Hockney and Mondrian, with a Dickie twist! Pieter de Poortere once again uses his unrivalled sense of trashiness and the absurd to serve up a series of silent gags from his favourite moustachioed character behind the hilarious scenes of the greatest masterpieces in the history of art. With Dickie at the museum, art is anything but boring!”

  KENNES

  The Kennes wheel of fortune: turn the wheel for just €1 and take a book home with you (choose from a selection). Everyone’s a winner!
A whole host of extracts to choose from!
Would you like a sneak preview of your next read? Help yourself from the free extracts available on the Kennes stand.

  GROUPE PAQUET

  Come and meet their authors (including Jordi Bayarri, Valentina Brancati, Francesco Castelli, Bruno Marchand, David Batte, André Taymans, Georges Van Linthout and Pablo Velarde) who would love to sign their albums for you. Younger visitors will love exploring the world of Petzi, the famous bear, thanks to an exhibition dedicated to this endearing little character!

  BAMBOO EDITIONS & FLUIDE GLACIAL

  Spirou and Fluide Glacial engage in all-out war!

  Over the last few months, a strange tension seems to have been building between SPIROU and FLUIDE GLACIAL, two giants of the comic book press. It seems like the gloves are off. Thierry Tinlot, the former editor-in-chief of both comic books, has been keeping a close eye on this battle, and has offered to act as intermediary by suggesting an improv match ( LINK TO “SPECTACLE & PROJECTION”) during the Comic Strip Festival! Only one weapon is allowed: humour! Comedians and illustrators will defend the honour of their respective magazines. We’re talking about Berco and Munuera in the Spirou corner, and Mo and Ju CDM for Fluide... That’s if the two magazines haven’t ripped each other apart before then.

  Plus, throughout the whole festival, authors from the two magazines will be travelling between the Spirou Festival and the Fluide Glacial stands offering exclusive overlapping signing sessions!

  CASTERMAN

  Exhibitions

  As part of Alix’s 70th anniversary, Casterman will be putting on two exhibitions in partnership with visit.brussels, the Brussels Art and History Museum and the Belgian Comic Strip Center (CBBD).

  The first, Alix – L’art De Jacques Martin (The art of Jacques Martin), will be taking place from 15/09 to 31/12/2018 and will present an adapted version of the exhibition put on by the not- for-profit organisation 9e Art, the FIBD and the Cité internationale de la bande dessinée et de l’image. Around a hundred originals of the pioneer of the historic comic strip will be on display alongside pieces from collections belonging to the Royal Museum.

  The second, Alix - Veni, Vidi, Vici, will create an event at the CBBD, by presenting storyboards from the new album in the Alix series by David B and Giorgio Albertini in its Gallery, from 4 September to 14 October 2018. An unexpected pair, who have been passionate about history and obsessed with the Gallo-Roman hero created by Jacques Martin in 1948 ever since they were children.

  Opportunities to meet the Casterman authors

  “Seuls dans la ville” (Alone in the city) with Zeina Abirached and Medhi Kassour (Friday 14 September – 5pm to 5.45pm)
Faced with the political crisis facing Europe, with new waves of immigration, we try to understand the experiences of these men, women and children forced to flee their homes who - like the heroes of “Seuls” - must often learn how to survive right in the heart of our towns and cities.

  “Autour d’Alix et de Jacques Martin” (All about Alix and Jacques Martin) with Valérie Mangin, David B and Giorgio Albertini (Saturday 15 from 11am to 11.45am)
The authors Valérie Mangin, Latinist, historian and writer, David B and Giorgio Albertini will look into this character whose 70th anniversary we are celebrating. They will present the Alix and Alix Senator series, as well as their relationships with history and fiction, in the past and the present.

  “Renouveler la Bd érotique” (Reinventing erotic comics) with Aude Mermilliod, Jean-Louis Tripp and Pierre-Yves Wauthier (Saturday 15 from 9pm to 9.45pm)
Long consigned to the shameful shelves of our bookshops, erotic comics still seem to struggle to find respectability. In 2018 what new avenues can they pursue to reinvent the genre and adapt to the new sexual practices of the 21st century?

  The authors present

  Zeina ABIRACHED, Georgio ALBERTINI, Léonie BISCHOFF, Maryse and Jean-François CHARLES, David B, Mathilde DOMECQ, Mathias ENARD, Vittorio GIARDINO, HARDOC, Philippe JARBINET, Augustin LEBON, Valérie MANGIN, Rudi MIEL, Nicolas MOOG, Vincent PERRIOT, Fabienne PIGIÈRE, Yves PLATEAU, RÉGRIC, Gilles ROCHIER, Florent SILLORAY, Lili SOHN, Paul TENG, Jean-Louis TRIPP, Nicolas VANDE WALLE, Loïc VERDIER.

  The international pavilion

  Although Belgium is particularly proud of its comic strip heritage, many other countries also have a fantastic track record in this field. Of these, 17 cultural delegations from other countries will be setting up their stalls in the International Pavilion to introduce their work and enjoy a great opportunity to share their passion.

  EUNIC Brussels countries: Basque Country, Estonia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Turkey)
Members of the European National Institutes for Culture cordially invite you to find out about their country’s comic strip heritage. As well as a joint exhibition, talks and signing sessions, each country will be putting on workshops:

  *  Camões, Portugal (Institute for Cooperation and Language, I.P. – Portugal) Portuguese artist Paulo Monteiro will be putting on a workshop for budding artists aged between 12 and 18. The workshop, entitled “Comment faire de la BD sans savoir dessiner ?” (How do you create a comic strip when you can’t draw?) will be given in French. Saturday 15 September at 11am.

  *  Lithuania (Republic of Lithuania’s Embassy to the Kingdom of Belgium)
Three young comic strip artists - Lote Vilma Vītiņa, Mārtiņš Zutis and Rebeka Lukošus - will be putting on a workshop for young comic strip fans aged between 6 and 10. The children and artists will create a short comic strip in the form of a “Leporello” (workshop in English).

  *  Poland (Polish Institute)
Artist Berenika Kołomycka will be putting on the workshop entitled “Couleurs et émotions en BD” (Colours and emotions in comic strips) for children aged 9 and above. She will help them understand the importance of colours in comic strips, and how to use them to express emotions.

  *  Hungary (Balassi Institute – Cultural Department of the Hungarian Embassy) Thanks to their 3D app, artists Levente Németh, Attila Futaki and János Mészáros will make an interactive printed page during the workshop entitled “Comment un personnage de bande dessinée peut-il prendre vie sur votre smartphone ?” (How can a comic strip character come to life on your smartphone”).

  *  Estonia (Permanent Representation of Estonia to the EU)
Artists Estoniens Maarika Martins, Anna Ring and Anna Eespere will be putting on a wacky workshop based on spontaneity and the unpredictable, which can often lead to creative discoveries! For any age, in English.

  *  Turkey (Yunus Emre Institute)
Artists Özcan Özcan and Arzu Akbulut introduce you to Miniature Art. They will be presenting this ancient technique that requires a high level of precision, thanks to incredibly detailed drawings of birds inspired by their latest work, “Songs of the Birds - Mantıkut-Tayr’’.

  *  Basque Country (Etxepare Basque Institute)
Basque artist Begoña Durruty will be putting on a workshop for young children entitled “Fan de dessins” (Drawing fan), in French.

  *  Romania (Romanian Cultural Institute in Brussels)
The workshop entitled “Histoires visuelles créatives” (Creative visual stories) put on by Mircea Pop invites participants to explore, experiment with, follow and even break the rules for creating a comic strip, thanks mainly to electronic design. For any age, in English.

  *  Czech Republic (Czech Centre in Brussels)
Jonáš Ledecký from the Czech Republic will be putting on a workshop entitled “Karel Čapek en bande dessinée” (Karel Čapek in comic strips), based on the adaptation of stories due to be published in Setpember.

