Comic Barcelona

The Barcelona International Comic Fair, which has been held since 1981 and this year reaches its 42nd edition, is an annual event of reference in the world of comics in Spain, aimed at both professionals and the general public. During the event, many editorial novelties of the sector are presented and numerous prizes are awarded. In addition to visiting the exhibitors' stands, at this fair dedicated to the world of comics you can enjoy many activities: screenings, exhibitions, round tables, school activities and master classes. The Barcelona International Comic Fair does not forget the future of comics with the Comic Kids and Comic Pro sections. The Comic Kids section is a space dedicated to children between 5 and 12 years old that aims to introduce children to reading comics. Comic Pro is the space for new talents looking for publishers to create the works of the future.

The 2024 edition of Comic Barcelona

From May 3 to 5, Comic Barcelona is celebrated with a wide range of activities, interesting surprises and an impressive list of international guest artists. This year, a new section focusing on science fiction and fantasy is inaugurated, while exhibitions maintain their prominence, including one dedicated to the iconic Ibanez. The intersection of comics and animated film will also feature prominently in the varied program, which explores the expansion of comics into other artistic disciplines. From meetings to concerts, signings and contests, the eclectic offer promises to entertain all audiences, from comic fans to the most curious, at Fira Barcelona Montjuïc.

The guests

• Beto Hernández: Known for co-creating "Love and Rockets," an influential alternative comics series that has won numerous awards and has been praised for its innovative style and unique storytelling.
• Emma Rios: Spanish artist and writer known for her work on "Pretty Deadly" and "Mirror". Her distinctive artistic style and insightful stories have won critical and public acclaim.
• Erik Kriek: Dutch illustrator and comic book author, known for works such as "Gutsman" and "In the Pines," which explore dark and folkloric themes with a distinctive visual aesthetic.
• Fernando Trueba: Spanish film director and screenwriter, winner of the Oscar Award for his film "Belle Époque". His foray into comics includes "Chico & Rita," a graphic novel based on his animated film of the same name.
• Javier Mariscal: Spanish graphic designer and artist known for his colorful style and character design work, including the famous Cobi, the mascot for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
• Liniers: Pseudonym of Ricardo Siri, a prominent Argentine cartoonist known for his "Macanudo" comic series, which combines surreal humor with a unique perspective on everyday life.
• Lisa Lugrin: Swiss artist known for her work in experimental comics and innovative visual storytelling, with works such as "Garçon Tête" and "The Snack World".
• Marjorie Liu: American writer, author of acclaimed comics such as "Monstress", which combines dark fantasy and mythology in a rich and complex world.
• Martin Panchaud: Swiss illustrator and graphic designer, known for his digital graphic novel "Star Wars: A New Hope," which visually adapts the film in a unique and detailed style.
• Max Sarin: Comic book artist known for his work on the "Giant Days" series, which follows the adventures of a group of college friends with fresh humor and endearing characters.
• Mikael Ross: French cartoonist, known for his detailed style and his work in comics such as "L'été diabolik" and "Love in Vain".
• Pepe Larraz: Spanish cartoonist known for his work on Marvel comics such as "House of X" and "Powers of X," which received praise for their dynamic art and stunning visual storytelling.
• Sana Takeda: Japanese artist known for her work on "Monstress" alongside Marjorie Liu, who has won several Eisner awards for her stunning art and character design.
• Stefano Casini: Italian cartoonist known for his work on comics such as "Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor" and "Valkyrie", with a dynamic and expressive style.
• Tanino Liberatore: Italian artist, co-creator of "RanXerox", an iconic sci-fi and cyberpunk comic book series known for its unique graphic style and provocative content.
• Tomás Hijo: Spanish artist known for his illustrations and prints, with a distinctive style that combines elements of traditional art and dark fantasy.

