Sun, 22 November 2009
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Comics are an integral part of Belgian culture. We find out more about an enduring love affair with the so-called 'ninth art'.Over half of the books printed in Belgium comic books.
That means a new comic book is published every day by an industry that supports around 600 professional artists.
Willem De Graeve, the press officer of the Centre Belgique de Bande Dessinée (CBdBD), agrees that the comic book sector represents a not insignificant chunk of the Belgian economy.
But more importantly, he says, comics are a part of the country's culture.
"I don't think you could find a Belgian who had never read a comic book. Everybody has a small collection at home, everybody knows comics, it's even part of the school curriculum," he says.
One of the CBdBD's main tasks is to promote this key aspect of Belgium's cultural heritage.
For example, the centre is responsible for the 20 or so giant frescoes depicting scenes from comic books that are painted on city walls on Brussels' historical centre.
But of course the big question is just why have comics acquired this almost mythical status in Belgium?
Hergé sets the ball rolling
One important factor is Hergé, the artist who created Tintin, one of the world's most enduring comic book characters.
Hergé was the first comic artist in Europe to gain real success and this made the profession popular.
"We now have some good tennis players and everywhere in Belgium young girls are practicing tennis. The same happened with Hergé. Youngsters started to draw comics wanting to become famous one day. That's why there are so many comic artists here,” De Graeve says.
About 80 percent of comic books printed in Belgium are exported, so Belgians are used to the fact that many of their authors are recognised and respected internationally.
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