PRESS RELEASE Brussels, 24 August 2018 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.