World-class comic masters arrived yesterday at Škver, while the cult Zagreb band Pips, Chips & Videoclips took the stage at Forte Mare fortress, thanks to the 19th edition of the Herceg Novi Comic Festival (HSF).
Renowned comic artists, guests of the festival, drew for fans and mingled with them on the terrace of the “Jadran” resto-bar. Visitors queued to receive sketches from stars of the global comic scene, such as the most influential comic author of all time, Jill Thompson, who is visiting Herceg Novi for the second year in a row, acclaimed US artist Khary Randolph, and British comics superstar Mark Simpson, better known as Jock.
Visitors could also find new comics, including fresh releases from regional publishers, at the all-day comic book fair.
The Trophy Hall of PVK Jadran hosted a lively program, starting with a comic and illustration workshop for the youngest participants, followed by a presentation of her work by Jana Vasiljević, a young local artist and, according to many, the brightest new talent of the Montenegrin comic scene.
HSF also marked the centenary of the birth of Miki Muster with a presentation by Pia Nikolič, comic critic, theorist, and president of the Slovenian Comics Society.
American scriptwriter Joanne Starrer, known for her work on comic series for major publishers such as Sirens of the City (Boom! Studios) and Fire & Ice: Welcome to Smallville (DC Comics), also presented her work. Her piece Mobile Phone: Invisible Connection, created in collaboration with US comics star Khary Randolph—also an HSF guest—was the centerpiece of a major exhibition at the Smithsonian, one of the world’s most prestigious museums.
The day continued with the introduction of special guests of the 19th HSF, renowned names of the European and global comics scene who are currently in Herceg Novi, engaging with over a hundred artists and professionals from 20 countries, as well as with numerous fans of the ninth art.
The evening concluded with another spectacular concert at Forte Mare fortress. The audience danced to vinyl beats spun by DJ MadraZ, followed by a performance by the cult band Pips, Chips & Videoclips, led by Dubravko Ivaniš Ripper, with fans singing along to the hits that have defined their three decades on stage.
Today, HSF has moved to the beach, to the People’s beach bar in Topla. The program began at 11 a.m. with “School Day” – an exhibition of works created at the comic drawing workshops, as well as a mask-making workshop led by Dutch artist Yuri Landman. The comic fair, drawing for fans, and T-shirt sketching are scheduled until 7 p.m., with musical ambiance provided by DJ duo 2Beat.
At 9 p.m., the audience can look forward to the multimedia comic performance Moby Dick City Blues, in which Cosimo Miorelli’s live digital painting and Stefano Bechini’s music merge into a narrative woven through images, sounds, and atmosphere. This production is a modern adaptation of Herman Melville’s classic novel, reimagined as a story of the search for the “white whale” in today’s world. The event is organized as part of the EU project Comics Beyond, which HSF is delivering in partnership with the Brussels Comics Museum, Comicon in Naples, and festivals in Amiens (France) and Amadora (Portugal).
The fourth day of HSF will wrap up with a performance by DJ Andrea Nox at the People’s bar.