Posted in: Comics, Current News | Tagged: Angoulême, london

From London To Angoulême, The Biggest Comic Book Festival In The West

From London To Angoulême, The Biggest Comic Book Festival In The West... and they've got a comic obelisk

Published Thu, 30 Jan 2025 06:57:08 -0600

Article Summary

Explore the Angoulême Comics Festival with British creators on a quest for publishers.
Discover Angoulême's intriguing Comic Obelisk that every town should aspire to have.
Join Posy Simmonds, the first Brit to win the Grand Prix, as this year's festival President.
Navigate the biggest comic festival in the West with maps, galleries, and insider insights.

Three familiar British comic book creators, Chris Geary and Simon Lewis of Flesh And Blood and Skin And Bone graphic novels, and Joshua Spiller of Protean Masks, have headed from London to the Western world's biggest comic book festival being held this week, the Angoulême International Comics Festival, and arrived earlier this morning. They will be looking for other creators, comics, and publishers, maybe those who will be interested in publishing their own work further. Check out their stuff in the links above. Chris Geary tells me, "The three intrepid explorers have made it. I've attached some of the photos I took along the way. Will add a bit of what they're of. Not sure how many you'll find helpful, but here goes…" Thank you Chris! The journey has begun!

: Leave St. Pancras.

: "Goodbye London. (Distant PO Tower in middle…)"

: "Hello Paris! Fresh off the train and into Gare de Nord."

: "Simon and Josh in GDN working out the best way to transfer."

: "Had to buy a transfer ticket to go from GDN to Montpartnessa-Bienvenue"

: "Big ol' travelator. (Cameo by Simon.)"

: "Some local maps."

: "Some local maps."

: "Some local maps."

: "Montparnasse-Bienvenue,,,"

: "- and a little home away from home."

: "The 14:16 to Bordeaux Saint-Jean is the train that takes us to Angouleme."

: "Third train…"

: "… It's a Double Decker!"

: "Just need to make sure you have the right ticket. I imagine that like the Terminator, these can't be bargained with…"

: "A stop along the way – Poiters."

: "And finally – Angouleme!!"

: Angouleme from Chris Geary

: Angouleme from Chris Geary

: Angouleme from Chris Geary

: Angouleme from Chris Geary

: Angouleme from Chris Geary

: Angouleme from Chris Geary

: Angouleme from Chris Geary

: Angouleme from Chris Geary

: Angouleme from Chris Geary

: Angouleme from Chris Geary

Chris Geary tells Bleeding Cool "The journey itself was pretty easy. Even with having to change twice. Strangely enough we could buy a ticket that included the first and third train, but then had to buy the transfer. The town itself is a lot bigger than I originally thought. We got there at five, and by the time we got sorted in our Air B'n'B (about 10 minutes drive from the town centre, it was dark. So couldn't really see much of the town by the time we made it back for food. (Which was nice – shocker!) Today is the first day of the con proper." Josh Spiller has a few shots of the town as well… of the comics and of the comic obelisk. As Chris says "I think every town should have a Comic Obelisk."

: Josh Spiller

: Josh Spiller

: Josh Spiller

: Josh Spiller

: Josh Spiller

: Josh Spiller

And even without Chris, Simon and Josh, this years may have a very British feel. Last year, Posy Simmonds was the first British creator to win The Grand Prix at Angoulême, the most prestigious comic book prize on the planet. And as a result, she has been named President of this year's show, with exhibitions of her work, and also creating the poster for this year's Angoulême.