Books
Germany, a “Comic of the developing country”
Comics have had it easy in Germany for a long time. Only in the last few years, they are increasingly regarded as an art form. On the occasion of the Leipzig book fair, we take a look at the German scene.
-
Between Tradition and Modernity
The “Manga-Comic-Con” in Leipzig is an important meeting point for all lovers of Comics, Manga, Cosplay, Japan, and Videogames, and for those that want it to be. As part of the Leipzig book fair takes place for the third Time in a hall of their own. In this year of 17. up to 20. March.
-
Heroes from Manga and anime world
Especially for cosplayers – Fans who transform themselves to play in their favorite characters from Comics, series and computer is the “Manga-Comic-Con”, in short, MCC, is a Must. In part the visitors to take long journeys in purchasing, such as this young woman from Japan.
-
Meet and Greet
A long how to arrive Lars Radtke from Wedel had not – he comes every year to the fair. There is also the German preliminary decision to the “European Cosplay Gathering” takes place, in which the best Cosplay costumes of Europe will be crowned.
-
Skill and craft of pleasure
Jenny Völz from Leipzig has put a lot of effort into her costume: “The costume is completely made by myself,” says an aftercare teacher. “A whole month I’ve been working on it.” Your makes it especially fun to inspire the people at the fair – she has no Problem posing with them.
-
Book signings with favorite authors
The Manga Comic Con is to be exchanged for Fans and authors is also a good opportunity: “The Fanecho was overwhelming,” says designer Daniela Schreiter, according to your book signing. She has published in 2013 with “Shadow knight” a Comic book about her life with Asperger’s syndrome.
-
Limitless creative
Illustrator and artist present in the area of “MCC Creative,” their self-made works: in addition to Comics, posters, and Buttons, there are pockets, plush and lots of jewelry.
-
A touch of Japan in Leipzig
For all Japan Fans in Leipzig these days is a good point of contact, in order to satisfy the longing for the far-Eastern culture: the arc Haiku shoot,-Reciting or just having tea in the “Japanese tea garden”.
-
Live Drawing
At the fair, visitors can also discover emerging artists and learn more about their way of working. Live Drawing is a discipline, the Berlin Illustrator and Cartoonist Marvin Clifford dominated. He is using the fair to present “Schisslaweng”: the second volume of his originally Web-published Comics.
-
Comics about Comics
Reading rats don’t come in Leipzig, of course. In addition to the framework programme, the major Comic publishers, New and Familiar from the seemingly endless Comic-book universe.
-
Between Tradition and Modernity
The “Manga-Comic-Con” in Leipzig is an important meeting point for all lovers of Comics, Manga, Cosplay, Japan, and Videogames, and for those that want it to be. As part of the Leipzig book fair takes place for the third Time in a hall of their own. In this year of 17. up to 20. March.
-
Heroes from Manga and anime world
Especially for cosplayers – Fans who transform themselves to play in their favorite characters from Comics, series and computer is the “Manga-Comic-Con”, in short, MCC, is a Must. In part the visitors to take long journeys in purchasing, such as this young woman from Japan.
-
Meet and Greet
A long how to arrive Lars Radtke from Wedel had not – he comes every year to the fair. There is also the German preliminary decision to the “European Cosplay Gathering” takes place, in which the best Cosplay costumes of Europe will be crowned.
-
Skill and craft of pleasure
Jenny Völz from Leipzig has put a lot of effort into her costume: “The costume is completely made by myself,” says an aftercare teacher. “A whole month I’ve been working on it.” Your makes it especially fun to inspire the people at the fair – she has no Problem posing with them.
-
Book signings with favorite authors
The Manga Comic Con is to be exchanged for Fans and authors is also a good opportunity: “The Fanecho was overwhelming,” says designer Daniela Schreiter, according to your book signing. She has published in 2013 with “Shadow knight” a Comic book about her life with Asperger’s syndrome.
-
Limitless creative
Illustrator and artist present in the area of “MCC Creative,” their self-made works: in addition to Comics, posters, and Buttons, there are pockets, plush and lots of jewelry.
-
A touch of Japan in Leipzig
For all Japan Fans in Leipzig these days is a good point of contact, in order to satisfy the longing for the far-Eastern culture: the arc Haiku shoot,-Reciting or just having tea in the “Japanese tea garden”.
-
Live Drawing
At the fair, visitors can also discover emerging artists and learn more about their way of working. Live Drawing is a discipline, the Berlin Illustrator and Cartoonist Marvin Clifford dominated. He is using the fair to present “Schisslaweng”: the second volume of his originally Web-published Comics.
-
Comics about Comics
Reading rats don’t come in Leipzig, of course. In addition to the framework programme, the major Comic publishers, New and Familiar from the seemingly endless Comic-book universe.
