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Dean Simons @deansimons.bsky.social · 11h

Page from around 1950 but the Bécassine character dates from about 1905. Somewhat controversial in her time as she was based on a Breton stereotype, Bécassine is one of the first regularly appearing comics characters. The early stories predated the use of word balloons and captions, and it stuck

Dean Simons @deansimons.bsky.social · 1d

« Le Loup en slip » has been running since 2016. It is a spinoff of another book « Les Vieux Fourneaux », by Wilfrid Lupano and Paul Cauuet. This spinoff is illustrated by Mayana Itoïz, with Cauuet still involved. 8 or 9 books in, it has also been adapted into animation

Dean Simons @deansimons.bsky.social · 1d

If you are visiting the Angouleme comics museum once every few months, it is always worth drifting through the (temporary*) permanent exhibition. They swap exhibit items regularly

Spotted a Tezuka, a Sienkiewicz, and more

*renovations and a refresh taking place so a smaller area available

Dean Simons @deansimons.bsky.social · 1d

« Le Loup en slip » is a neat kids exhibition for a spinoff series featuring an underwear sporting wolf. Apparently it contains social commentary too. Looks good.

Not in English and would probably get banned in America because of the whole underpants thing. Might do alright in the UK.

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Dean Simons @deansimons.bsky.social · 1d

The Claire Bretécher exhibition is pretty good. It covers the broad strokes of her career, key themes, characters, and publications.

It’s interspersed with self portraits of the artist to accompany the original pages and drafts.

Only annoying thing was use of facsimiles, some grouped together

Dean Simons @deansimons.bsky.social · 1d

Documentation room closed earlier today so I had a couple hours to explore some of the temporary exhibitions at Angoulême’s comics museum.

Namely: Claire Bretécher and…Le Loup en slip (Wolf in underwear)

Dean Simons @deansimons.bsky.social · 1d

A 1989 reconfigured rerelease of a 1970s Bluecoats/Les Tuniques Bleues album.

Originally published in larger format, to make it fit into the smaller paperback size they chopped up + enlarged the panels and ran them mostly vertically. Technically you could make a physical webtoon out of this

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Dean Simons @deansimons.bsky.social · 3d

Couldn’t resist the Blake & Mortimer bookazine by national newspaper Le Monde. B&M has been going since 1946.

Le Monde have done a few of these about comics or their creators.

I have seen other newspapers in France do a special on a comic or author but Le Monde seems to do it more often.

Dean Simons @deansimons.bsky.social · 3d

It was a long day of travel yesterday but between trains I made time to browse the comics (and humour) magazines at Gare du Nord.

“Top shelf material” in this Relay.

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Dean Simons @deansimons.bsky.social · 3d

…The other is a darker subject.

A 400 page graphic history of sexual violence, aiming to put it in a social context and explore the political and legal dimensions, including protest movements, NGOs etc. I didn’t have time for a good look. Might be France focused but impressive graphic reportage

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Dean Simons @deansimons.bsky.social · 3d

The Brizzi Brothers have just released an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

Last year their adaptation of Phantom of the Opera came out.

In English, Abrams translated their take on Dante’s Inferno. That was last year. We shall see if we get these others but they look gorgeous…

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Dean Simons @deansimons.bsky.social · 3d

Currently in France for various things. Popped into the local book shop and had a look through their comics (bande dessinée) section.

A few things caught my eye. Won’t mention all of them because you can only add so many pictures but will thread two titles….

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Dean Simons @deansimons.bsky.social · 4d

In which I somehow manage to fit about 8 different kinds of awards into one article.

It’s a busy time of year.

Comicsbeat @comicsbeat.bsky.social · 4d

AWARD ROUNDUP: A lot of LICAFs – and more awards from around the world

In this Award Roundup we go through the LICAFs before checking out the happenings further afield

AWARD ROUNDUP: A lot of LICAFs – and more awards from around the world

In this Award Roundup we go through the LICAFs before checking out the happenings further afield

www.comicsbeat.com

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Dean Simons @deansimons.bsky.social · 6d

An overview of the newly opened 'The Future Was Then' exhibition at London's Cartoon Museum for DowntheTubes. It will be running until March 21, 2026.

Among the cool stuff on show (particularly from 2000 AD), there is some work by Jamie Hewlett spotlighted: Tank Girl and Phoo Action

The Future Was Then exhibition opens at London’s Cartoon Museum

Step into a weird, wonderful future!

downthetubes.net

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Dean Simons @deansimons.bsky.social · 16d

I find moments of casually written sexism in ‘old’ comics unexpectedly hilarious. They often come out of nowhere.

