If your goal is to learn French or improve your skills in the French language of Molière, remember that this living language is not only learned through traditional books (novels, poetry collections, autobiographical stories, etc.). Among the alternative tools are also comic books, whose illustrations help with understanding and whose speech bubbles (or "balloons" for the experts) make reading more lively for young learners of French. What examples of comics can we give? Why are comic books interesting for language learning?
It’s hard to name a few French-language comics as the selection is vast! Of course, you know The Adventures of Tintin, the adventures of Asterix and Obelix, the professional mishaps of Gaston Lagaffe, and the mischievous humor of Titeuf. Besides these titles, we shouldn’t forget the classics such as Spirou and Fantasio, Thorgal, Lucky Luke, Gai-Luron, etc. These famous comic books, which delight both young and old, have captivated generations of readers. In fact, France, Belgium, and Switzerland are historically attached to this form of expression. Among French authors, Claire Bretécher (Agrippine, Tourista, etc.) or the Nice-born author Joann Sfar (Professor Bell, The Rabbi's Cat, ...) enjoy well-deserved popularity. If you enjoy darker worlds and science fiction, dive into the albums of Enki Bilal ( The Phalanges of the Black Order, Nikopol, Monstre, ...). As for Belgian authors, they are also very talented! After reading the works of Franquin, Hergé, or Philippe Geluck (The Cat, The Adventures of Scott Leblanc, ...), you’ll agree that their art sits halfway between drawing and literature. If you love festivals, don’t forget to visit Angoulême, in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, to attend the International Comic Book Festival held every year.
But did you know that comic books can be valuable allies to learn French?
First of all, they are authentic documents as they haven’t been altered or simplified for didactic purposes. Certainly, facing this type of document increases the difficulty of comprehension, but it’s always beneficial to step out of the routine and confront the language used daily. Another advantage of a comic book is that it combines images and text. This combination facilitates overall understanding and makes the content more accessible to beginners. Additionally, the humorous aspect of many comic books helps lighten the atmosphere and makes learning more fun.
Reading comic books also helps you become more aware of the sense of humor unique to a country, which presents a sociocultural interest. For example, the famous drawings of Plantu, which appear on the front page of the newspaper Le Monde, will give you a glimpse of current events from the perspective of a French citizen. Finally, in France, the range of comic books is very wide and caters to all tastes, all ages, and all levels! You can find historical stories, detective investigations, adaptations of novels, science fiction tales, parodies, and more. This means you will definitely find something that matches your interests.
Comics reflect present or past society. For example, a cartoonist like Manu Larcenet (The Ordinary Struggle, Blast, Group Therapy, ...) shows great insight into our modern society and skillfully describes the weaknesses of ordinary people. Other comic books choose more humorous forms of expression. "We are in 50 BC. All of Gaul is occupied by the Romans. All? No! A village populated by irreducible Gauls still resists the invader." Of course, you recognized the opening lines of Asterix the Gaul! Asterix, Obelix, and Dogmatix resist the Roman Empire thanks to their courage and the magic potion brewed by the druid Getafix. The authors likely intended to draw a parallel with all the oppressed or minority peoples in History. Another example is the series of albums of Iznogoud ("is no good") created by René Goscinny (one of the creators of Asterix) and Jean Tabary. An ambitious and cruel vizier, whose sole aim is to take power by force, wants to overthrow the Caliph of Baghdad. Behind this story of an individual who wants to "become Caliph in place of the Caliph" lies the intent to mock all authoritarian political regimes. Finally, to check if the traditional stereotypes about average French people are true, dive into the albums of Bidochon by Binet. The two main characters, Robert and Raymonde, are absolutely irresistible and humorously lead us through the various stages of a couple's life (travel, marriage, maternity, ...).
Reading comic books is an enjoyable activity that presents us with characters who quickly become endearing. Moreover, humor and self-mockery are common among many cartoonists. Superdupont, a character created by Gotlib, is a perfect example. This character is a sort of anti-hero who wears a beret, a tank top, a cape, and traditional slippers ("charentaises"). This chauvinistic superhero constantly consumes Camembert cheese and speaks awful English. Another characteristic of this comic is that it portrays animals in a funny and affectionate way. Also, the dog in the comic, Gai Luron, is portrayed as a lazy but very tender animal. White with a large black nose and a small round belly, it reminds one of the famous Droopy. Finally, even insects are not left out! Gotlib has fun presenting a little ladybug who spends her time making comments. Imagination knows no bounds!
