Angouleme 2015 -- UPDATED 2/21 tour of the tents with 118 photos, links and more!

ADDITIONAL FRANCE POSTS IN PROGRESS. CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES.

Angouleme is a beautiful French village ... full of history to explore .. and steep hills to navigate ...

Every January .. it hosts the largest comics festival in all of Europe ... There is NO convention center. The town becomes the venue .. with all its charm and cafes interwoven with the maps of tents and booths...

Here are pics of the events guide (L) and program (R)

 Interior of the program...

city map from the program... 

The numbers on the map below will be used to reference the location of some of the sites on this post...

And here's the key to map ..

The Hotel de Ville (#6) is a center point for the festival ... 

 view from the hotel towards Rue Herge (with festival banners)

 The events in Paris were on everyone's mind ...

 so there was a bit of gravitas....

and an increased police presence. This was the first year where every time you entered a tent, there was a security stop that included a bag check and everyone was "wanded" for metal detection. There was also more police on the street and in the tents...

but Angouleme retained its festive feel...Below are some of the festival cars decorated with images of the "Fauve" (wild beast) mascot (created in 2007 by artist Lewis Trondheim).

across the street from the Hotel de Ville is the Quick restaurant (on Right in pic below). A popular stop with budget minded attendees for fast food snack and FREE WI FI! (pronounced "wee-fee" in France)

Here's #11 on the map ... the entrance to the "Place New York" .. or New York tent...

While temps were cold and often rainy outside ... inside the tents things were bright, bustling and toasty warm...

Stuart spends his time in the tents finding new books ... going through the ENTIRE book to make sure it delivers on its good cover and/or reputation

 Angouleme is also a great meeting place ... so many folks who don't get to any of the US conventions either exhibit at or attend this festival...

Outside, there are general admission ticket booths near the New York Tent .. and on the side of the Hotel de Ville.

Going east from the Hotel de Ville ...

Down the hill and north is the impressive Place des Halles (#4) .

. an enclosed market that is only open in the mornings ..

Next to the Halles is the  "Espace Para B-D"

Here's a brief tour of some booths inside the  "Espace Para B-D"
......display of "Chi" cat figurines .....

 f


from our pals at Attakus ..  http://www.attakus.fr/en_GB

artists signing at Comix Buro table, part of the Attakus booth.. Stuart offers a number of these popular Comix Buro artist sketchbooks http://stuartngbooks.com/imports/european-imports/comix-buro-sketchbooks.html

T-shirts featuring characters from American comics were a new offering at the festival from our friends at Pulps Comics and Collectibles..  https://fr-fr.facebook.com/pages/Pulps-Comics/158437027532083

While most of the booths are companies or publishers ... there are artists who exhibit at this show.. including our convention colleagues Bobby Chiu and Kei Acedera from Canada-based Imaginism Studios http://www.imaginismstudios.com/

Here's Kei signing a book at their busy booth for a happy patron...

Every tent featured a booth of official souvenirs from the festival..

 Here's another view of the Attakus booth .. facing toward the large window at the end of the tent..

 And here's the view from that window.  There were even CHAIRS by the window .. a rare luxury at any convention..

 Stuart spends his time scouting the booths for books .. and catching up with friends and colleagues. Artist Junajo Guarnido had a signing....

 Comics have international appeal .. here's Batman (sporting a festival scarf) with TinTin inside the Halles market...

 Sample shot from a group signing for artists inside the Para BD tent..

Just outside the Para BD tent are a number of cafes. Le Chat Noir is a popular meeting spot...

 Menu cover from the Chat Noir

One day near this area ... there was a lot of security present to escort and protect folks at a "je suis Charlie" gathering.

 Overhead banners point the way to other tents and exhibitions...

The town embraces the spirit of the festival... shop windows are full of festival-themed displays and promotional items...

Walking from tent to tent to see all the festival offers .. like this Chinese pavilion tent (#7 on the map_ in the middle of town..

This tent is also adjacent to a cafe... and the church that is also used as an exhibit area...

The walk through town to the next tents also offers stops for yummy take-away sandwiches and snacks...