This panel is from Batman #382 (in which Batman gets Catwoman to disguise herself as a flight attendant to catch the villain)

This is from 1985.

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Dean Simons @deansimons.bsky.social · 20d

Lake District sure is pretty

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Dean Simons @deansimons.bsky.social · 23d

Sunset, a drink (apple juice), and a book.

Up in the UK’s Lake District ahead of LICAF - which officially kicks off tomorrow night

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Dean Simons @deansimons.bsky.social · 24d

Some award coverage

Comicsbeat @comicsbeat.bsky.social · 24d

Burns, Feazell, Murakami, and Plant given the nod at CXC 2025

Cartoonists Charles Burns, Gigi Murakami, Matt Feazell, and distributor Bud Plant were award winners at the eleventh edition of Cartoon Crossroads Columbus

Burns, Feazell, Murakami, and Plant given the nod at CXC 2025

Cartoonists Charles Burns, Gigi Murakami, Matt Feazell, and distributor Bud Plant were award winners at the eleventh edition of Cartoon Crossroads Columbus

www.comicsbeat.com

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Reposted by Dean Simons

Comicsbeat @comicsbeat.bsky.social · 29d

Movie Review: LOKAH offers a promising glimpse at a new interconnected cinematic superhero universe

While Fantastic Four: First Steps and Superman have been the tentpole superhero movies of the year, a surprise new contender has stepped up to the genre plate – and isn’t even based on pre-existing…

Movie Review: LOKAH offers a promising glimpse at a new interconnected cinematic superhero universe

While Fantastic Four: First Steps and Superman have been the tentpole superhero movies of the year, a surprise new contender has stepped up to the genre plate – and isn’t even based on pre-existing IP. Enter: Lokah

www.comicsbeat.com

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Dean Simons @deansimons.bsky.social · 29d

Interview!

Comicsbeat @comicsbeat.bsky.social · 29d

Interview: Talking CAESAR’S SPY with Jean-Pierre Pécau and Max von Fafner

This month Titan unleashes writer Jean-Pierre Pécau and artist Max von Fafner's trilogy Caesar's Spy to English language readers in a complete omnibus format. The Beat's speaks to the pair about their partnership, the story…

Interview: Talking CAESAR’S SPY with Jean-Pierre Pécau and Max von Fafner

This month Titan unleashes writer Jean-Pierre Pécau and artist Max von Fafner's trilogy Caesar's Spy to English language readers in a complete omnibus format. The Beat's speaks to the pair about their partnership, the story of Caesar's Spy, and its potential future

www.comicsbeat.com

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Dean Simons @deansimons.bsky.social · Sep 18

The Muppet Show is coming back: YAY!

…as a one-off special: oh.

a stuffed bird with a black headband is standing in front of a picture

ALT: a stuffed bird with a black headband is standing in front of a picture

media.tenor.com

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Dean Simons @deansimons.bsky.social · Sep 17

Little bit of award coverage

Comicsbeat @comicsbeat.bsky.social · Sep 17

Sturm & Sutphin’s WATERSHIP DOWN adaptation wins French critics comics award

James Sturm and Joe Sutphin’s adaptation of Richard Adams’ 1972 novel Watership Down was announced as the sixth recipient of the Association of French Comics Critics and Journalists' (ACBD) annual Prix Comics award

Sturm & Sutphin’s WATERSHIP DOWN adaptation wins French critics comics award

James Sturm and Joe Sutphin’s adaptation of Richard Adams’ 1972 novel Watership Down was announced as the sixth recipient of the Association of French Comics Critics and Journalists' (ACBD) annual Prix Comics award

www.comicsbeat.com

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Reposted by Dean Simons

Comicsbeat @comicsbeat.bsky.social · Sep 13

Matt Haasch, the founder of independent manga publisher Star Fruit Books, lost his battle with cancer earlier this week

Star Fruit Books founder Matt Haasch loses cancer battle

Matt Haasch, the founder of independent manga publisher Star Fruit Books, lost his battle with cancer earlier this week

www.comicsbeat.com

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Dean Simons @deansimons.bsky.social · Sep 7

With Brass Sun returning to 2000 AD after a lengthy hiatus in a couple weeks, I have been revisiting the series

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Dean Simons @deansimons.bsky.social · Sep 4

It’s a steeper climb compared to the US for sure, but the data looks kind of promising. I would love to see this survey repeated in other countries, including the US and France.

Some of the other activities surveyed give a hilarious picture of the UK. It even asks about eating candy

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