The exhibitions

• Bruixes - Sorginak - Brujas: this exhibition celebrates the iconic power of the witch, an emblematic figure that has endured in fairy tales, film and music. It brings together 30 comic and illustration artists in a tribute to this essential representation in fiction, literature and audiovisuals, which captivates our dreams and nightmares with its magic.
• Our IBÁÑEZ: Comic Barcelona pays tribute to Francisco Ibáñez, famous cartoonist of Mortadelo and Filemón, with a special exhibition divided into three parts: "The Ibáñez of the readers", "The Ibáñez of the profession" and "The most intimate Ibáñez", which shows rarely seen originals and collaborations with comic professionals, in collaboration with his family and Penguin Random House.
• Tomás hijo: Tomás Hijo, influenced by Eastern European engravers, uses linoleum to create illustrations that fuse medieval aesthetics with a modern style inspired by comics and animation. Recognized by Guillermo del Toro, his work stands out for his visual interpretations of Tolkien and Lovecraft, as well as collaborations on projects related to fictional universes such as Stranger Things and Game of Thrones.
• Tribute to MAD MAX: The "Mad Max" saga, iconic for its apocalyptic aesthetics, will be the subject of an exhibition at Comic Barcelona, in collaboration with the Sitges Festival. The show, in the Utopia section, will feature comic and illustration artists, offering different interpretations of the saga. Curated by Borja Crespo and Cels Piñol, the exhibition will feature original illustrations and memorabilia, while the Festival will include a fantastic genre film series in the auditorium.
• Trini Tinturé, enchantress of vignettes, and the lost generation: Trini Tinturé, illustrator and cartoonist awarded the Grand Prix de Comic Barcelona 2023, will be the subject of a retrospective exhibition entitled "Trini Tinturé, enchantress of vignettes". This exhibition, organized by Ficomic in collaboration with Maris Kopcke, the author's daughter, will review her more than 60-year career, from her beginnings in Spanish magazines to her international collaborations in the British and Dutch markets. The exhibition will be divided into five sections, displaying originals and reproductions of her most outstanding works, as well as a selection of magazines and books published by the author. In parallel, a complementary exhibition entitled "The Lost Generation" will be presented, highlighting the contribution of other pioneering comic artists, including Violeta Suárez, Julia Sánchez and Purita Campos, among others.

The sections

• Commercial Zone: The section for large multimedia groups, publishers and bookstores specializing in comics.
• Comic Pro: a space for networking, thought, action and opportunities for the sector.
• Comic Vision: from paper to audiovisual media. Comics nourish cinema, streaming platforms and television. Cartoonists, screenwriters, filmmakers, producers, showrunners, art concept, story-board... Master-classes, round tables, presentations, screenings, exhibitions...
• Comic Fantasy: a new space where you can discover (the youngest) and rediscover (the veterans) games from other eras: role-playing clubs, card games, board games, wargames... There will be exhibitions, round tables, workshops, demonstrations?
• Comic Kids: for children from 5 to 12 years old. Workshops and activities distributed in all spaces.
• Cinema Room: the name says it all. On this occasion, 3 films will be screened: "Robot Dreams" by Pablo Berger, a film nominated for best animated film, which merges cinema and comics in a touching story of friendship between a dog and a robot in New York. "They Shot the Pianist" by Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal, set in the 60s and 70s in New York, follows a music journalist's investigation into the disappearance of a Brazilian pianist, and "The House", based on the comic by Paco Roca and directed by Álex Montoya, tells the story of three brothers who return to their family home to sell it, confronting their father's memories and legacy as they dispose of their belongings.
• Comic stage: A space where you can participate in cosplay contests, enjoy dance choreographies and other activities.
• Cospay Zone: cosplay contests with very interesting prizes. In this area you will also find several photocalls, the Cosplay Help (repair workshop) and photo exhibitions.
• Forum comic stream: a place accessible to the public where you can tune in to live podcasts, listen to interviews with prominent participants of the event and keep abreast of the latest news from 42 Comic Barcelona.
• Utopia: the new section of this year's edition of the fair. The fantasy genre has experienced a boom in the last decade, being now more accessible to the general public through films and series. Comic Barcelona responds to this trend with the creation of a new space called Utopia, dedicated to the world of fantasy and audiovisual culture. This space will feature the presence of prominent publishers, round tables with renowned authors, and exhibitions such as "Mad Max: A Comic Tribute" and "Bruixes-Sorginak-Brujas. Aquelarre ilustrado", as well as an exhibition by illustrator Tomás Hijo.

Awards

Comic professionals vote for up to a maximum of five works published in Spain in the following categories:

• Best Work by Spanish Author/Author.
• Miguel Gallardo Award for Best New Author Award
• Best Work by a Foreign Author
• Best Fanzine
• Best Children's and Young Adult Comic

Price

• General online ticket (until May 2nd): 10 €.
• Online ticket with discount (until May 2nd): 8 €.
• General admission online or at the box office (from May 3rd): 12 €.
• Online or at the box office with discount (from May 3): 10 €.
• School groups: 3 €.
• Children under 5 years old: free.