I feel like American comics are made with an entirely different intent than the European ones. Or at the very least the publishers have a different approach. I think is due to big cultural differences.

If you ever want an interesting read; Alessandro Baricco wrote a series of essays for an Italian newspaper using the fall of the roman empire to the barbarians as an example for trying to understand why all sorts of cultural ‘barbarians’ have a tendency to not respect their predecessors, rich as that heritage might be. He uses all sorts of examples close to the Italian heart (Wine, soccer, food ect.) to explain why other countries barbarize these institutions. All to eventually paint a picture of the modern ‘barbarian’ and why they act the way they do. It was a real eye opener for me, and since then I look at other comparable situations (like the difference between european, american and eastern strips) with entirely new eyes.

Nothing Graphic about this, still I recommend: (2006) I Barbari - [Alessandro Baricco] (It’s been translated in quite a few languages)

Edit: Hmm, maby that is a bit of an off topic leap. The reason why I’m bringing this up, is because I’ve often been annoyed with a lot of american comics, to the point of being snobbish. Having had the privilege of growing up around Gaston/Guust, Thorgal, Suske & Wiske, Asterix, ect. I’ve always felt that what the americans offered, seemed kinda empty in comparison.

But then again, those strips aren’t perse empty in comparison (as much as it pains me to admit it) but just cater to needs different than my own. which… brings me again to Baricco.

Ces barbares ne sont pas si fous après tout ;)

Still, we have the right to our own preferences

This doesn’t have enough upvotes imo. Contingency hell can be dealt with. (mind you, noting wrong with having a contingency plan or two, but there’s a point where it goes from a healthy survival mechanism to a debilitating maladaptive coping mechanism)

I’m still in contingency plan hell, but I’ve managed to deal with it in some parts of my life and that feeling of just coming out of a situation that used to make you tense AF and then realizing you were not even considering to worry about it is the best feeling even. This was something I never expected to be possible.

And honestly, I have been stressing out about the other bits of my life that are still contingency hell, kinda thinking I might never get rid of them, just how I felt about the things I actually did deal with…

Guess I came here to remind some internet rando’s that it is in fact possible; ended up reminding myself :')

Clinging to #5 Working on #1 (hoping it’ll be the doorway to at least some of the other 3)

We’re still here, that’s already a lot :)

Btw, I googled Esther Verkest and apparently her creator (Kim Duchateau) is Flemmish.

Still, thanks for the find :)

I think it also has to do with her being inspired by both the belgi-franco stuff as well as the world of manga. She’s very much a new-generation artist in that sense where she’s definitely touching on that heritage, but is also seperated from it in a way.

I’m glad you enjoy this though! I’ve gotten to know quite a few new artists trough this group. Hell, I think it even rebooted my love for strips and graphic novels.

Maby I can do a few more posts in the comming days… I rather enjoyed this, and there’s a few more amazing artists on my shelf.

Question though, is this also a space for english/american graphic novellists like Allan moore and Brian lee o’malley? I could also do something about craig thompson, he’s pretty rad too.

Ah right, yeah its a struggle sometimes, bouncing between 3 languages. French isn’t really my forte anyway ^^"

I think the Dutch talk of franco-belgische strips as an alternative to BD. Often just ‘Strips’ As for the american/japanese varieties we tend to use Comics/Manga respectively.

We used to have have a stripmuseum in Groningen. More info here

Apparently there’s also a museum of comic art in noordwijk aan zee.

I havn’t been to either, sadly.

what do you mean by BD? i feel like im missing something…

I can’t get over how good that explosion is

Also, I wouldn’t say its worth making the trip, but anyone who does find themselves close to Rotterdam NL, they have a really nice expo about her in the Kunsthal (museum) right now. The other expo’s they currently have on are worth visiting too.

Ok, maby I should just make a post about her… at this point im spamming so much anyway XD