The BD Comic Strip Festival is coming to the Gare Maritime at Tour & Taxis from 6 to 8 September. This new edition’s programme includes exhibitions, meetings, book signings, and activities for everyone. Not to mention the unmissable manga space and the giant balloons. Plunge into the ninth art at this major event that will delight comic book fans of all ages.
From 6 to 8 September, comic strips will, once again, be in the spotlight at the BD Comic Strip Festival. On the agenda are activities, book signings, meetings and the iconic giant balloons, sure to please fans of the ninth art, whether they are enthusiasts or casual readers.
In addition to the countless activities for all audiences, a manga space will make its appearance, immersing fans in the world of Japanese comics, whose success is well established. Alternative comics will also be on display to pique the curiosity of visitors. All this will take place in the grandiose setting of the magnificent Gare Maritime at Tour & Taxis. Not to mention the Schools Day, which will offer a host of original activities for pupils on Friday.
This year, to honour the work of the popular author Jean Van Hamme, none other than TaDuc, the illustrator of the latest XIII trilogy, has taken on the creation of the new BD Comic Strip Festival poster. The poster features the iconic characters from Jean Van Hamme’s various cult series.
Several original exhibitions will be held at the Gare Maritime and the Comics Art Museum.
Gare Maritime at Tour & Taxis
Alternative comic strips exhibition
For several years now, the BD Comic Strip Festival has offered a space dedicated to alternative comics. For this edition, an exhibition will be devoted to the captivating work of Gwénola Carrère: Extra-Végétalia (2 volumes, co-published by Requins Marteaux and Super-Loto).
Homage to Dino Attanasio
Born in Milan in 1925, Dino Attanasio is the doyen of Belgian comics. He arrived in Belgium in 1948 and work with La Libre Belgique, Journal Tintin, and then Spirou. He is notably credited with creating the face of Bob Morane, resulting from the adaptation of Henri Vernes’ novels into comic strips. He just celebrated his 99th birthday. An exhibition paying tribute to his work will be dedicated to him, to mark the occasion.
Comics Art Museum
Jazz and Comics
Jazz and comics are closely linked, as evidenced by the many albums that, through their atmosphere, story, or emblematic artists, are inspired by this musical style. The Comics Art Museum has partnered with the Maison du Jazz in Liège to create a unique exhibition celebrating these two major art forms. This immersion into Belgian creativity and the diversity of styles which illustrate the strength and dynamism of this theme.
The giant balloons
Visitors will also be able to admire the famous giant comic book character balloons, which will be scattered across the festival site. This year, original activities will be organised near these monumental inflatables.
Signing sessions
No BD Comic Strip Festival would be complete without signing sessions! Many of the world’s best known authors will be on hand to delight loyal comic strip fans. Some 200 signing sessions will be held in the Gare Maritime.
Talks and activities
Publishers and their authors have prepared a rich programme of talks centred around iconic heroes from the ninth art and new trends. The world of comics also reflects the concerns of our societies. And that’s not all! They will also offer many original and zany activities for young and old throughout the festival.
The International Pavilion
While Belgium is particularly proud of its comics heritage, many other countries also have a fine record to their credit. Among them, a number of international cultural representations will be setting up shop in the International Pavilion to showcase their work and take part in a unique moment of exchange. The countries and regions represented are as follows: South Korea, China, Poland, Taiwan, Spain, Congo and countries of the Mediterranean basin.
Comic strip art colleges
At this year’s event, comic art students from higher education institutions in the Wallonia-Brussels federation will be on hand to present their work. The Comics Art Museum and the Raymond Leblanc Association are collaborating to organise two meet and greet sessions with publishing houses for young authors on Friday 6 September, offering them the opportunity to meet publishers.
Schools Day
The BD Comic Strip Festival will welcome schools as it should on Friday 6 September. At 9:00, the festival will open its doors to pupils and their teachers to introduce the secrets of the ninth art to the younger generation. Comic strips to read, mangas, balloons, and activities… the pupils will discover their heroes in all their forms. It will also be an opportunity to learn and participate in workshops organised by some of the major publishing houses.
The 2024 Atomium Prizes
To support creativity and authors, Brussels authorities have, for over five years, been awarding the Atomium Comic Strip Prizes, as part of the BD Comic Strip Festival. Most of these awards are cash prizes. This year, eight prizes will be awarded on 6 September, with a total of over €75,000 in prize money. Enough to inspire readers in their next purchases.
A free event that’s open to all
The BD Comic Strip Festival is free and open to all. The events and exhibitions at the Gare Maritime are also free. The goal is to give as many people as possible the chance to discover the exciting world of comic strips in the capital of the ninth art.
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