Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash
Another year, another huge success for the BD Comic Strip Festival in Brussels.
Over 60,000 people visited the Gare Maritime at Tour & Taxis to immerse themselves in the wonderful world of comics.
Visitors turned out in force to enjoy meetings, events, signings and exhibitions. And not forgetting the chance to discover the authors who were awarded the coveted Atomium Prizes on Friday 8 September.
Once again, Brussels confirmed its key role on the ninth art’s international scene. From 8 to 10 September, Brussels was immersed in the ninth art with the BD Comic Strip Festival.
Activities, signing sessions, meetings, exhibitions and giant balloons were all on the programme for this year’s event.
The BD Comic Strip Festival brought together more than 90 exhibition stands, some 300 authors and illustrators, over 400 signing sessions and 6 exhibitions.
Visitors to the Tour & Taxis Maritime Station were treated to a host of activities organised by comic strip publishing houses.
Editions du Lombard celebrated their 77th anniversary in style with a range of fun activities. Curious visitors could explore further afield, thanks to the foreign cultural representations that set up shop in the International Pavilion.
The youngest visitors marvelled at the giant balloons scattered around the festival site and enjoyed workshops and exciting games to immerse themselves in the worlds of their favourite heroes.
And that’s not all! Countless visitors got the opportunity to chat with some of the leading authors of the moment at exclusive meet-and-greet sessions and also got their comics signed at one of the many signing sessions organised by the publishers.
Guided tours took comic buffs on a journey of discovery into the captivating worlds of the great heroes of the ninth art. In terms of exhibitions, alternative comic strips and their talented creators were given pride of place with the Sibylla and Cool Parano, un testament graffiti exhibitions by Max Baitinger and Benoit Carbonnel.
The Belgian Comic Strip Centre was on hand with two must-see exhibitions of its own: Le Lombard, a Family Affair and ODYSSÉE to the origins of Blake & Mortimer.
Both exhibitions remain on show for the next few weeks.
Not forgetting the Le Chat Déambule exhibition, which the public could admire while strolling through Brussels Park. Some lucky visitors even discovered the exhibition in the company of Philippe Geluck, having won an exclusive competition.
