Belgium is the Mecca of comic strips, yet Czech comics have not yet been systematically presented there. That is set to change this summer. A special edition of the Belgian comic-strip magazine Stripgids is just coming out, focusing on the Czech scene and presenting Lucie Lomová, Vojtěch Mašek, ToyBox, Jaromír 99 and others. It will be followed up by an overview exhibition of Czech artists at the Brussels Comic Strip Festival.

“Belgium is the land of Tintin and the Smurfs and the locals are rightly proud of this. We are delighted that, together with Stripgids, we can show that Czech comics are also definitely worthy of attention,” says the director of the Czech Centre Brussels, Jitka Pánek Jurková.

For many people, Stripgids is the most beautiful comic-strip magazine of the Benelux Union. Its spring issue was compiled by the Czech comics historian Pavel Kořínek and presents a portfolio of twelve of the most distinctive young faces of Czech comic-strip art, including examples of their work. It will be presented on 12th June at the Muntpunt library in Brussels.

“Czech comics have probably never had it so good, at least as regards the variety, creativity and ambition of the published works,” says Pavel Kořínek. “They are characterised by self-confidence, an infectious enthusiasm and the desire to tell stories and experiment.” Pavel Kořínek’s talk in Brussels will be accompanied by live animation inspired by Czech comic strips, the work of the famous Flemish comics artist and author Charel Cambré.

In collaboration with the Czech Centre Rotterdam Stripgids will also be presented in Amsterdam on 11th June 2019, at Boycott Books. Pavel Kořínek and Charel Cambré will also appear there. However, viewers can also look forward to the official launch of the Dutch translation of the book Podivuhodná robotí expedice (The Remarkable Robot Expedition, 2016), attended by the author, Jindřich Janíček.

“We would also like to present Czech comics in the neighbouring Netherlands, although the scene there is not as lively as in Belgium. We have successfully contacted the bookshop and publishing house Boycott Books, which publishes artistically interesting books in Dutch, including Czech books,” adds Hana Schenková from the Czech Centre Rotterdam.

Then, in September, the Brussels Comic Strip Festival will feature an exhibition entitled Mezitím na jiném místě (Meanwhile, Elsewhere), charting the history of Czech comics.

Presentation of Stripgids no. 5:

11 June 2019 19:00, Boycott Books, Amsterdam – https://boycottbooks.com/11-06-presentation-of-stripgids-5-boycott-book-launch/
12 June 19:30 Muntpunt, Brussels – https://www.facebook.com/events/1095133380670785/