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Cinebooks
Cinebook, Publisher of the best-selling European comic books for all ages.
For many English-speaking readers, knowledge of European comic books is limited to popular characters Tintin and Asterix.
Lucky Luke, Iznogoud, Blake & Mortimer, XIII, Valerian, Thorgal, Largo Winch, Spirou & Fantasio, Billy & Buddy, Yakari, the Bluecoats, Yoko Tsuno, Buck Danny, Cedric . . . These European comic book characters, already boasting more than 300 million copies sold, are featured stars in Cinebook’s catalogue.
The comic book and its close relative, the graphic novel, are a highly respected art form in France, Belgium and the rest of Western Europe—so well regarded that Cinebook takes our tagline (“The 9th Art Publisher”) from the classification of comic books as No. 9 on the list of plastic arts in Europe (Plastic Art list: 1st-Architecture; 2nd-Painting; 3rd-Sculpture; 4th-Engraving; 5th-Drawing; 6th-Photo; 7th-Cinema; 8th-Television; 9th-Comic books), In fact, one of every eight books sold in France is a comic book.
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.
Cinebook selects series and individual titles based on a number of factors in order to please a wide range of readers—factors such as geographic settings, protagonists’ age and gender, historic themes, genres, etc.
Cinebook publishes top-selling Franco-Belgian authors and series in English:
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.
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.
Jean Van Hamme is one of Belgium’s most successful contemporary novelists and comic writers. Thorgal, his exciting fantasy series with Rosinski, and Largo Winch with Francq (which was adapted to the big screen in 2008, with a sequel in 2011) have sold, respectively, 13 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 with Benoit, based on the Blake & Mortimer characters of E. P. Jacobs.
In 2010, Van Hamme's most famous series XIII joined Cinebook's catalogue. The adventures of the tattooed amnesiac had never been translated past the 3rd volume before, but they were published at the rhythm of one every two months, and the original series was completed in 2013 – until a second season was launched in 2014, which is being translated concurrently.
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 swashbuckling 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 reputable illustrator in the area of aviation art and 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 non fiction history into graphic novels which have been translated under the label Cinebook Recounts.
Sylvain Runberg, a young French author living in Sweden and a rising star of the BD world, created the science-fiction series Orbital with Serge Pellé; the adventures of a human-alien pair of diplomatic super-agents have been met with critical acclaim. With Eduardo Ocaña he gives the reader an alternate version of the life of a great scientist in Darwin's Diaries.
Leo, creator of The Worlds of Aldebaran (Aldebaran, Betelgeuse, Antares, The Survivors), takes the theme of the colonisation of space further than most sci-fi comics. His series has sold more than one million copies. In collaboration with Rodolphe, he also created Kenya, a gripping sci-fi mystery in late 40s Africa complete with dinosaurs and UFOs, followed by second season Namibia.
Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mezieres are two very important figures of French BD, and their creation Valerian and Laureline has defined French science-fiction for over 40 years and sold 2.5 million copies, not to mention it's had a broad and lasting influence over many other works of sci-fi, including Star Wars itself. Now at long last it is being made into a major feature film by Luc Besson, with Dane DeHaan, Cara Delevingne, Rihanna and Clive Owen; Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets will be out in July 2017.
Two legendary series of the ninth art joined the crew in 2009. Billy and Buddy, about a little boy and his canine best friend, and Spirou and Fantasio (created in 1938), the flagship series of Spirou Magazine, have respectively sold 25 million and 20 million copies.
Xavier Dorison, a young author but already an old hand of the comic world, has written several highly regarded series with distinguished artists. With Fabien Nury and Christian Rossi, he created SPOOKS, chronicling the otherworldly adventures of a very special team of investigators in early 20th century America. And with the immensely talented Mathieu Lauffray, it's the story of original pirate Long John Silver he tells us, 20 years after the events of Treasure Island.
Fabien Vehlmann is regarded as one of the great names in the new generation of comic writers. His wonderfully dark and cynical Green Manor, illustrated by Denis Bodart, delighted English-speaking readers. In 2014, Cinebook began publishing his hit series Alone, drawn by Bruno Gazzotti. This tale of five children waking up in a deserted city has drawn critical acclaim in both French and English, as well as the public’s seal of approval.
The Bluecoats Vol. 12: the David by Willy Lambil (Illustrator); Raoul Cauvin
$17.95 AUD
Category: Cinebooks | Series: The\Bluecoats Ser.
Even as the sea blockade by the Union Navy slowly strangles the South, the picket ships begin to mysteriously blow up one after another. Lincoln, worried that the war could stretch on too long if the Rebels are resupplied, orders that the Confederates' secret weapon be identified. That means sending spi ...Show more
The Bluecoats Vol. 11: Cossack Circus by Willy Lambil (Illustrator)
$17.95 AUD
Category: Cinebooks | Series: The\Bluecoats Ser.
