The BD Comic Strip Festival returns to Tour & Taxis, at Belgian capital Brussels from 9 to 11 September. In addition to the exhibitions and the inevitable giant balloons, the festival features most popular contemporary authors. The festival is rich in meetings and activities. It would be great opportunity to discover the authors and immerse yourself in their world.
From 9 to 11 September, the BD Comic Strip Festival (the new name of the Brussels Comic Strip Festival) will put the ninth art under the spotlight. The programme includes exhibitions, activities, signing sessions, talks and the inevitable giant balloons for all comic book lovers and fans of the genre. The event takes place at the spectacular setting of Tour & Taxis.
The BD Comic Strip Festival is the major event for fans of the ninth art. It brings together today’s most important artists and authors. From the Palomia cruise to the guided tour of the Goldorak exhibition and a Manga drawing workshop, comic fans will be immersed in the exciting universes of their favourite heroes and creators.
There wouldn’t be a BD Comic Strip Festival without signing sessions! Many authors will be in attendance to delight faithful comic book fans. In total, nearly 200 signing sessions will be held on the Tour & Taxis site.
The publishing houses and their authors offer a rich programme of meetings around legendary heroes and authors, hot topics and new trends. Visitors will notice that the world of comics, the popular ninth art, often reflects the concerns of our societies. But that’s not all! There’s an abundance of fun activities for all ages to discover at the festival.
The BD Comic Strip Festival is also a festival where visitors can enjoy games and activities around the favourite heroes of young and old. And publishers have understood this. They offer a host of activities to entertain and inspire comic book fans.
The International Pavilion
While Belgium is particularly proud of its comic book heritage, many other countries are active in this field as well. Among them, many foreign cultural representations will set up in the International Pavilion to showcase their works and enjoy a special shared experience. Ukraine is also among the guests, thanks to the Polish Institute in Brussels.
For several years, Ukrainian comics have experienced dynamic development, led by the artist Igor Baranko. Over the last ten years, a number of cartoonists have made their debuts in Ukraine. From historical comics to science fiction and fantasy, as well as topical issues such as war and the Russian attack, they tackle a wide range of genres and themes. The exhibition, presented by the Polish Institute in Brussels, features a group of contemporary Ukrainian comics creators who work for publishers such as UA Comix, Vydavnytstvo, Vovkulaka, Lantsuta Publishing, Lyuta Sprava and The Will Production. An artistic and socially committed collection of works to be discovered without delay.
Independent comics
Since comics are not limited to the big publishing houses and the heroes of our youth, independent comics have earned a special place in the festival. Nearly 30 authors and micro-publishers will present their works. And that’s not all! The exhibition “Chez Marylène, la frite est belle” allows the public to explore the favourite themes of Anne Simon’s Tales of Marylène, such as feminism, criticism of capitalism or patriarchy and power games. In short, a wonderful opportunity for comic book lovers to (re)discover this other rich facet of the ninth art.
Guided tours
Several guided tours will be available to visitors. From the Goldorak exhibition to the surreal discovery of Renée, the masterly work of Pieter De Poortere. What better way to discover the universe of these fascinating characters than with a well-read guide?