The festival attracts around 8,000 annual visitors and is well-known beyond Luxembourg’s borders. The crowds were able to browse through collections from over 70 comic book dealers, or get caricatures made of themselves.
The event is also a great opportunity for visitors to get to know the artists behind their favourite comics, and to find out more about new projects. Organisers commissioned a comic book especially for this year’s festival: “De Bédéric : ënnerwee op Konter”, which was presented by Andy Genen. The comic was available to purchase at the festival, with personalised dedications by Genen himself.
“The comic is about how people used to make pilgrimages to Contern when they suffered eye problems, in order to be healed by Saint Walpurga,” Genen explained. The book was based on a text by Jacques Diedenhoven. “Bédéric is one of these pilgrims who visits Contern and magically travels through time to a modern-day version of the festival. It is basically a journey of discovery about the festival itself.”
Many enthusiastic readers queued up to receive artwork and signatures from creators such as Achdé, Flix or Thierry Capezzone. A Belgian attendee said “Comics are very important for us Belgians. We are keen on them from a young age.”
Young visitors were able to collect stamps for their Kids Pass at the different stands and had the opportunity to win prizes.
Next year’s event has been confirmed to run from 20-21 July 2024.
Video report in Luxembourgish:
