Photo : Emile Bravo
Meeting with Emile Bravo
Come and meet a key figure in current French comics!
Bibliothèque Naguib Mahfouz (Paris 20th)
About
Author and illustrator of Spirou, Émile Bravo invites you to discover his world, discuss his characters, and dive into the behind-the-scenes of his album creation.
Emile Bravo was born in 1964 to Spanish Republican parents. He has been drawing, reading Belgian ligne claire comics, and taking an interest in history since a very young age.
His first pencil companions were Trondheim, Blain, Sfar, Guibert, and David B at the Nawak studio. He later became a co-founder of the Atelier des Vosges, which included Marjane Satrapi and Marc Boutavant.
Alongside the adventures of his heroes Aleksis Strogonov, created with Jean Regnaud (Dargaud), or Jules (Okapi Magazine), Emile Bravo illustrates for the press, youth tales and documentaries, as well as novels.
In 2008, Le Journal d'un ingénu (Dupuis), the story of young Spirou before World War II, received numerous awards: Comics Booksellers Prize, RTL Grand Prix, Diagonale Prize, Essentiel Prize at Angoulême, Saint-Michel Prize, Peng! Prize for best European comic...
Encouraged by this success, he continued his journey through major history with the character of Spirou in the series L'Espoir malgré tout (Dupuis).
This event is part of the 17th edition of the Lire en Délire Festival, organized by the local development team of the 11th arrondissement - Belleville-Fontaine au Roi and the association Fontaine ô Livres
Our take on this event
Step into the creative mind of the artist who brilliantly reimagined a legendary comic strip character with deep historical layers. Whether you are a devoted fan of the Ninth Art or simply curious about the drafting process, this encounter promises a fascinating deep dive into a brilliant cartoonist's life.
Bibliothèque Naguib Mahfouz in the 20th arrondissement hosts acclaimed author and illustrator Émile Bravo on Saturday, November 21, 2026. From 10:00 to 12:00, this session invites you to delve into the creative world behind his work, particularly his iconic Spirou albums. Fans of the graphic novel medium will have the opportunity to discuss his artistic evolution and his historical storytelling approach. The event is free to attend and fully accessible to wheelchair users as well as the deaf and hard of hearing, provided that attendees book their spot in advance through the library.
As part of the 17th edition of the Lire en Délire Festival, organized by the local development team of the 11th arrondissement and the Fontaine ô Livres association, Émile Bravo leads a special session on the craft of comics. The artist will explore his professional journey, from his early days at the Atelier des Vosges to his acclaimed series such as Aleksis Strogonov and his deep dive into history through his Spirou works, including Le Journal d'un ingénu.
The event takes place on Saturday, November 21, 2026, from 10:30 to 12:00 at the Bibliothèque Naguib Mahfouz, 66 rue des Couronnes, 75020 Paris. Attendees will gain insight into his creative process and the historical research that informs his storytelling.
Participation is free of charge, but reservation with the library is required to attend. The venue is equipped for wheelchair accessibility and offers services adapted for deaf or hard-of-hearing visitors.
