International Comic Festival – Angoulême
International Comic Festival – Angoulême
Every year, since 1974, there has been an International Comic Strip Festival in Angoulême, Charente (16).
A festival held in 1972 and called Millions d’Images was such a success that the city decided to create a festival just for comic strips.
The Festival Mascot: Le Fauve
As a nation, France loves comic strips (sometimes alluded to as their 9th Art Form), so the popularity of this internationally renowned event is not really surprising.
One may find several comic books (Bande Dessinée) in most French homes. These range from the classics like Tintin and Asterix, to those for younger ages, such as Max et Lili for the little ones, Spirou for the teens and even crime, fantasy and erotic ones for adults.
Indeed, they are held in such high regard that they are often used in school curriculums.
More than 1,000 comic strip authors make their home in France and in 2007 French publishers issued more than 4,000 comic strip books.
Is it surprising, then, that this medieval town in the south-west of France would be the meeting place for cartoonists from all over the world?
As in past years, deals will be made with publishers and world-famous authors will sign copies of their books for their fans who will flock to meet them.
There are also various awards made to upcoming, as well as established, authors and artists.A further attraction is the biggest comic strip shop in the world with old and new books and the best place to find that vintage Tintin book, or other, for your collection.