The 20th edition of the Herceg Novi Comic Festival (HSF) lived up to all expectations and once again pushed the boundaries, confirming its status as the largest comics festival in this part of Europe, bringing together and delighting masters of the ninth art from around the world and a large audience.

This year’s edition was marked by world-renowned artists – comic book stars drew for fans in all three Boka Bay towns, with more than 150 guests from 25 countries on the programme. Alongside the programmes in Herceg Novi, which form the Festival’s recognisable backbone, as well as continuing traditions such as “Comics in a Bottle”, HSF was also held in Tivat and on Mount Lovćen, and, for the first time, in the Municipality of Kotor, in Risan. Particular attention was drawn to the music programme, which brought some of the biggest names on the regional music scene to unique locations in Herceg Novi and broke attendance records.

The Festival’s closing programme was held at People’s beach bar, where artists drew for fans, while a comics market, a programme for primary school pupils, and a promotional segment entitled “Ecology and the Ninth Art” were held simultaneously.

The organising team of the 20th Herceg Novi Comic Festival demonstrated that dedicated year-round work can bring together and transform the cultural and tourism landscape of the region, while the 20th anniversary edition fully lived up to expectations. In addition to record attendance, the Festival continues to resonate in international artistic circles, says one of the organisers, Jovan Subotić.

“The biggest stars in the world came to Herceg Novi, and they are already spreading the word about the Festival. People are amazed by what happened in our city, and for days now we have been contacted by artists who want to secure their participation in future editions,” says Subotić, adding that the anniversary edition reached its maximum potential in both the visual arts and music programmes, which will be difficult to surpass.

“When you hear that our special guests have described Herceg Novi as a centre of European and world comics, it fills your heart and gives you the motivation to do even better. The cultural summer in Herceg Novi has never been better, and it ended with the biggest and best festival in Montenegro,” Subotić says.

As he explains, the focus of the anniversary edition was on two key objectives: establishing HSF as an all-Boka Bay project and promoting and supporting local creators. The programmes took place across the municipalities of Herceg Novi, Tivat and Kotor, with the support of all three local governments. As part of the inaugural exhibition, as many as 24 young Montenegrin artists presented their work, demonstrating that the domestic comics scene has much to offer and that it is growing precisely with the support of HSF.

“The first point of our mission and our statute is to promote comics, give Montenegrin artists an opportunity, and promote our destination as a cultural destination – and that is exactly what we have done,” Subotić says.

The essence and spirit of the Festival were also highlighted by HSF co-organiser Nebojša Mandić, who stressed that the value and success of the event cannot be measured in numbers, but rather in the energy and love brought by its guests and audience.

“There are so many people who make us feel grateful, proud and honoured to have the privilege of working on the 20th edition of this ‘cultural miracle’, as our guests from all over the world have called it,” Mandić says.

For Mandić, this anniversary edition also brought a particularly meaningful encounter with the author of the legendary comic he grew up with: “For this edition, we welcomed Riccardo Secchi, today the leading figure behind Alan Ford. It is the comic I grew up with, and in a way it instilled in me that touch of sweet, sarcastic criticism which I later used in my journalistic work.”

A surprise for HSF 2027: Legendary Bill Sienkiewicz is coming

Although impressions from the anniversary edition are still fresh, the organisers are already working diligently on future editions and signing agreements with leading names from the international comics scene. They already have some exclusive first news for audiences and fans of the ninth art.

“I can reveal the first major international name from the world of comics. The man who, not only personally but also through his management team, has confirmed his participation in HSF 2027 is Bill Sienkiewicz – one of the greatest comic book creators of all time,” Subotić reveals.

Guests on the HSF anniversary: A big family united by a love of comics

Spanish comic book artist Fernando Dagnino was a guest of HSF for the sixth time. He has spent most of his successful career working for DC Comics, drawing regular Superman series as well as editions featuring other popular superheroes.

“I love this place, the festival and the people. We are like one big family. I fell in love with it the first time I came, and I simply cannot resist coming back. A part of my heart is here,” says Dagnino, adding that he particularly enjoys meeting highly talented artists from the Balkans at the Festival.

Herceg Novi comic book artist Đorđe Kamenarević says he grew up alongside HSF and cannot imagine September without it: “The Festival set me on the path I would eventually pursue, above all because my first drawing lessons came from Nikola Ćurčin and from the first guests of this event.” He adds that the 20th HSF lived up to all expectations and fulfilled some of his own wishes, such as the opportunity to meet Riccardo Secchi, the screenwriter of Alan Ford.

Another frequent Festival guest is Croatian artist Krešimir Biuk, who says: “In Zagreb, we call HSF the school trip for comic book artists – hanging out, then the cruise, my friends are here whom I can’t wait to see, and then there are the special guests.”

Serbian comic book artist and musician Vuk Popadić, who is both a guest and a member of the Festival team, says that this year the HSF fever was more intense than ever. He points out that the guests came together to prepare a surprise for the organisers – the comic book artists created special works, and a special publication was produced to mark the anniversary and celebrate two decades of HSF.

Asked what sets HSF apart from other festivals, he singled out the people and the phenomenal organisation, describing it as an event created by comic book lovers for comic book lovers: “Everything here is focused on the artists and their experience. At all other festivals around the world, it’s a job – you come, sit down and draw until you drop. Here, they have the opportunity to interact, play until they can barely stand, and just when you expect them to be completely exhausted, they pick up their pens and start drawing, amazing one another in the process.”

The 20th anniversary edition of the Herceg Novi Comic Festival was held from 4 to 9 September, with this year’s edition supported by the Tourist Organisation of Herceg Novi, the Municipality of Herceg Novi – Secretariat for Culture and Education, the Municipality of Tivat, the Tourist Organisation of Kotor, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Culture and Media, the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development, the Embassies of Italy, Slovenia and France in Montenegro, the Italian and French Institutes, as well as numerous companies, media sponsors and other friends of the Festival.