Discover five French comic books
France, along with Belgium, is home to the “Bande-Dessinée” (European comic books). Every year in Angoulême, south-west of France, the International Comic Book Festival attracts authors and readers from all over the world. Here is a list of iconic French comic books that are worth a look.
Asterix
Asterix is one of the most famous French comic book series. Created in 1959 by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, the series is set in 50 BC (shortly after the Roman conquest of the Gaul) in a small Gallic village in Armorica which continues the fight alone against the invaders, thanks to a magic potion prepared by the Druid Panoramix. Big on humour and parodies, the series captures the hearts of children and adults alike.
Persepolis
Persepolis is a series of black and white autobiographical comics by Marjane Satrapi, published in four volumes between 2000 and 2003. The author retraces the milestones that marked her life from her childhood in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution to her difficult entry into adult life in Europe. Both a historical testimony and a reflection on identity and exile, Persepolis is the greatest editorial success of the European alternative comics in the 2000’s. Very well received by the press, it has made Satrapi one of the most recognised French speaking authors. In 2007, the feature-length animated film adaptation of Persepolis won the jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
The Arab of the Future
Born to a Syrian father and a Breton mother, Riad Sattouf first grew up in Tripoli, Libya, where his father had just been appointed a teacher. Coming from a poor background but keen on politics and obsessed with pan-Arabism, Abdel Razak Sattouf raised his son Riad in the era of great Arab leaders, symbols of modernity and virile power. The Arab of the Future, created by Riad Sattouf in 2014 is a series of four autobiographical comics. This work earned worldwide praise and was awarded prizes in different festivals. It has been translated into more than 20 languages.
The Rabbi’s Cat
The story is set in Algiers during the 1920s. A Rabbi’s cat is able to speak after eating a parrot. The animal starts to question the religion of his master. The answer is a poetic tale written by Johann Sfar, one of the most creative writers of his generation.
Donjon
Donjon is a massive project written by Lewis Trondheim and Johann Sfar. It is a comic book series launched in 1998, parodying heroic fantasy at several levels. It is notably inspired by the game Dungeons and Dragons. It relates the adventures linked to the destiny of a dungeon, from its construction to its destruction.
