Cinebook, Leading British Publisher of European Comic Books and Graphic Novels, at Bristol International Comic Expo – 22 & 23 May 2010.

Canterbury, Kent, 11 March 2010

Cinebook is pleased to announce its presence at the Bristol International Comic Expo for the fourth consecutive year.

Cinebook to introduce cult graphic novel series “XIII” in English at the Bristol International Comic Expo.

Cinebook will publish “XIII” at the rate of one new volume every two months from May 2010 to July 2013.

Everybody will discover the identity of XIII in 2013!

Over the last 25 years, the dark, engrossing graphic novel series “XIII” has attracted a cult following in French-speaking countries and beyond, with readers eagerly awaiting every one of the 19th instalments published so far.

Launched in 1984, “XIII” was born of Jean Van Hamme’s script and William Vance’s art. Van Hamme was featured on the Wall Street Journal front page in May 2009. He is one of Belgium’s most successful contemporary novelists and comic writers.

Wiliam Vance is the illustrator of numerous bestsellers, including “Marshall Blueberry.”

Cinebook will hold daily drawings for free copies of XIII Vol.1 – The Day of the Black Sun at the Bristol International Comic Expo.

Cinebook will display copies of more than 130 titles at the Bristol International Comic Expo.

Since the end of 2005, Cinebook has worked to become the premier publisher of the Franco-Belgian Ninth Art in English in markets dominated by American superhero comics and Japanese manga.

The publisher will display copies of more than 130 titles of 34 series at the Bristol International Comic Expo.

They all are top-selling Franco-Belgian authors and series in English:

▪Jean Van Hamme is one of Belgium’s most successful contemporary novelists and comic writers. “Thorgal,” his exciting fantasy series with Rosinski, “XIII” with Vance, and “Largo Winch” with Francq (which was adapted to the big screen in 2008) have sold, respectively, 13 million, 10 million and 10 million copies. At the end of 2008, Cinebook added “Lady S,” Van Hamme’s espionage series with Aymond, and “The Francis Blake Affair” or “The Strange Encounter” with Benoit, based on the “Blake & Mortimer” characters of E. P. Jacobs.

▪René Goscinny, co-creator and writer of the “Asterix” series, has sold 500 million books. His Lucky Luke, a cowboy character dubbed “the man who shoots faster than his own shadow” and created with Morris, has sold over 250 million copies in multiple languages and is popular with all ages.

Along with Lucky Luke, Cinebook released in 2008 Goscinny’s hilarious character the grand vizier “Iznogoud,” who wants to become Caliph instead of the Caliph in old Baghdad, created with Tabary.

▪Edgar P. Jacobs (“Blake & Mortimer”) and Roger Leloup (“Yoko Tsuno”), both of whom worked with Hergé (the father of “Tintin”), have sold, respectively, 12 million and six million copies.

▪Raoul Cauvin excels in humorous adventures and visual gags for all ages. His “Bluecoats” with Lambil, starring two soldiers in the U.S. Union Army during the Civil War, and his “Cedric” with Laudec, about an eight-year-old boy, have sold, respectively, more than 15 million and eight million copies.

▪Stephen Desberg, an American living in Belgium, is one of the most successful new-generation comic writers for young adults (15 and older) and adults. His “IR$” series with Vrancken stars a specialist from a little-known branch of the Internal Revenue Service. “The Scorpion” with Marini is a cape-and-sword thriller series set in the mysterious shadows of the 18th century Vatican. Each series has sold more than one million copies.

▪Francis Bergèse, pilot and aviation enthusiast, is the most reputed illustrator in the area of aviation art was chosen to be in charge of the new “Buck Danny” adventures. This series, the creation of Georges Troisfontaines, Victor Hubinon and Jean-Michel Charlier, has sold 15 million copies. Bergèse also adapted into graphic novel “The Battle of Britain”. The publication of this graphic novel coincides with the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Created by Québec-born comic writer Maryse Dubuc, The Bellybuttons are ‘chick lit’ in graphic novel format and feature three super-catty girls many readers will recognize.

An ideal read for sci-fi fans, “The Worlds of Aldebaran,” “Orbital” and “The chimpanzee complex”.

▪Leo, creator of “The Worlds of Aldebaran,” takes the theme of the colonisation of space further than most sci-fi comics. His series “Aldebaran” and “Betelgeuse” have sold more than one million copies

“Orbital” teams up an inter-racial pair of special agents charged with keeping the intergalactic peace. Sylvain Runberg writes the scripts while illustrator Serge Pellé creates a dense and detailed universe. These titles are listed on YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) 2010 Great Graphic Novels for Teens.

“The chimpanzee complex”... when you are a test subject in an experiment over which you have no control. Penny Kenny (The Comics Bulletin”writes: “Writer Richard Marazano combines SF action-adventure with ruminations on reality and domestic drama to create a fascinating mystery. Artist Jean-Michel Ponzio doesn't draw (or even trace) highly detailed faces, yet there's a photo-realistic quality to his work. He accomplishes a great deal with light and shadow, using them to create expression.”

Olivier Cadic, Cinebook Director and co-author of the award-winning “Queen Margot” series will be present at the Expo.

If you share with us the passion for the numerous talents of the Ninth Art, visit Cinebook at the Bristol International Comic Expo and get your free copy of our last company’s catalogue.