Next tent is Le Monde Des Bulles -- Hall 1 at Place du Champ des Mars (#1 on the map)

The white tents below are the entrance to Hall 1. The large glass enclosed building is the renovated shopping plaza, with trendy boutique and chain clothing stores (including Zara and H&M) and a large stationary store. Shop early as these stores, like most business in  France, are CLOSED on Sundays! It's a law in France that reflects French culture -- Sundays are a day to go to the market (or church) in the morning, have a big mid-day meal with the family, then enjoy a stroll. Museums tend to be packed on Sundays, as they are among the few OPEN attractions .. along with most (but not all) restaurants.

Inside this long tent you'll find the lushly appointed booths for the large publishers .. such as Casterman ...

and Glenat ..

These large publishers are the "major studios" of Bande Dessinee.. and the signings include the "A" list artists .. along with the longest lines at the festival....The tradition in Europe is for the artists to do large elaborate drawings .. often with water color .. and fans will wait patiently (with little chairs and backgammon sets) for their turn. It's a shock for US fans who are used to the quick sketches at US cons. 

The sample signing schedule below is from the Soleil booth:

And here's a sample of the lines ... 

There is still very little presence of cos-play at Angouleme .. and this years cold, wet weather probably didn't help encourage participation. Photo ops with characters were limited to life-size statues present at various booths .. like this Heath Ledger Joker...

and this group of Marvel stars...

Between the festival souvenirs... 

and the range of small and large publishers and exhibitors ... there's a range of art and genres on display..

While US comics are mostly associated with superheroes ... french comics embrace a range of genres ...Contemporary and period settings are popular .. even sci fi and Western tales abound...

This booth featured all the titles that were the "official selections" of the festival..

French comics are read by all ages ... and there are publishers and divisions of the majors that specialize in titles for kids from infants through grade school... 

It was sweet to see young fans getting to meet and greet artists in this field... 

And there were groups of kids attending the festival .. wearing matching outfits .. and chaperoned by adults... 

Like any comics convention --- there's always a crowd .. and seating is limited...

but this is France after all .. and that means just steps outside any of the tents, there are a number of cafes and restaurants to while away time over a lovely coffee.. or traditional two-hour lunch...

After a break .. there's still more of the festival to see .. One popular feature was the Jack Kirby Exhibit in side Le Mondes Des Bulles Hall 2 (#2 on the map)

 This imposing character welcomed you to the exhibit..

the images on display showed a retrospective of Kirby's work .. but due to insurance concerns, most of the exhibit was reproductions...

Another show in the same tent was also getting a lot of attention .. just outside the Kirby exhibit was the booth for Korean phenom Kim Jung Gi...

This 3 min clip of him from You Tube has over 2 million views ...

Throughout the festival ... Kim Jung Gi worked on a large mural during live "drawing show" demos...

 Below is pic of the crowd watching the drawing show...

The artist was also sketching for fans who purchased books at his booth...There was a camera set up so fans could watch the drawing as it was created .. 

an educational and inspiring display of talent ....Stuart (in tan t-shirt below) is a fan .. Here are links to Kim Jung Gi books at SNB http://stuartngbooks.com/kim-kim-jung-gi-2011-sketch-collection-signed.html

http://stuartngbooks.com/kim-kim-jung-gi-2007-sketch-collection-signed.html  and
http://stuartngbooks.com/spy-games-tome-1-dissidents.html

Here are views of the mural...

Another treat at this booth was the FREE product samples provided by festival sponsor Sodastream...

along with this seating area and box of costumes .. a real hit with families!!!

A startling difference about Angouleme, compared to US conventions, is that number of attendees who are there to buy books! This really is a festival were the focus is on artists and (hardcover French) comics -- not Hollywood tie-ins and licensed merchandise...

 Inside the tents .. and on the streets ... artists are active and celebrated ...

The Festival guide is called "Hour by Hour" because there are films, interviews and "spectacles" offered day and night. Stuart enjoyed seeing the art ... and running into artist friends .. at this evening Gallery event..

Stuart spied this work by artist pal JP Kalonji  http://www.kalonjiart.com/

and moments later.. ran into JP

 

While the festival is only once a year ... it has woven its way into the fabric of the town. Many of the buildings have large murals of comics characters... and this charming scene of an artist at work...

 The town has streets to wander .. and a terrific local museum... http://musee-angouleme.fr/
so much waiting to be explored, you can't help but want to return....

MORE FRANCE POSTS ADDED 2/22 -- Calvin and Hobbes Exhibit; Bordeaux and BD Avenue