Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, HRL

How Different Are French Comics In Newsagents From The UK?

We know that France is one of the leading markets for comic books in the world. Dubbed the 9th Art, comic books are often the best-selling books, there is a large Franco-Belgian market for comic books in the bookstores, sold as a series of hardcover albums, often spanning decades from the same creators.

But what about away from the bookstores, the libraries and the higher end of the market. What about at the newsagents, the news stands, in competition with the tabloids, the tobacco, and the titmags? How do the French hoi polloi see the ninth art?

Tim Pilcher, currently working his notice at Humanoids, shared a recent trip to Paris, and a few photos. And surprisingly, it's not that different to what you might see in WH Smiths in the UK.

Such as the licensed kids comics used in plastic bags full of plastic toys, being the actual reason kids want them.

The Marvel and DC licensed repackaging of the superhero comic books, just like in Britain.

The Simpsons. Always the Simpsons. But then some original French comics too… a bit like Britain's The Phoenix., Okay, there are more of them…

The comic disguised as partwork. Hachette has had success with this with Marvel and 2000AD, repackaging comic stories in hardcover for a serialised collection of a variety of titles. Including Valerian And Laurelie, getting a new French lease of life after the success of the movie Valerian.

As the cover of Paris March notes, pushing the comic book series over the movie.

That the preponderance of manga, which once filled newsstands in France, has reduced to one piece of One Piece.

And then a few comics intended for older readers the equivalent to Viz Comics, 2000 AD, Judge Dredd and Commando.

Okay, so there is a slightly greater range of original comic books for kids and adults alike. But nothing near as much as one might expect, looking at the Angouleme Official List, say. And the realisation that the UK mass market isn't as far from the French model as one might expect. Though without Rebellion, Viz, and Phoenix it may be a different story entirely.

Thanks Tim!

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