“We might be able to avoid the worst,” according to François Schuiten, a comic book writer and columnist

Calls for boycotts and criticism from big names in the comics field have intensified since the announcement of the renewal of the highly contested historical delegation, 9eArt+, as organizer of the event.

“Maybe we can avoid the worst possibility“, assured Monday November 10 in franceinfo, François Schuiten, comic strip writer, signed along with 19 other Angoulême grand prize winners for a column entitled”The Angoulême comics festival is in grave danger“, published this Monday in l’Humanité. Calls for boycotts and criticism from big names in the world of comics have multiplied since the announcement of the renewal of the structure, 9eArt+, as organizer of the event that provoked “public anger“, said the screenwriter.

“In recent years, there has been a decline, a series of scandals, many communication errors and especially lack of clarity in management.” of the comic book festival, explains François Schuiten. For the signatories, 9eArt+ “is the cause of the problem“.”This is created as a gap between what the author experienced and this direction“, continued the Belgian screenwriter.

Organizerdo not yet understand that the world has changed, that sensibilities have shifted, the world is transforming”developing writers. The update creates “huge inconvenience“.”Why would anyone stay there?“, he asked,”watching it all crumble when they should have thought about preserving a gem and especially a display case“.

Angoulême Festival is “an important tool for promoting comics“, added François Schuiten. “S“If it disappears, we can only cry,” he said. “We have to react quickly, the festival is tomorrow.“. This warning,”it’s also a cry of love”concluded the author