Translation
The exceptionally rich programme of the jubilee 20th edition of the Herceg Novi Comic Festival (HSF), which will take place this year from 4 to 9 September, has now been finalised and detailed down to the smallest element. In order to define the programme in full, the organisers had been waiting for confirmation of the appearance of the best-known and most widely read comic in this part of the world – the legendary Alan Ford, or rather its current writer, Riccardo Secchi, son of the creator of the TNT Group, the legendary Luciano Secchi, better known by his pseudonym Max Bunker.
At the end of April this year, Max Bunker announced that he was finally retiring from work on the cult comic series, which he began in 1969 with artist and illustrator Roberto Raviola, better known as Magnus. However, Alan Ford continues to live on and remains within the Secchi family, with the baton now being passed to his son Riccardo. In Herceg Novi, on Saturday, 6 September, in the beautiful setting of the garden of Hotel Herceg Novi (formerly Lazarev vrt), he will give a presentation of the cult comic that generations of people across the former Yugoslavia grew up with.
With this guest appearance, a finalised list of 150 guests – artists, writers, musicians and producers – and a programme that, in educational terms, gains another important promotional component, Ecology and the Ninth Art, the Herceg Novi Comic Festival (HSF) unequivocally confirms its status as an event of exceptional importance to the culture of our country. In this jubilee year, the organisers have made an additional effort to further enhance the already exceptionally rich educational programme, which includes workshops, masterclasses and presentations of young artists from Montenegro. That is why, in this anniversary year, an entire exhibition at the “Josip Bepo Benković” Gallery is dedicated to young Montenegrin comic artists, with around twenty of them presenting their work. During the presentations, they will also have the opportunity to introduce themselves personally to the world’s elite of the ninth art, who are coming to Herceg Novi this year from more than 25 countries around the world.
Naturally, every year HSF raises the organisational and programme bar another level higher, above all through the quality of its programme and the artists staying in our country during the six-day festival, but also by expanding festival events across the entire Bay of Kotor and to Mount Lovćen. Six years ago, cooperation with the Municipality of Tivat was initiated, while three years ago this was expanded to Lovćen through cooperation with the Kotor–Lovćen Cable Car and Monte 1350 bar. This year, support from the Municipality of Kotor has also been officially confirmed. Thanks to this, a new programme segment has been introduced as part of the jubilee edition: HSF and the entire comic caravan will visit Risan, where, in the Park, alongside the traditional comic programme, there will also be an opportunity to meet children from the local primary school. Under the slogan “Bringing quality culture to your doorstep,” the world’s leading ninth-art scene will be presented in the best possible way.
In addition to the regular programmes that a festival dedicated to the ninth art entails – exhibitions, workshops, a comic book fair, live drawing, as well as the unique Comics in a Bottle programme – HSF always brings an exceptionally high-quality music programme as well. This year’s outstanding line-up is headlined by one of the best-known rock bands from the former Yugoslavia, Partibrejkers, featuring their brilliant frontman Zoran Kostić Cane; the phenomenal Zagreb band, the legendary Film, led by one of the most fascinating figures in music from this part of the world, Jura Stublić; and Herceg Novi’s best-known rock star, the regionally hugely popular musician Antonije Pušić, aka Rambo Amadeus, performing with his quintet.
The complete programme, attached here, clearly demonstrates that HSF does not base its six-day festival solely on one segment or just a few hours of daily content. Instead, all six days, from opening to closing, are filled with activities throughout the day. What HSF organisers always particularly emphasise is that all programmes – from workshops, drawing sessions and presentations to concerts – are free of charge for visitors.
Alongside this detailed overview of the programme, it is worth reiterating that this year’s jubilee edition of HSF brings a truly glamorous list of more than 150 creators and professionals from the world of comics. They are headed by twelve special guests: Filipe Andrade (Portugal); Marco Costiello, Josephina Tomarchio, Katja Vecchio and Luana Vecchio (Italy); Dani (Greece); Darick Robertson, Terry Moore, Jim Mahfood and Shawn Crystal (USA); and British artists Geof Senior and Barry Kitson.
From the Apennine Peninsula, we are once again welcoming the outstanding artists Anna Lazzarini, Oscar Scalco, Marcello Mangiantini and Luca Strati, while the French contingent will be led by Jean-Charles Poupard, Tristoon and Christoph Bataillon. The Spanish comic scene will also be strongly represented this year, with returning artists Francis Portela and Fernando Dagnino at the forefront.
The list of visiting artists is further complemented by Brett Hobson, the renowned artist for Heavy Metal magazine and the comic Heart & Sin. Those who have practically become part of the HSF family are led by Game of Thrones storyboard artist and festival ambassador William Simpson. Joining him are stars of American publishing Esad Ribić, Dalibor Talajić, Stipan Morian and Mirko Čolak, as well as Sarah Burrini, Aleksa Gajić, Jovan Ukropina, Milorad Vicanović Maza, Iztok Sitar, Izar Lunaček, Štef Bartolić, Krešimir Biuk and Tihomir “Tico” Tikulin.
