The Comics Festival unveils some great new features for its 2018 edition

The Comics Festival is coming back to town and with it some great new features for its 2018 edition. To mark its 9th year, from 14–16 September 2018, the Brussels Comics Festival will contain its own batch of unique novelties.

This year the brave Alix is celebrating 70 years of existence and will be honoured right through this weekend dedicated to the 9th art. Since its inauguration in 2010 by visit.brussels, theComics Festival has come a long way. Launched after a year dedicated to Brussels about the 9th art, each year the Comics Festival welcomes nearly 100,000 visitors and more than 250comics artists. This year, the Comics Festival will once again be taking up its place in Brussels park where the traditional tents will be pitched over 14, 15 and 16 September.

Aside from the regular giant balloon parade (with a a certain Blue Belgian making an apperance) or the rally of cars drawn from the huts of the greatest comics, the Comics Festival offers lovers of the genre talks, screenings, signings, , and other activities suitable for all. For its 9th year, this unmissable event for comics fans has its own batch of new features:

The courageous Alix will be honoured throughout the festival

From the exhibition poster to the Balloon’s Day Parade, the Gallic hero will be present everywhere.Two exclusives exhibitions: « Alix – The art of Jacques Martin »: This is the show-piece exhibition of this year’s festival. In collaboration with the publisherCasterman and the Royal Museum ofArts and History (Parc du Cinquantenaire), it will be produced by all parts for the Comics Festival. This will bring together around 150 original drawings arranged by topic (historical references, treatment of women and homosexuality, treatment of the imagination, etc.) situated among the permanent museum collections in theParc du Cinquantenaire and will be on display for 4months.

« Live in Fran Disco » – Thierry Van Hasselt/FMK (Wallonia-Brussels Federation)

This exhibition honours the winner of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation Prize forComics (Prix Atomium 2017), Thierry Van Hasselt/Fremok for his work « Live inFranDisco ». With twenty or so authors already confirmed, the publisher Dargaud has many surprises instore for visitors.

An exceptional comics improv contest

“Spirou vs Fluide Glacia: the clash!” No holds barred, it seems. As a sharp observer of this battle, Thierry Tinlot, former head editor of the two newspapers, has put himself forward as a referee and proposed an improv match during the comics festival! The only weapon of choice: humour! Players and artists will be defending the honour of their respective magazine. This super-original face-off is taking place at BOZAR. In collaboration with the Belgian Professional Improvisation League.

A very important publisher from the north of the country

The Comics Festival is proud to welcome Standaard Uitgeverij this year.

Second edition of the Atomium Comic Strip Prizes with two new prizes

The second edition of the Atomium Comic Strip Prizes with two new prizes Comic strips are an art that has fallen from favour in recent years. It has often proved difficult for professional comic strip artists to make a living from their work. visit.brussels, in close collaboration with the Brussels-Capital regional government, highlights the city’s support for creativity and brings together existing initiatives in awarding mainly cash prizes that will help the winners to finance their work. Building on last year’s award success, the Comics Festival the experience in 2018, will give no less than 9 prizes with a total amount of 115,000 euros.

Authors, signings, and exhibitions

Apart from the signing sessions, a life-size mural of the hero Batman and his rival the Joker will be drawn live during the festival by the artist Enrico Marini, author of the breathless diptych: »Batman, The Dark Prince charming ». But that’s certainly not all!

Exhibitions, a children’s space for the little ones based on their favourite heroes (Emma et Capucine, The Blaireau Renard family, Le Loup en Slip, Boule et Bill, etc.) and events for schools will bring the festival to life each day. Dupuis: The whole SPIROU magazine team will be present for the SPIROU festival. Surprises, games, quizzes, illustration battles– there’s no way you’ll get bored. Around fifty authors will be on hand for visitors for signing sessions, events, and this year, Editions Dupuis are placing the focus on Aire Libre, undoubtedly the most prestigious collection from a catalogue now in its 30th year!

Finally, a programme dedicated to the SCHOOLS awaits young people from Friday morning: they may discover colouring on computer, rediscover in illustration characters from films likeTamara, Seuls or Le petit Spirou. And since its the start of the year, any classes who wish can GET THEIR CLASS PHOTO taken at the Spirou stand with a little surprise…Glénat: Aside from the authors present, the publisher Glénat will be focusing on three major topics: The Conan collection. The new collection, Conan the Cimmerian restores the nobility of the Conan character by breathing new life, even more epic, into the texts of Robert E. Howard. Inthe programme, conference and encounter with the three illustrators of the collection. Young authors will also be offering original events and some live drawing; with some of the authors present. And a paper chase in the company of the little hero « Timo the Adventurer », is available as well as exhibitions. This is an event for comic lovers or for the whole family, as all will literally be immersed in the universe of their favourite heroes.