Franco-Belgian comics

Franco-Belgian comics are comics written in Belgium and France. These countries have a long tradition in comics and comic books, where they are called BDs (from Bande Dessinée) in French. Belgian comic books originally written in Dutch are influenced by the francophone "Franco-Belgian" comics, but have a different feel. Also other European comics, especially Italian ones are strongly influenced by Franco-Belgian comics.

Related Topics:
Comics - Belgium - France - French - Dutch - European comics - Italian

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La bande dessinée is derived from the original description of the artform as "drawn strips". It is not insignificant that the French term contains no indication of subject matter, unlike the American terms "comics" and "funnies," which imply an art form not to be taken seriously. Indeed, the distinction of comics as the "ninth art" is prevalent in Francophone scholarship on the form (le neuvième art), as is the concept of comics criticism and scholarship itself. Relative to the respective size of their countries, the innumerable authors in the region publish huge numbers of comic books. In North America, the more serious, Franco-Belgian comics are often seen as equivalent to graphic novels, for various reasons, but whether they are long or short, bound or in magazine format, in Europe there is no need for a more sophisticated term, as the art's name does not itself imply something frivolous.

Related Topics:
North America - Graphic novel - Europe

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Half of Belgium (Wallonia and Brussels) and France share the French language, making them a unique market where nationality has almost faded out. Although Switzerland contributes less to the body of work, it is significant that many scholars point to a Francophone Swiss, Rodolphe Töpffer, as the true father of comics. This choice is still controversial, and it is true that Töppfer's work is probably unconnected to the genesis of the artform as it is now known in the region, as recounted below.

Related Topics:
Wallonia - Brussels - French language - Switzerland - Rodolphe Töpffer

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