From 11 to 20 September 2020, the Comic Strip Festival is making a comeback with a special edition in the form of a free immersive experience in the impressive setting of the Gare Maritime at Tour & Taxis. Visitors can immerse themselves in the decors of their favourite comics. Yakari, Spike and Suzy, Ducoboo and many others will be there. Not forgetting the unmissable Atomium Prizes. Other surprises and new activities will also await visitors at several locations in the capital.
This year, the Comic Book Festival is trying something different due to the health crisis and to ensure public safety. For its new location in the Gare Maritime at Tour & Taxis, it is offering a free immersive experience in the world of comic strips (registration required). Who has never dreamt of discovering the enchanting world of Yakari’s Great Prairie, settling into the class of Ducoboo or immersing themselves in the world of Star Wars? All this will be possible along the route proposed during this unique experience. It offers a wonderful opportunity to disconnect from reality and have a great time with family and friends. And that’s not all, as the famous giant balloons of comic book characters will also be present and accompany visitors throughout their visit. At the end of their tour, visitors can take a break at the souvenir shop run by the Brussels bookshop Filigranes.
In addition to this immersive experience, there will be many activities available online and in several locations throughout the Capital. Below is a brief overview-
• Movie Drive: The open-air cinema was created this summer on the Tour & Taxis site and will offer two exclusive free screenings for The Comic Strip Experience (registration required):
- Saturday at 6 pm: Snowpiercer: film made in 2013 by the now famous South Korean director who won several awards for his film “Parasite” last year and inspired by the French comic strip Le Transperceneige.
- Sunday at 3.30 pm: Ducoboo 3: adaptation of the famous comic book “L’Élève Ducobu”, the film features a student named Ducoboo who tries to get good grades in every way possible and imaginable.
• The Atomium Prizes: this year, the lucky winners of the ten Atomium Prizes will be announced online on Thursday 17 September.
What’s new?
- Two Spirou Prizes: this year, not one but two Spirou Prizes will be awarded by Spirou magazine. These prizes will reward comic strip short stories (maximum 4 pages) featuring Spirou and Fantasio.
- Atomium Children’s Prize: the Atomium Children’s Prize, organised in partnership with the Brussels Book Fair and with the support of the Belgian Comic Strip Centre, aims to reward a comic strip for its educational character. The first winner will be announced this year.
- Bronzen Adhemar Prize: this award is making a comeback as an Atomium prize after being awarded in 2018. It will reward a Flemish author for a work or for their body of work.
Many activities across Brussels
Many surprises await comic strip fans in bookshops and museums in the capital. Themed guided tours will also be offered free of charge.
A safe visit
The Comic Strip Experience will of course have the Brussels Health Safety Label (launched in collaboration with the international certification company SOCOTEC at the start of summer). It will be held according to the rules imposed by the National Security Council. Visitors will be asked to respect the organisation’s hygiene rules based on the government health measures at the time of the event. They will be requested to get acquainted with these rules on the Comic Strip Festival website before going to the site.
Reservation required
To offer visitors the best possible experience and ensure their safety, the Comic Strip Festival has implemented a mandatory online reservation system. Booking is very simple: visitors just choose the day and time slot that suits them best, the number of participants and that’s it.