This November, Europe Comics will be traveling south to Italy to participate in Lucca Comics & Games, the largest comics convention in Europe. This 51st edition of the famed Lucca festival will be running from November 1 – 5, and together with partners BAO Publishing and Tunué, as well as local partner Editoriale Cosmo, Europe Comics is participating in a series of events to make an incredible weekend even better, highlighted by a visit from award-winning French author Emile Bravo.
Our lineup begins on Thursday, November 2nd, with the Translation Slam. Designed to promote the role of translation and translators in the comics world, the competition challenges participants to translate selected comics from English, French, and Japanese into Italian. This year’s edition, sponsored in part by BAO Publishing, will also for the first time offer an Italian to English category, with the winner having the chance to have his or her work published on digital platforms worldwide by Europe Comics. Registration is now closed, but be sure to check back in next year!
On Friday, November 3rd, attendees will get a taste of the best that Franco-Belgian comics have to offer with the arrival of Emile Bravo, author of The Amazing Adventures of Jules (Dargaud/Europe Comics), as well as the acclaimed Spirou – Le journal d’un ingénu (Dupuis), set to be published in Italy by Nona Arte. On Friday afternoon, Bravo will be signing books at the stand of BAO Publishing, with whom he has published a number of celebrated children’s books. Also, in a separate event organized by publisher Feltrinelli, French physicist Thibault Damour and Belgian artist Mathieu Burniat (Dodin-Bouffant: Gourmet Extraordinaire, Europe Comics 2017) will be present to promote their remarkable graphic novel Mysteries of the Quantum Universe (Dargaud; published in Italy by Feltrinelli).
Later in the weekened, Emile Bravo will be on hand to take part in a number of special events, including more signings with BAO and Editoriale Cosmo, a live drawing performance, as well as a panel with fellow European authors Federico Bertolucci and Brrémaud (Little Tails, published in English by Lion Forge) and American cartoonist Raina Telgemeier.
Full event details may be found below, and you may discover more about the Europe Comics authors in Lucca by clicking on the covers of their works farther down the page. Buon divertimento!
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 2
11:15 – 12:00 Migrating Comics: Across Languages, Countries, and Platforms – Complesso San Micheletto
Panel discussion featuring author Zerocalcare, publisher Michele Foschini (BAO), British comics critic Paul Gravett, and French foreign rights agent Sophie Castille (Mediatoon Foreign Rights/Europe Comics). Moderated by Andrea Plazzi.
14:00 Translation Slam – Complesso San Micheletto
The 2017 edition of the long-running Lucca translation competition, featuring a new Italian-to-English category. Pre-registration required.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 3
17:00 – 18:30 Emile Bravo signing @ BAO, booth NAP 216
17:00 Exposition: Mysteries of the Quantum Universe – Palazzo Ducale, Tobino Exhibition Hall
Featuring Mathieu Burniat & Thibault Damour, on hand to discuss their book published in Italy by Feltrinelli.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 4
11:00 – 12:00 The Crucial Role of Comics – Auditorium San Girolamo
Panel discussion focused on the important role comics can have for children, featuring authors Emile Bravo, Raina Telgemeier, Federico Bertolucci and Brrémaud. Moderated by Andrea Antonazzo (Fumettologica).
14:30 – 16:00 Emile Bravo signing @ Cosmo Editoriale, booth NAP 309
16:30 – 18:00 Emile Bravo signing @ BAO, booth NAP 216
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 5
11:00 – 12:00 Panel Showcase with Emile Bravo – Sala Tobino
A live interview with author Emile Bravo, as he draws before the eyes of the audience.
14:00 – 15:00 Live Performance with Emile Bravo – Area Performance
A live drawing performance from the author, with the sketch being auctioned off for charity.
16:00 – 17:30 Emile Bravo signing @ Cosmo Editoriale, booth NAP 309
Header image: The Amazing Adventures of Jules © Bravo / Dargaud
