Welcome to our new article on ComicScene – Space Station Comics. It’s like Desert Island Discs in space. If you’d like to take part then email us at comicsceneuk@gmail.com
This week we spoke to Anabelle, owner of La Belle Adventure, which is currently running a Tara Togs exhibition and talk/signing on 22nd February with writer/artist Stref.
What is your earliest comic memory?
Obviously Asterix. My parents are Portuguese and have never been huge fans and readers of comics, but we had a ritual when we were at the supermarket, they used to drop my brother and I at the comics section and we spent our time reading Asterix there. I really loved that ! My favourite Asterix is The Great Divide.
What was the last comic you read and enjoyed?
A few days ago, I read and enjoyed Deux Filles Nues by Luz (publisher Albin Michel). This graphic novel tells the story and journey of a painting from its creation, through the dark time of Nazism during the Second World War, until now. The entire story is told via the sight of the painting ; this is very original and clever. Passive actor of a world beyond him, Deux Filles Nues is a survivor. The result of an investigation led by Luz, this historical graphic novel calls us to be extremely vigilant in the face of all forms of political and cultural censorship. This graphic novel received the Golden Award of best album (Fauve d’Or) at the International Comics Festival in Angoulême last week.
What work are you most proud of and why?
25 years ago, with the support of a group of friends, I’ve opened Le Café BD (Comics Café) in Bordeaux. It was the first comic book themed café in town. It was a small and cosy place where you could read hundreds of graphic novels, meet and talk with comics artists, enjoy exhibitions of original arts, while drinking and eating something. It was my first experience as entrepreneur and the first contribution to celebrate 9th Art and my passion.
Who do you thank for your career/interest in comics and who was your biggest influence?
While I was at University to study “Management of cultural action & Cinema”, I became more and more attracted by Comics. At that time, my first boyfriend was a huge comics reader and I spent hours at the library. I chose to validate my business internship by working for a Comics Festival in the close area of Bordeaux and I never stopped being involved in the promotion of the 9th Art until then.
So I guess I thank : Love !
The Argentinian Comics artist Alberto Breccia is my greatest master ! Beyond his virtuosity and graphic genius, it’s the artist’s commitment that impresses me.
What are you working on now?
It’s been almost 2 years that we settle and Scotland and 8 months that we opened the bookshop at 225 Leith Walk in Edinburgh. It’s still a work in progress, we still have lots of things to do. We’re currently working on our website, to give people opportunity to order online and we’re also collaborating with the French Institute to create a Comics Festival in June/July that will celebrate the 730 years anniversary of the Auld Alliance between France and Scotland.
What advice would you give your teenage self?
Don’t underestimate yourself!
What five comics would you take to an orbiting space station with you?
I’m choosing 5 comics that are also translated in english and I think suit the space station context.
– The Nikopol Trilogy by Enki Bilal
The Nikopol Trilogy is probably the most famous of Bilal’s works. Begun with La Foire aux Immortels in 1980, this fabulous story of adventure and anticipation continued with La Femme Piège in 1986 and completed with Froid Equateur in 1992. This decisive work earned Enki Bilal recognition as one of the cult authors of contemporary comics, both among the general public and critics. The story takes place in a distant dystopian futur in Paris 2023 with, as always with Bilal, political plots and a criticism of powers in state. The art is amazing and I remember wearing blue hair at that time as tribute of the beautiful female character.
– Shangri-La by Mathieu Bablet
What an intriguing and visionary young comics artist! I’m always very amazed by the topics and his very unique and personal vision. With Shangri-La, Mathieu Bablet mixes the different themes dear to the Sci-fi genre (genetic manipulation, fear of others, temporal paradox, …) by showing a futuristic world extremely similar to current society and, by thee, the criticism of a consumerist lifestyle.
– Negalyod by Vincent Perriot
With Negalyod, the young comics talent Vincent Perriot reveals himself as an incredible “heir” of Moebius and Giraud, by combining a Sci-Fi western with impeccable art and very rich univers. I love the creativity of this artist, who reinvent himself at every new book with cleverness and very cinematic storytelling.
– Alone by Christophe Chabouté
Chabouté is a Master in black & white. He’s also a poet and one of the best comics artist when it talks about very intimate stories. He’s sens of framing, light and catching a moment with purity is simply magical, mostly in this album. The idea of this disfigured man living alone in a lighthouse with only a dictionary and his imagination to escape from his condition is just brilliant. This album is a master-piece !
– Steak of Chalk by Miguelanxo Prado
Because I’l need some colors in my space station, I’ll go with the spanish artist Miguelanxo Prado. Working most of the time on color papers and stealk of chalk or mixed media, this “huis-clos”-thriller is a very bitter-sweet story about complexe human relationship in an island with astonishing vibrant landscapes. If you don’t know this artist, he’s for me one of the great Maestro.
What graphic novel would you take?
Perramus by Alberto Breccia because his my Favorite artist ever and an absolute must read for people who believe in Freedom and against all sorts of repression.
Anything you’d like to share with us before you go?
To stay with the theme of Sci-Fi, I’ll recommend the reading of Frontier by Guillaume Singelin. Dense, relevant – even militant without falling into the naive or idyllic -, mastered and rich, this album is an amazing space-opera which warns of the conquest of space by men in a “potential” near future.
Thanks for your time Anabelle.
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