ComicBitsOnline.com

Terry: Asterix only briefly made it into British weekly comics in the mid 1960s [and even then his name was changed] so most people over here will be familiar with the character,as well as  Tin-Tin and Lucky Luke,from albums,cartoons on TV and films –  I guess the same can be said of the United States,though to a lesser degree.  But now comic readers can get hold of Derib and Job’s YAKARI,De Gieter’s PAPYRUS and others. How did you select the albums for translation?

Olivier:We select popular heroes on the continent with care due to the cultural differences. Lucky Luke, Yakari, Blake and Mortimer,Clifton , Thorgal, Yoko Tsuno, Papyrus, Melusine, Ducoboo come from different countries and different ages. They all carry our values: respect, tolerance, justice and solidarity.   

Terry:so was it a decision from the outset to publish albums covering the younger age groups as well as for older readers to reflect how European publishing houses work?

Olivier:Yes. In our plan, we started with young age group in 2006: Yakari, Wind in the willows, Ducoboo and all ages (we say 7 to 77) Lucky Luke andClifton .

In 2007, we have added Melusine, Yoko Tsuno and Papyrus for young age, and developed older reader’s catalogue with Blake & Mortimer, Thorgal, Biggles, Rugger boys and Madame Tussaud. In 2008, we’ll create a new category for 15+ readers with new series.  

Terry:I guess that I should point out to all those people reading this that I was very surprised looking through the 2007 Catalogue [you can check things out yourself at www.cinebook.com] to see the old British aviator hero Biggles in album format!  I really had no idea Biggles was being handled by European creators -is this a one-off? 

Olivier:We wished to develop a non fiction history category beside Queen Margot series. With the 25^th anniversary of the Falklands war, we thought that it was the opportunity to introduce the Biggles recounts series and to follow with the Battle of Britain in January 2008. We got a very nice feed back from readers. So we have taken the decision to publish the comic book adaptation of Biggles adventures. The first will be published end of 2008. 

Terry:  Wow! That I cannot wait to see!

Olivier,to many outside Europe “The 9th Art” will mean nothing -can you explain this term?

Olivier:There is a Plastic Art list. The comic strip is the Ninth Art. Here is Plastic Art list: 1st-Architecture; 2nd-Painting; 3rd-Sculpture; 4th-Engraving; 5th-Drawing;6th-Photo; 7th-Cinema; 8th-Television; 9th-Comic books.

With sales of 43.3 million, comic strips represented more than one in every eight books sold in France in 2004. We think that 9^th Art is the best nickname to identify European Comic books.

As CINEBOOK is dedicated to publish European Comic books, we have decided to call it, the British publisher of the Ninth Art.

Terry: Thorgal by Rosinski and van Hamme starts out as a Viking tale,adds an alien child twist,then ‘Gods’ and gnomes and is well written and wonderfully drawn.  The printing quality is superb and yet the cover price is almost a bargain –this can be said of all the Cinebook albums I’ve seen. 

Olivier:Many thanks. Rosinski Thorgal’s artist and Van Hamme scriptwriter have a huge talent. Their 30 volume series sold 13 million copies worldwide. We proposed them to publish Thorgal in two-volume books and to start by merging original volume 7 Child of the stars (Thorgal childhood) and 14 Aaricia (about Thorgal’s later wife’s childhood) in an introductory volume.

The Three Elders of Aran combined with the Black Galley will be published in September 2008. Every 6 months, you’ll be able to follow new Thorgal’s adventures.   

Terry:But there are two books I have to mention –both in the “Queen Margot” series. Interestingly,volume 1 -”The Age Of Innocence” and volume 2 –”The Bloody Wedding” are written by yourself and Francois Gheysens.  Is this the first comic script you’ve written?

Olivier:Yes. During 10 years, I wrote editorial for my electronic magazine. When I sold my magazine, I wished to write about history. I think that comic art is really appropriated to write about non fiction history. As an author, you need to be concise in the dialogues and to make extensive research for the artist on locations, furniture, clothes, and tools.   

Terry: Is the series Francois’ first comic work?

Olivier:Yes. François is my friend since 1980. He wrote for my magazine and we work together since 1988. He had a passion for comic books. It was fantastic to write together our first comic book. 

Terry: How many volumes are planned in the series -and have these previously been published in French?

Olivier:I initially planned to do a trilogy about Queen Margot’s youth. The third book is written, and Juliette is drawing it. The first cycle is complete.

I have 5 other episodes in my mind. They are published simultaneously in English and French under our French imprint called “Chapeau bas”.    

Terry:Now,anyone who knows me is aware of the fact that I’m a bit of an historian and tend to go off at a tangent when costumes from various periods are incorrectly drawn.  However,in Queen Margot I was impressed by the accuracy of the costumes illustrated as well as the incredibly rendered architecture. 

That said,I am wholly unfamiliar with the artist,Juliette Derenne -is Queen Margot her first work?

Olivier:Juliette did “Les Oubliés” (The forgotten) before the Queen Margot. It is the story of an Uganda child soldier, as there are so many there nowadays. It is based on a true testimony, relayed by the Swiss humanitarian organization MEDAIR. Juliette was at the CLAIRAC (France) Festival 2007 and received the Reader’s award for QUEEN MARGOT – The age of innocence.

She has a lot of talent. We are proud to work with this wonderful young artist.  

Terry:And Sophie Barroux,the series colourist does an incredible job -yet another artist I’m unfamiliar with!

Olivier:Yes. Sophie was the colourist of the Age of Innocence, and Camille Paganotto did the colour of the Bloody Wedding. They are dedicated to this activity and have worked on many albums. It is important to emphasize the work of a colourist. Their name is on the cover page of our albums as it is for the script writer or the artist. Thank you for noticing this. 

Terry:I suppose I should ask whether you see yourself continuing as a BD writer or publisher -or both?

Olivier:I am also involved in political action. I am elected to represent French living in UK at the Parliament for French living abroad until 2012.

I will keep these 3 activities. Back to last months, I saw a child who can’t choose between all Cinebook at the London Book Fair, a queue of people waiting to get their Queen Margot’s signed copy and a postcard from an 84 years old grand mother sending “thousand of kisses” because I acted to get her pension back. How can you choose between different happiness?  

Terry:So Cinebook is here [we hope!] to stay.  Can you tell us what you have planned for 2007/2008  -what can we expect to see in the way of new albums?

Olivier:You can see the complete list of the books that will be published until the end of 2007 on our website www.cinebook.com.

We are publishing 19 books in 2007. We’ll publish 36 books in 2008. From January 2008, it will be 3 new books every month.During the first half of 2008, we’ll publish 5 new series in addition of the current characters. The list will be disclosed end of September before Frankfurt Book Fair.  

Terry:Okay,so we’ve dealt with current and future albums,but how do you see Cinebook developing in the future,mainly in the UK ,but elsewhere in general?

Olivier:We had wonderful emails from readers. They talk around and introduce Cinebook to their friends. They wish to add a new choice to US super heroes and mangas. They share ideas with us. I am convinced that one day the European 9^th art will find its place in every English speaking high street bookstores, like it is on the continent. 

Terry:So,Olivier,for those out there who might be curious about Cinebook albums -any words?

Olivier:www.cinebook.com 

Terry:Olivier,thank you for taking the time to answer these questions and here’s looking to a long and good future for Cinebook!