New to bandes dessinées? Start with this expert-picked list of beach-worthy reads

Bandes dessinées (also known as BDs) are a cornerstone of French culture and heritage. In 2023, 75 million comic books were sold domestically, according to the market research company GfK.

The wide selection of comics and graphic novels targets all age groups and could be a great way to improve your French, as they are usually easy to read and don’t include advanced vocabulary.

The Connexion asked bandes dessinées experts and enthusiasts to recommend the best comics for our readers, whether in English translation or the original French.

Suggestions from Marina Sichantho and Jean-Philippe Martin

Marina Sichantho is assistant general manager at Angoulême's Cité internationale de la bande dessinée et de l’image (CIBDI), a museum dedicated to the art of BDs. Jean-Philippe Martin is the centre's scientific and programming adviser.

Read also:  Discover Angoulême: The Heart of French Comic Art and Graphic Novels

These are just some of their favourites:

1. The Clandestines de l’Histoire series by Catel Muller and José-Louis Bocquet, telling the story of women forgotten by history: Kiki de Montparnasse, Olympe de Gouges, Joséphine Baker, Alice Guy and Anita Conti
2. The Frustrés series by Claire Bretécher
3. L'Incal by Jean Giraud (known as Moebius), one of the great titles of science fiction
4. Le Monde sans fin, by Christophe Blain and Jean-Marc Jancovici, a bestseller in France in 2022 and now translated into English
5. Tamara Drew by Posy Simmonds

Posy Simmonds’ top five

British cartoonist, illustrator and writer Posy Simmonds MBE was crowned winner of Angoulême International Comics Festival (FIBD) 2024’s Grand Prix, making her the first British recipient and the fourth woman to be awarded the French lifetime achievement award.

Read more: Posy Simmonds Wins Grand Prix at Angoulême Comics Festival 2024

She shares her expert recommendations on top BDs for beginners:

1. La Légèreté by Catherine Meurisse
2. Rébétiko by David Prudhomme
3. The Arab of the Future novels by Riad Sattouf
4. Anything by Claire Bretécher 
5. The Last Days of Stefan Zweig by Laurent Seksik and Guillaume Sorel

Read our interview with Posy where we spoke about her creative influences and upcoming exhibition called Posy Simmonds. Herself. It will be held at the 52nd Angoulême International Comics Festival (FIBD) from January 30 to February 2, 2025.

Do you read comics or bandes dessinées as an adult? We would love to hear if our readers have any recommendations to share at letters@connexionfrance.com