In the German National Library in Frankfurt an exhibition has been organized about the history of German comics in the 20th Century. Still running until the 24th of May, “Comics Made In Germany” takes a look back at the subject matter, styles, heroes and series in the German comics oeuvre. The exhibition in centred around books, paperbacks and albums from the Deutschen Nationalbibliothek and Institut für Jugendbuchforschung (Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt) collections (for those who can read German there is an article on the Institut’s comics collection on PDF available from this page too – Joe).
It may be strange that, even though German expatriate Rudolph Dirks played such an important part in the origin and development of comics as a genre, it took more than half a century to really catch on in Germany itself. It was only in 1947 that the first German-produced modern comic was published, a black-and-white booklet called “Bumm macht das Rennen”.
The exhibition follows a chronological paradigm, chronicling the history and development of German comics until today, from American imports and their influence on early German comics until the current, “home grown” varieties of comic books and graphic novels. Newspaper comics, caricatures, parodies and biographical comics are highlighted, as well as current literary trends, such as fantasy, mystery and science fiction.
(a scene from Die Hure by Anke Feuchtenberger, (c) Anke Feuchtenberger, published Reprodukt)
Important authors and series are spotlighted, and special attention is paid to writers and artists from Frankfurt and their contribution to the comic genre, starting from Cefischer’s Oskar, der Familienvater (since 1950) until the satirical comics by Gernhardt, Traxler, Waechter and the rest of the Neuen Frankfurter Schule. Also on show are comics from the 1968 generation, with Alfred von Meysenbug’s Super-Mädchen and other comics from youth and alternative culture.
Coinciding with the exhibition, a series of quite interesting lectures and debates are being organized. Still to come are a discussion about comical elements in comics on March 11th, with Volker Reiche, Joscha Sauer and Hans Traxler, and a lecture about the comics of 1968, when protest and counterculture became predominant themes (April 24th). Both evenings start at 7pm and are organised in the museum; a catalogue is available as well.
(Fix und Foxi by Rolf Kauka, (c) Rolf Kauka 1953/2000 & Promedia, Inc. 2001/2008)
Also, on the DNB website you can find some nice examples of the books and illustrations from the exhibition can to download and enjoy. “Comics made in Germany” can be seen at the Deutschen Nationalbibliothek in Frankfurt-Am-Main, until May the 24th.
March 4th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Saw a report about the exhibition on DW TV / Euromaxx (Sky channel 794). Looked very interesting. Purchased only a few German comics, so most of the German comics are unfamiliar.
I hope the British Library will run an event about British comics (though there is always the excellent comic museum in Little Russell St London)
Andrew
March 4th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
What about Wilhelm Busch’s work in the 19th century (Max und Moritz etc)? I suppose it depends on where you choose to draw the line between comics and illustrated stories.