Quebec comic strips
Encyclopedia
Quebec comics, usually called in French « BDQ » for bande dessinée québécoise (or « BDK » in the seventies ), are comics
created by one or several Québécois
creators, released by a Quebec publisher, distributed and sold in Québec
. Note that, however, many Quebec creators are published in other countries.
The first Quebec comics appeared in the humour pages of a few newspapers in the late 19th century and early 20th century, following the trends coming from Europe.
was first published in the newspaper La Patrie
in 1904 and was the first French-language comic to feature speech balloons. Also in 1904, the Adventures of Le Père Ladébauche (Father Debauchery), created by Hector Bethelot in La Presse. The comical character Onésime was created by Albert Chartier in 1943.
, a fantastic adventure set in a parallel world, to a text written by Claude Paiement.
In Montreal, in parallel to mainstream humour magazines, a healthy underground scene developed. Julie Doucet
, Henriette Valium
, Luc Giard, Eric Theriault
, Gavin McInnes
and Siris
were among the names that were discovered in the small press publications.
) in cooperation with Le Salon Du Livre de Montreal. However, the festival's president Jean-Paul Eid has publicly said that their mandate was to be careful not to automatically link comics with humour.
The situation might be evolving.
Comics
Comics denotes a hybrid medium having verbal side of its vocabulary tightly tied to its visual side in order to convey narrative or information only, the latter in case of non-fiction comics, seeking synergy by using both visual and verbal side in...
created by one or several Québécois
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
creators, released by a Quebec publisher, distributed and sold in Québec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. Note that, however, many Quebec creators are published in other countries.
The first Quebec comics appeared in the humour pages of a few newspapers in the late 19th century and early 20th century, following the trends coming from Europe.
Early history
Les Aventures de Timothée (The Adventures of Timothée) by Albéric BourgeoisAlbéric Bourgeois
Albéric Bourgeois is credited with creating the first continuing comic strip to use word balloons in Canada.-External links:* ;*....
was first published in the newspaper La Patrie
La Patrie
La Patrie was a Montreal, Quebec daily newspaper founded by Honoré Beaugrand on February 24, 1879. It became a weekly in 1957 and folded in 1978....
in 1904 and was the first French-language comic to feature speech balloons. Also in 1904, the Adventures of Le Père Ladébauche (Father Debauchery), created by Hector Bethelot in La Presse. The comical character Onésime was created by Albert Chartier in 1943.
The 90s
First presented in serial fashion in Croc, The Adventures of Jerome Bigras in Bungalopolis were published as albums in 1992 Bungalopolis and 1994 On a marché sur mon gazon. Jerome Bigras lives in an absurdist version of suburbia with his pet, a leaking lawnmower. Both albums received the Onésime Prize. The author, Jean-Paul Eid, has also done the drawings for MemoriaMemoria
Memoria was the term for aspects involving memory in Western classical rhetoric. The word is Latin, and can be translated as "memory."It was one of five canons in classical rhetoric concerned with the crafting and delivery of speeches and prose.The art of rhetoric grew out of oratory, which was...
, a fantastic adventure set in a parallel world, to a text written by Claude Paiement.
In Montreal, in parallel to mainstream humour magazines, a healthy underground scene developed. Julie Doucet
Julie Doucet
Julie Doucet is a Canadian former underground cartoonist and artist, best known for her autobiographical works such as Dirty Plotte and My New York Diary...
, Henriette Valium
Henriette Valium
Henriette Valium , whose real name is Patrick Henley, is a comic book artist and painter based in Montreal, Quebec. Although Valium did gain substantial recognition from the underground comics scene in Europe and North-America since his beginnings in the early eighties, his provocative and...
, Luc Giard, Eric Theriault
Eric Theriault
Éric Thériault is a Canadian comics artist and writer, illustrator and blogger living in Montreal in Quebec .- Biography :...
, Gavin McInnes
Gavin McInnes
Gavin Miles McInnes is a Canadian writer, musician, and comedian. Referred to as "The Godfather of hipsterdom" and "the primary architect of hipsterdom" McInnes is often well known in the contemporary hipster movement mostly via Vice Magazine’s “DOs & DON’Ts” column.- Early life :McInnes was born...
and Siris
Siris
Siris may refer to several different things:Geography*Siris , an ancient city in southern Italy*Siris , an ancient city in Macedonia*Siris , a town and commune in Sardinia...
were among the names that were discovered in the small press publications.
Comics versus humour
Historical precedents have made it difficult for comic strips and comic books to be considered separately from humour in Quebec. For example, the most popular sources of comics in Quebec were magazines such as Croc (now defunct) and Safarir. In 2005, a large comic book event called BD Montreal, was organized and sponsored partly by the producers of the Juste Pour Rire Comedy Festival (Just For LaughsJust for Laughs
Just for Laughs is a comedy festival held each July in Montreal, Quebec, founded in 1983. It is the largest international comedy festival in the world.- Information :...
) in cooperation with Le Salon Du Livre de Montreal. However, the festival's president Jean-Paul Eid has publicly said that their mandate was to be careful not to automatically link comics with humour.
The situation might be evolving.
Distribution
Comics are well distributed in bookstores where they are great sellers, although local products are difficult to find outside speciality store like Fichtre or Studio 9. Quebec-based comics are rarely published in the large news paper networks, even in Francophone publications. Instead, publishers favour American-based syndicated series.Series and authors
- Les Nombrils by Delaf and Dubuc
- Paul by Michel RabagliatiMichel RabagliatiMichel Rabagliati is a Canadian cartoonist born and based in Montreal. He is published by Drawn and Quarterly in English, and La Pastèque in French....
Magazines
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Solaris (magazine) Solaris is a Canadian francophone science-fiction and fantasy magazine.Founded in 1974 in Longueuil by Norbert Spehner, Solaris is the oldest French language science-fiction and fantasy magazine in the world.- Description of the content :... ; |
Fanzines
- Arg ! ;
- Bédézine ;
- Blanc citron ;
- Le Bob http://lebobinfo.100webcustomers.com/ ;
- Délirius ;
- Détritus http://web.mac.com/fournierfrank/http%3A__web.mac.com_fournierfrank_Bienvenue.html/D%C3%89TRITUS/D%C3%89TRITUS.html ;
- Empire ;
- Galaxie ;
- Hydrale ;
- Kessé ? ;
- Koliphörm ;
- Krypton ;
- Laser ;
- MensuHellMensuHellMensuHell is a Canadian comics fanzine published in Montréal in Québec from December 1999 to December 2008.With 109 issues, MensuHell is probably the Québec comics fanzine which has the longest run....
; - Opium ;
- Rectangle ;
- Requin Roll ;
- Tabasko ! ;
- Zonar.