From motion pictures to graphic novels and comics, it’s not even such a giant step. Stories are told in many ways. ArtistCongratz likes to hop on and off different art forms anyway.
But always with the same goal, lifting national gems beyond Belgian borders, welcoming internationals inside.
Station of the day is Breda, The Netherlands 🇳🇱, just across the Belgian border. Breda is the Hometown of a huge Festival of Comic books and therefor a perfect gathering of some of the finest draftsmen/craftsmen of our low lands.
Scroll through our Special Photogallery with awardwinning artists and their backgroundstories. Congratz to all of them! They will want you to discover more. Guaranteed.
ArtistCongratz to Joris Mertens! And the prettiest prize, this work of art by last year’s winner Judith Vanistendael 👌 Joris’ second graphic novel “Bleekwater” is now labeled “best comic 2022”
This gem on paper (available in Dutch and in French, English might follow) just won the prize named after Willy Vandersteen, spiritual father of the iconic Belgian comic “ Suske & Wiske”Mertens’ first book “Beatrice” also was awarded. Both books are published by Oogachtend, Belgian publishing house with finesse for this genre 📖📚Young talent in the making can never be awarded too early. Special Congratz for Joris from Chris Vandersteen, daughter of the late comic icon, which the prize is named after Could’nt resist a Selfie with Spider-Man”Nice reunion with former awardwinners Gerben Valkema and Eric Hercules, they won the prize a few years ago in Antwerp with their comic “Elsje”, she’s one fierce little lady making history to discover 👍⤵️“Lucky me, Last in line”, to get a personalized “Elsje” 🍀📚Making a little comic of my own, featuring Gerben Valkema & Eric Hercules 💭💬🎈#cameoforthewriters ✌️🤘☝️#always
Our shimmering long hot summer holds the best of several artist worlds. Since ArtistCongratz likes to go where no “outsider” has gone before 😉 and the temperatures are way too high to spend your time at the beach or in town we have something special in store for you this August. Although some might not cool down completely…
Let’s move from tunes to «cartoons»
First of all; did you know that lot’s of world famous cartoon characters have Belgian spiritual fathers?
Hergé & Tintin, Morris & Lucky Luke, Peyo & his Smurfs, just to name a few. But today we would like you to discover our best sold comic book series in the country.
If you are on holiday at our seaboard, you can get acquainted with our most famous comic family. By all means, don’t leave without meeting Flanders favourite “de Kiekeboes” who are celebrating their 45th anniversary with this expo.
Place to be is the cutest little coast town of Wenduine, where you and your entire family can discover the exposition “De Kiekeboes” for free. It’s also in this adorable place that creator Merho made a lot of adventures of the family come to life.
Still not convinced? No worries, You will be after passing through our photogallery⤵️
Let’s start with the starlet of these Fab Four; Fanny is the daughter of Marcel Kiekeboe. You definitely don’t have to understand Flemish to notice her euhm “appealing look” which is “hot and cool at the same time”Even Peyo’s Smurfs can’t seem to resist Fanny’s undeniable charm 🥰Surrounded by a proud dad and an early Fanny-admirer Books within books, the universe of “De Kiekeboes” is full of surprises, quibbles and winks to other existing figures.🍺A joint-venture with famous Belgian beers 👉Cheers!🍻Fanny even makes it to the cover of a celebrity magazine. Which cartoon character is able to say that 💬😊😇The comic has been around for four decades but founding father Merho manages to keep renewing and innovating the world of his characters. It works like a charm in this bestseller.From beach to book and in reverse 👙🏖☀️“TOP RODDEL”, as in “ Top Gossip” The household magazine, read by the familyFanny’s brother, The boy planting the flag on the sandcastle, is called Constantinopel. He tends to come up with the smartest ideas 💡in critical situationsThe exposition also highlights the early years of the comic, starting in 1977 in the Belgian newspaper “Het Laatste Nieuws »📰Finally a look on the entire family including cool mom CharlotteWant to get to know him? Two options; Buy an album and learn some Dutch in the process or visit the Expo “Lang zullen ze leven” (long they shall live), open to public till the 28th of August. Highly recommended by ArtistCongratz. And by all means Congratz to the jubilees 4️⃣5️⃣and their founding father Merho🥂
ArtistCongratz 