Stark's constant, reckless charging has once again depleted the 22nd Cavalry. Faced with an understandable dearth of volunteers, the Army's brass drafts - without telling them - some freshly arrived immigrants. And Blutch and Chesterfield are tasked with instructing them in the art of riding down the en ...Show more
The Blues in Black and White (The Bluecoats #10) by Raoul Cauvin
$17.95 AUD
Category: Cinebooks | Series: The Bluecoats
After another long day of charging, Blutch and Chesterfield make the acquaintance of Matthew Brady, a professional photographer dispatched by President Lincoln to document the ongoing historic struggle. Photography, still a new invention, together with Brady's talent for capturing the moment, are met wi ...Show more
Bluecoats El Padre by RAOUL CAUVIN
$17.95 AUD
Category: Cinebooks
Sent to scout the enemy, Blutch and Chesterfield are chased by a Confederate patrol and forced to cross the Rio Grande to safety. But that safety is relative: stuck between Apache bandits and Mexican outlaws, our two Bluecoats have no choice but to disguise themselves as civilians Blutch as a peasant, C ...Show more
The Bluecoats: Auld Lang Blue by Raoul Cauvin
$17.95 AUD
Category: Cinebooks | Series: The Bluecoats
Contrary to what you may believe, even the very martial Sergeant Chesterfield didn't always wear the Union's blue uniform. Both he and Blutch were civilians at the beginning of the war - butcher's boy and barman, respectively. So, how did they find themselves in the 22nd Cavalry? Well, there was a rathe ...Show more
The Bluecoats: v. 7: Blues in the Mud by Raoul Cauvin
$17.95 AUD
Category: Cinebooks
While out on patrol, Blutch and Chesterfield encounter an unusual soldier: a woman wearing a Union uniform, who has come to join the army to look for her brother and uphold the family's honour. Blutch is unconvinced, but the sergeant, won over by the combination of bravery and a pretty face, agrees to h ...Show more
The Bluecoats: Vol. 6: Bronco Benny by Raoul Cauvin
$17.95 AUD
Category: Cinebooks
General Alexander's Union army is out of horses, and it is now facing none other than Robert E. Lee himself. To rebuild the Northern Cavalry before the coming battle, Blutch and Chesterfield are sent to buy new mounts, with the help of legendary horse trainer Ben 'Bronco Benny' Wilcox. But, first, they' ...Show more
Rumberley ; v. 5 by Raoul Cauvin
$14.95 AUD
Category: Cinebooks | Series: The Bluecoats
After an even bloodier battle than usual, the Union army is out of men. But so are the Rebels, and General Alexander decides to retreat and come back with reinforcements quickly before the enemy can do the same. To move faster, he leaves his wounded - including Stark and Chesterfield - behind in the nea ...Show more
The Greenhorn (Bluecoats #4) by Raoul Cauvin
$14.95 AUD
Category: Cinebooks | Series: Bluecoats
Blutch and Chesterfield get away from the 22nd Cavalry and go spend some R&R at Fort Bow, their old posting on the frontier. That's where Chesterfield's flame Amelia lives - the daughter of Colonel Appleton. But when the cavalrymen arrive, they find the young lady dancing with a dashing young lieute ...Show more
The Skyriders (Volume 3) by Raoul Cauvin
$19.95 AUD
Category: Cinebooks | Series: The Bluecoats | Reading Level: From 7
Blutch and Chesterfield go up in an observation balloon to spy on the Confederate troops - but the plot thickens when the heroes crash land on their superiors. The generals send them behind enemy lines to try and free Stark, who has been captured on a previous sortie. A tricky mission for both sides! ...Show more
The Navy Blues by Raoul Cauvin
$17.95 AUD
Category: Cinebooks | Series: Bluecoats: 2
This humorous series on the American Civil War centres around two cavalrymen in the Unionist Army: Cornelius Chesterfield, a zealous and devoted sergeant and Corporal Blutch, a reluctant soldier, highly critical of authority and who always tries to eschew yet another senseless battle. This highly comica ...Show more
Robertsonville Prison (The Bluecoats #1) by Raoul Cauvin
$19.95 AUD
Category: Cinebooks | Series: Bluecoats | Reading Level: From 8
A humorous cult series about the misadventures of Sergeant Cornelius M. Chesterfield and Corporal Blutch of the Union Army's 22nd Cavalry. Set during the Civil War, the two heroes are captured by the Confederates and taken to Robertsonville prison camp, from which they try to escape five times. The camp ...Show more