The Herceg Novi Comic Festival (HSF), with its 19th edition, once again confirms that reaching the European and global top comes through dedicated audience development. For almost two decades, the organizers’ focus has been on nurturing a comic book readership, with special attention given to the youngest audiences. This orientation is clearly reflected in this year’s program – through drawing sessions for fans and workshops, HSF will introduce children and young people from Herceg Novi, Tivat, Kotor, and Cetinje to the ninth art.

What began as an enthusiastic initiative of a group of comic book lovers from Herceg Novi has grown into a “cultural miracle” (Boo Cook) that brings together some of the world’s most important comic book artists, but also into a school of comic literacy – a place for creating new generations of young readers and authors who see comics as a contemporary, vibrant, and engaged art form.

Special attention is always drawn by the sessions where comic masters draw for fans, the first of which was held yesterday on the main square in Herceg Novi. Visitors of all ages waited for their drawings, among them many children and young people. Attendees closely followed the skilled hands of the artists and the creation process of works that will enrich personal collections, walls, and albums of comic lovers, remaining a lasting and valuable memory of encounters with the authors.

“It was a great surprise to see such a long line of people waiting for me today, most of whom are big fans,” shared one of the greatest comic artists in the world and the most important Argentine comic author, Eduardo Risso, after drawing for fans.

As he noted, he feels better in Herceg Novi than he could have expected: “The city is wonderful, with beautiful views on every side, and the people are very warm, so I am really enjoying these days.”

Risso assessed that today’s comic scene is very much alive: “There are many open doors – cinema is one of them, as well as streaming platforms and video games. There are plenty of ways for young people to enter the world of comics.”

After the workshop at the “Dašo Pavičić” Elementary School, yesterday’s educational programs continued at the coworking space “Kolektiv Novi” and the City Library and Reading Room, with an increasing number of participants – elementary school students eager to explore and create within the world of comics.

The workshop at “Kolektiv Novi” was led by the versatile Dutch artist Yuri Landman, who guided children into the world of imagination through making masks out of paper bags – simple materials transformed into artistic play, inspired by the legendary works of Saul Steinberg. Landman is also a world-renowned inventor of experimental musical instruments, which was another topic of his workshop. It was his first time in Herceg Novi and at the festival.

“In addition to drawing comics, I invent musical instruments, which is actually my main occupation at the moment. I created a version of the kalimba, an African instrument that is very melodic and easy to make. In this workshop, children can design and draw a monster, and then we will turn it into a musical instrument,” explained Landman.

Yesterday, in the City Library and Reading Room, Srđan Stamenković Srle, a well-known cartoonist and illustrator who leads one of the strongest children’s and youth drawing schools in the region, also taught the youngest about comics and illustration.

During today’s drawing for fans and comic book fair at Nikola Đurković Square, an eco-action was also held – “Comic Heroes Against Sea Pollution,” organized in cooperation between HSF and the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, and Northern Development.

In the afternoon, the audience was presented with new comic book releases from the Yugoslav region and Montenegrin comic publishing, in Lazarev’s Garden and the Church of St. Jerome.

Artan Lili and 16OSAM23 at a packed Forte Mare

Yesterday’s program of the 19th HSF concluded with performances by the bands Artan Lili and 16osam23 at Forte Mare. The fierce sound, authentic performances, and explosive energy of both bands captivated the audience that filled the fortress for the second night in a row.

One of the most famous post-Yugoslav rock bands, the noise-pop group Artan Lili, appeared at the Herceg Novi Comic Festival for the third time, and the experience is always excellent, with the music program better than ever, said frontman Bojan Slačala.

“I think the world of superheroes – that is, the characters we connect with through reading comics – is crucial for every generation and for every place in the world. That identification with heroes, with people who are on the right side, is very important,” Slačala emphasized, speaking about the significance of comics.

One of the designers of the visual identity of the 19th HSF and the vocalist of the alternative rock band 16osam23, Vuk Popadić, expressed his delight at being at the festival once again: “The audience is amazing, Herceg Novi gets better every year, the bar keeps getting raised and I don’t even know how much higher it can go, but obviously the guys from the organization manage to do it year after year.”

Today, the 19th HSF program moves to Škver, where at 11 a.m. a comic and illustration workshop will begin in the trophy hall of the Jadran Water Polo Club, along with drawing sessions for fans and the comic fair at the Jadran resto-bar.

At 1 p.m., the trophy hall will host an event marking the 100th anniversary of Miki Muster’s birth, followed by presentations of scriptwriter Joanne Starrer and the comic masters who are special guests of the festival.

The music program features a vinyl party with DJ MadraZ and a concert by the band Pips, Chips & Videoclips at 9 p.m. at Forte Mare.