  *  Luxembourg (Luxembourg Embassy in Brussels)
Artists from Luxembourg will be here on all three days for signing sessions and to take part in a number of round table discussions within the international pavilion. 
“Animate Europe” – International Comic Competition 2017 
How can we “reanimate” Europe? Several artists will try to answer this question via this exhibition. Come and explore the work of 75 artists from around Europe in some original exhibits. Several competition finalists will also be here to sign books and take part in a round table discussion. 
Alifbata (Arabic comic strip) 
A publishing company based in Marseille, specialising in translating and publishing comic strip authors from North Africa and the Middle East, Alifbata will be unveiling the catalogue for the exhibition entitled “Nouvelle génération : la bande dessinée arabe aujourd’hui” (New generation: Arabic comic strips today) at the Cité internationale de la bande dessinée et de l’image in Angoulême from 25 January to 4 November 2018. As well as the exhibition, the catalogue will be showcasing more than forty authors from Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Tunisia. Alifbata will also be focusing on the work of Barrack Rima, between Brussels and Beirut, via an exhibition of original storyboards and dedications by the artist.

  South Korea (Korean Cultural Center in Brussels)

  The Korean Cultural Center will be presenting four Korean comic strip authors in the exhibition aimed at children: “Childhood - Where is your heart now?”: YOON Seungun, HA Minseok, HONG Seungwoo and SOBOGI. The authors will be available for signing sessions, as well as putting on drawing demonstrations throughout the weekend.

  Egypt (TokTok Mag)

  What is a TokTok? The name comes from Tuk Tuk, the noise the engine makes. It’s that noisy, dangerous yellow and black vehicle that is such a popular means of transport in the busy neighbourhoods of Cairo.
And the TokTok Mag? The first edition of TokTok was released in January 2011, in a climate of social revolution. The quarterly magazine echoes the day-to-day reality of Egypt, encompassing comedy as well as tragedy. TokTok Mag will be presenting original storyboards, limited edition posters, the magazine in Arabic, and best-of versions in French.

  La Réunion (Les Éditions des Bulles dans l'Océan)

  An independent publishing company founded 8 years ago, Les Éditions des Bulles dans l’Océan is dedicated to promoting promising young authors. Come and see some of the work of these artists, who come from a little corner of paradise, and meet them at one of the signing sessions.

  Italy (Lucca Comics & Games by LUCCA CREA srl & Istituto Italiano di Cultura)

  For several years now, Lucca Comics & Games have been brining Italian “fumetti” (“comic strips” in Italian) to Brussels. This year, three artists will be meeting their Belgian readers and signing their work: Fabio Civitelli, one of the main artists involved in Tex Willer, the iconic Italian comic strip; Salvatore Callerami, author of the fantasy comedy Dandelion; lastly, Riccardo Pieruccini will present his latest steampunk parody, Prussians vs Aliens.

  Havana, Algiers and Moscow (Maison Autrique)

  Comic strips are everywhere you look in Brussels. That is much less true of Havana, Moscow and Algiers. Time for a renaissance! The renaissance of a popular art form that can turn its hand to anything, including heritage. Without ignoring some serious studies and scientific publications dedicated to the subject, Maison Autrique simply wanted to make its own contribution by incorporating an imaginary dimension that is nevertheless based on a reality that is sometimes hidden, but always true.

  Maison Autrique will be putting on an exhibition based on its publication “Kronikas 2”, as well as signing sessions with authors from Brussels, Algeria and Cuba (including Etienne Schréder, Jeroen Janssen, Thierry Mondelaers, Rémi Desmosts, Izquierdo and Lysbeth Dauont-Robles).

  Sterling Books

  Discover a wide range of comic strips in English on the Sterling Books stand, run by an independent English bookshop that came to Brussels in 1997. A special, extensive selection

  of more than 600 graphic novels, from acclaimed literary works to classic superheroes, from Neil Gaiman to Alison Bechdel, from “V for Vendetta” to “Black Panther”, and the new hit, “Sabrina”, the first graphic novel to have been nominated for the Booker Prize. Comic fans will be offered recommendations and the chance to discover the best of English and American comics.

  The detailed list of publishers, authors offering signing sessions and the whole programme are available at www.fetedelabd.brussels (website updated regularly).