France.
France
1854
French comics, bande dessinée or BD, are known as 'the ninth art', a label dating from 1964.
The tradition runs from children's papers such as La Semaine de Suzette, where Bécassine appeared in 1905, through Pilote and Asterix (1961) to the magazine Métal Hurlant (1974) and independent publishers such as L'Association (1990). The Cité internationale de la bande dessinée in Angoulême holds what is described as Europe's largest collection of comics originals.
610
566
1854
1970s
Artists from France in the archive.
Comics from France in the archive.
Histoire pittoresque, dramatique et caricaturale de la sainte Russie, the earliest comic from France in the archive.
The decade when the most new comics from France began.
bande dessinée
France in 4 chapters
A short history you can leaf through. Click a page, use the arrow keys, or press Turn the page to read on.
France.
4 chapters
1905
to 1928
Chapter 01
Children's papers
After precursors such as Christophe and Caran d'Ache, Bécassine first appeared in La Semaine de Suzette on 2 February 1905, and Louis Forton's Les Pieds Nickelés premiered in L'Épatant on 4 June 1908. Alain Saint-Ogan created Zig et Puce in 1925.
1959
to 1973
Chapter 02
Pilote and the ninth art
The first Pilote album, published in July 1961, was the first Asterix album. In 1964 the term 'neuvième art' entered use.
1974
to 1989
Chapter 03
Métal Hurlant and legal deposit
Métal Hurlant ran from December 1974 to July 1987. From 1984 to 2015 the Cité in Angoulême received publishers' legal deposit of BD, which now makes up 60 percent of its heritage library.
1990
to today
Chapter 04
Independent publishers
L'Association was established in 1990 and published Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis in four volumes from 2000 to 2003. The Cité's museum holds more than 18,000 original pages and digitises several hundred documents a year.
The comics to know
- BécassineFR, 1905First appeared in La Semaine de Suzette on 2 February 1905.
- Les Pieds nickelésLouis FortonFrance, 1908Louis Forton. Premiered in L'Épatant on 4 June 1908.
- Zig et PuceAlain Saint-OganFrance, 1925Alain Saint-Ogan
- AsterixRené GoscinnyFrance, 1959Albert Uderzo, co-creator. The first Pilote album, July 1961.
- BlueberryJean GiraudFrance, 1963Charlier and Jean 'Moebius' Giraud
- Heavy MetalMétal hurlantJean-Pierre DionnetFrance, 1975Ran from December 1974 to July 1987.
- PersepolisMarjane SatrapiFrance, 2000Marjane Satrapi. Published by L'Association in four volumes, 2000 to 2003.
The people to know
- Rodolphe TöpfferComics artist, 1799 to 1846Swiss author of illustrated 'littérature en estampes'; the medium's European founder figure.
- Caran d'AcheЭммануил Яковлевич ПуареCartoonist, 1858 to 1909Precursor.
- Georges ColombComics artist, 1856 to 1945Precursor.
- Louis FortonComics artist, 1879 to 1934Les Pieds Nickelés.
- Alain Saint-OganComics artist, 1895 to 1974Zig et Puce.
- Albert UderzoComics artist, 1927 to 2020Co-creator of Asterix.
- Jean GiraudComics artist, 1938 to 2012Also known as Moebius; Blueberry.
- Jacques TardiComics artist, born 1946
- Claire BretécherComics writer, 1940 to 2020
- Marjane Satrapiمرجان ساتراپیComics creator, 1969 to 2026Persepolis.
More artists from France
All 610 artists- René GoscinnyComics artist, 1926 to 1977
- Alejandro JodorowskyComics artist, Born 1929
- Enki BilalComics artist, Born 1951
- Jean-Claude MézièresComics artist, 1938 to 2022
- Joann SfarComics artist, Born 1971
- Jacques MartinComics artist, 1921 to 2010
- François BourgeonComics artist, Born 1945
- Pierre ChristinComics writer, 1938 to 2024
- Benoît PeetersComics artist, Born 1956
- Jean-Yves FerriComics artist, Born 1959
- Didier ConradComics artist, Born 1959
- Lewis TrondheimComics artist, Born 1964
More comics from France
All 566 comics- Asterix the GaulAstèrix el galRené GoscinnyFrance, 1959
- Spirou et Fantasio in « Le Journal de Spirou »Spirou et FantasioAndré FranquinFrance, 1938
- Asterix and the Golden SickleLa Serpe d'orRené GoscinnyFrance, 1960
- BlacksadJuan Díaz CanalesFrance, 2000
- Asterix and CleopatraAstérix et CléopâtreRené GoscinnyFrance, 1963
- Asterix the GladiatorAstérix gladiateurRené GoscinnyFrance, 1962
- IznogoudRené GoscinnyFrance, 1961 to 1995
- Asterix at the Olympic GamesAstérix aux Jeux olympiquesRené GoscinnyFrance, 1968
- Asterix and the GothsAstérix et les GothsRené GoscinnyFrance, 1961
- Asterix in BritainAstérix chez les BretonsRené GoscinnyFrance, 1966
- Asterix and the Big FightLe Combat des chefsRené GoscinnyFrance, 1966
- Asterix in BelgiumAstérix chez les BelgesRené GoscinnyFrance, 1979