In addition to these outstanding artists, from 4 to 9 September the jubilee HSF will also welcome Dominika Czapska, director of the Warsaw Comic Festival, as well as Bob and Gina Chapman, owners of Graphitti Designs publishing house.
RICCARDO SECCHI – SHORT BIOGRAPHY
Born in Milan. After graduating in Modern Literature and gaining experience at Max Bunker Press, where he worked as an editor on the Alan Ford series, he turned to writing and created the comic-book character Gabriela, a nun with superhero powers, which was published independently. The positive reception of this first publication enabled him to present his work to other publishers. For Sergio Bonelli Editore, he wrote several stories featuring Nathan Never and related series, and later stories for Dylan Dog and Zagor.
He has also written more than one hundred stories for the weekly comic magazine Topolino, while contributing to numerous other Disney publications. He has worked on various television projects, both as a screenwriter and as a story editor.
Alongside writing, he has been involved in education for many years. He taught screenwriting at the School of Comics in Milan and at the Disney Academy. He currently teaches at the Mohole school and also runs his own online screenwriting course, Storytelling Tools.
Since April 2026, he has officially been the writer of the legendary monthly Alan Ford comic.
PROGRAMME OF THE 20th HSF, 4–9 September 2026
Friday, 4 September
11:00–13:00 — “Dašo Pavičić” Primary School
– Drawing school and comic book & illustration workshop
11:00–17:00 — Nikola Đurković Square
– Comic book fair
– Promotional programme – Ecology and the Ninth Art
– HSF promotional programme
20:00–21:00 — Belavista Square
– Ceremonial opening of the 20th HSF – Đenović Local Brass Band
– “Josip Bepo Benković” Gallery
– Exhibition – Works by special guests
– Exhibition – “Young Montenegrin Authors”
– “Sue Ryder” Gallery – Exhibition Unfolding – Mileta Poštić
22:00–03:00 — Forte Mare Fortress
– Concert – NeonoeN (free admission)
– Concert – Partibrejkers (free admission)
Saturday, 5 September
11:00–13:00 — City Library and Reading Room
– Drawing school and comic book & illustration workshop
11:00–17:00 — Nikola Đurković Square
– Promotional programme – Ecology and the Ninth Art
– Fan drawing
– T-shirt drawing
– Comic book fair
– Background music programme – 2Beat
13:00–18:00 — HSF Hotel Herceg Novi (formerly Lazarev vrt)
– Presentation – Alan Ford – Riccardo Secchi
– Presentation – Special Guests
– Presentation – Montenegrin Authors
22:00–03:00 — Forte Mare Fortress
– Concert – San Gvida sa Hokaida – Bunt Rock Festival (free admission)
– Concert – Jura Stublić and Film (free admission)
Sunday, 6 September
11:00–13:00 — Trophy Hall, “PVK Jadran”
– Drawing school and comic book & illustration workshop
– Awards ceremony for works created during the workshops
11:00–19:00 — “Jadran” Resto Bar
– Promotional programme – Ecology and the Ninth Art
– Fan drawing
– T-shirt drawing
– Comic book fair
13:00–17:00 — “Jadran” Resto Bar
– Presentation – Special Guests
– Presentation – The World Comic Scene
– Presentation – The Regional Comic Scene
21:00–01:00 — Forte Mare Fortress
– Concert – Gorostas (free admission)
– Concert – Rambo Amadeus Quintet (free admission)
Monday, 7 September
11:00–13:00 — Magnolia Square, Tivat
– Promotional programme – Ecology and the Ninth Art
– T-shirt drawing
– Comic book fair
– Fan drawing
15:00–18:00 — Kotor–Lovćen Cable Car
– Fan drawing
– T-shirt drawing
– Drawing school in nature
– Background music programme – 2Beat
22:00–01:00 — 28. Oktobar Stairway – GOT and L’Etage
– William Simpson X Anniversary Block Party
– Low Voltage – live music
Tuesday, 8 September
11:00–14:00 — “Tahiti” Catamaran
– Fan drawing
– T-shirt drawing
– Comic book fair
– Background music programme – 2Beat
14:00–17:00 — Risan, Park
– Promotional programme – Ecology and the Ninth Art
– Fan drawing
– Drawing with children from the Risan primary school
– Drawing for Comics in a Bottle
– Comic book fair
17:00–20:00 — “Tahiti” Catamaran
– Comics in a Bottle cruise
– Fan drawing
21:00–01:00 — Theatre Amphitheatre – Park Hall
– HSF Party – Seagulls (free admission)
– HSF Party – Boka All Stars (free admission)
Wednesday, 9 September
10:00–18:00 — “Peoples” Beach Bar
– School Day
– Promotional programme – Ecology and the Ninth Art
– Fan drawing
– T-shirt drawing
– Background music programme – 2Beat
20:00–00:00 — Hotel Herceg Novi (formerly Lazarev vrt)
– Closing HSF cocktail