Stimmengwirr, music booms from the speakers. Hundreds of stalls entice you with their colourful displays: Of Comics about plush Pokémons up to a complete Darth Vader outfit offers everything for the (Fan) heart. In between costumed Fantasy characters, weaving their way through the exhibition passages: Welcome to the “Manga-Comic-Con”! For more than three years, the Convention is an integral part of the Leipzig book fair and a Must for comic readers and cosplayers – Fans who transform themselves to play in their favorite characters from Comics, series and computer.
An exciting and fun affair, but also a total sensory overload. How could that be only for a person with Asperger’s syndrome, the stimuli and information from his environment for a very much more intense? Still, if he signed in this atmosphere for four hours books: “If I sign, sink, I, in my work and forget completely where I am,” says comic book artist Daniela Schreiter. “As a result, I tune out everything else.”
Illustrator Daniela Schreiter, when you Sign your Comics
2009 was diagnosed at the young Berliner Asperger’s syndrome. To process your diagnosis better, it has drawn a Comic about it. “Words alone is never enough”, the 33-Year-old in an interview with Deutsche Welle. “I needed the pictures to show what it is like to live as an autistic, to see, to feel.” Her autobiographical debut “Shadows of knight”, in which she describes her Childhood, was so successful that she published a second part about their youth time.
Comics have been derided for a long time
“I had never reckoned with the success of the Comics,” says Daniela Schreiter. “Mainly because the theme is very special.” Now their books are being used even in the case of training for Asperger’s therapist.
But Daniela’s story is not just for a specialist audience, such as the long queue proves your Signed. The interest in more serious Comics, which is about social or political issues, was in Germany never been greater. This was not always so: for a Long time, the drawn stories in Germany were frowned upon or were at least ridiculed. Only after the German book market for the image has opened up to a strong Medium. Meanwhile, there is hardly a bookstore without Comics, manga or Graphic Novels in the range, and more and more often, one reads, among the many titles is also the name of German authors: artists such as Ralf König, Reinhard Kleist, Felix Görmann (Flix), Isabel Kreitz are internationally recognised.
Steffen Volkmer (left) with Marvin Clifford (R)
In comparison with the “Comic-high castles”, such as the USA, France or Belgium, the German scene is still quite small. “Germany is a Comic-the development of the country,” says Steffen Volkmer, editor and PR-Manager at Panini-Verlag. “In an international comparison, we are lagging about ten years.” This is also justified historically, the publishing staff more: “Comics had their heyday during and after the Second world war The Americans and the French use them for the edification of their troops, in Germany, in contrast, there was culture to this date, no Comic book.” Only with the victorious powers, it made the picture stories to Germany and not received much love in return: “The old Generation that experienced the war and also saw how the occupiers were there, has rejected this culture.” Comics had been assigned so quickly with the Stigmata: they would be stupid, in the best case, you are the light of the intellect, or for children.
The reputation of Comics as a children’s and youth book was sealed
Accordingly, over the decades, almost exclusively for children or youth were imported grade Comics such as “Batman” from the United States, or “Asterix and Obelix” from Belgium. The German signatories were targeted with stories like “Fix and Foxi”, or “Nick Knatterton” to a young audience. At the end of the 1960s, the first French and Italian Comics for adults in the German Translation came on the market, and then – without much success. The Independent scene in Germany has always been very active, but only in the 1990s, artists such as crumbs (“Werner”), or Walter Moers (“The little ass hole of languages”) and then also to a wider audience.
It took a few years for the arts section for the Medium of the Comic interested and the publishers have expanded their Portfolio. “Thus, the knowledge went hand in hand, then, finally, that Comic are quite a serious Medium,” says Panini-employees Volkmer. The stylistically original Graphic Novel could inspire the traditional readership. With this designation, it is a precise genre description, because a new Form: unlike the Comic, the Graphic Novel is completed and will be offered exclusively in the book and not in book form.
The publications have tripled
Stand on the “Manga-Comic-Con”
“Currently, the German Comic-market is as healthy and as good as he was never before,” says Volkmer. “In 2000 we had around 20 new releases per month. Meanwhile, there are between 40 and 50.” In the case of other publishers, the should not be different. “But you still have this anxious feeling in the back, whether this can continue to go well.”
A perhaps not entirely unwarranted feeling, it is still the least artists can make a living in Germany. Comic artist Daniela Schreiter has done it. In the next year, she will publish a new story. This Time, not autobiographical, but nevertheless, one that deals with Asperger’s syndrome. “The German comic scene is up and Coming,” the young woman safe, “she develops. Slowly, step for step, but she is getting better and better!” It may be interesting.