Angoulême Festival controversy: "We can perhaps avoid the worst," according to François Schuiten, comic book author and signatory of an open letter.

Calls for a boycott and criticism from big names in comics have multiplied since the announcement of the renewal of its highly contested historical delegate, 9eArt+, as organizer of the event.

“ We might be able to avoid the worst ,” asserted François Schuiten, a comic book author, on Franceinfo on Monday, November 10. He was one of 19 other winners of the Angoulême Grand Prix who signed an opinion piece titled “ The Angoulême Comics Festival is in Mortal Danger ,” published that Monday in L’Humanité. Calls for a boycott and criticism from leading figures in the comics world have multiplied since the announcement that 9eArt+ would continue to organize the event, an announcement that provoked “ a general outcry ,” according to the writer.

" For the past few years, there has been a decline, a series of scandals, many communication errors, and above all, a lack of transparency in the management " of the comics festival, explains François Schuiten. For the signatories, 9eArt+ " is at the root of the problem ." " A disconnect has developed between the experiences of the authors and this management ," continues the Belgian set designer.

The organizer " didn't understand that the world has changed, that sensibilities have shifted, the world is transforming," the author explains. Its continuation has created " enormous unease ." " Why do some people insist on staying there ," he asks, " seeing everything crumble when they should be thinking about preserving a jewel and, above all, a showcase ."

The Angoulême festival is an " indispensable tool for promoting comics ," adds François Schuiten. "If it disappears, we'll have nothing left but tears," he says. "We must react very quickly; the festival is tomorrow ." This warning, " is also a cry of love," concludes the author.