Visionary Art of Franco-Belgian Comics, 1930s to 1960s

Hugo Frey is professor of cultural and visual history at the University of Chichester. He is a cultural and political historian who has published widely on comics, graphic novels, art history and cinema. Maaheen Ahmed is an associate professor of comparative literature at Ghent University, specialised in comics and graphic novels, periodicals, children’s culture and intermediality. Jan Baetens is professor of Literature and Cultural Studies at KU Leuven. Eva Van de Wiele is postdoctoral researcher on the ERC project "Children in Comics" of Prof. Maaheen Ahmed at Ghent University.

• Errata, p. 250. Van Passen did not found the Belgian Comics Club but was one of several founding members. It was Pierre Vankeer who was encouraged by Lacassin to form the club; p. 265 Michel Ferrol’s name was misspelled as Michel Ferrand.ForewordDan NadelAcknowledgementsIntroduction. The Visionary Art of Franco-Belgian Comics, 1930s to 1960s Hugo FreyChapter One. Enter the European Superhero Maaheen AhmedChapter Two. The War Comics Hugo FreyChapter Three. Wacky Inventions, Extraordinary Science, and Eccentric Professors Maaheen AhmedChapter Four. Slapstick: Crazy Fights, Memorable Accidents Eva Van de WieleChapter Five. Topsy-Turvy Worlds: Carnivalesque Children and Talking Animals Maaheen AhmedChapter Six. The Earth Trembles: Dino Comics and Palaeo-Utopias Felipe MuhrChapter Seven. “Overcrowded” Comics Skies: The Mesmerising Aviation Comics Hugo FreyChapter Eight. Fantastical Landscapes and Disturbing Places: The Surreal Geographies of Adventure Hugo FreyChapter Nine. A Graphic Kaleidoscope: Experiments in Form Benoît CrucifixChapter Ten. Literary Adaptations, or Something Else? Jan BaetensAlain Van Passen “In His Own Words” Interview conducted, edited, and translated by Hugo Frey and Maaheen AhmedA Unique Collection: An Interview with Philippe Capart Interview conducted, edited and translated by Jan BaetensAfterword Tine AnthoniContributorsWorks Cited Index

'The Visionary Art of Franco-Belgian Comics 1930s to 1960s' oftewel de visionaire kunst van de Frans-Belgische strip van de jaren dertig tot de jaren zestig, is ook weer een juweeltje, een echte schatkamer van verborgen pareltjes die bewaard zijn gebleven dankzij de fanatieke stripverzamelaar Alain van Passen, die miljoenen pagina’s aan geweldig materiaal bleek te hebben, allemaal in perfecte staat. - moors magazine, december 2025, https://www.moorsmagazine.com/cartoons/strips/de-visionaire-kunst-van-frans-belgische-strips-1930s-tot-1960s/