Angoulême (AFP)

The cartoonist and scriptwriter of comics Emmanuel Guibert, author notably of the series "La guerre d'Alan" (L'Association, 2000-2008), received Wednesday the Grand Prize of the city of Angoulême for all of his work .

The Grand Prix of the city of Angoulême, awarded on the eve of the opening of the 47th edition of the comic book festival, is one of the highest distinctions for a comic book author.

This price is awarded after a vote by the community of professional comic book authors published in French, regardless of their nationality.

Finalist for the third consecutive year, Emmanuel Guibert, 56, was in the running against the American Chris Ware (also finalist in 2018 and 2019) and the French Catherine Meurisse, cartoonist at Charlie Hebdo, who has just been named to the 'Acadamy of Arts. The designer is the subject of a major exhibition at the Angoulême festival. This exhibition, "Catherine Meurisse, chemin de traverse", is scheduled until March 1.

Creator of "The War of Alan", a series inspired by the memories of his friend and former American soldier Alan Ingram Cope, Emmanuel Guibert is also the author of the series "The photographer" (Dupuis, 2003-2006) inspired by the life of photographer Didier Lefèvre on a mission for Doctors Without Borders.

Emmanuel Guibert is also the screenwriter of the children's series "Ariol" (Bayard) and "Sardine from space" (Dargaud), designer of "The teacher's daughter" and "Black olives" (written by Joann Sfar) or "Scarlet Captain" (written by David B.). He is also the author of beautiful books including "Le pavé de Paris", "Italia" or "Japonais".

Next May, he will publish with Dupuis "Drawing in museums", compilation of sketches and drawings made since the early 1990s, according to his wanderings in museums.

In 2017, Emmanuel Guibert had already received the René-Goscinny prize for the script for all of his work in Angoulême.

"Some men are chameleons, others borrow identities, others still are designers. Emmanuel Guibert, born in 1964, is all this at the same time, by the amorous way in which he slips into the intimacy of people who are close to him to sublimate it with his creative gesture, "said the jury of the René-Goscinny Prize.

Last year, the Angoulême Grand Prix was awarded to the Japanese Rumiko Takahashi, one of the major authors of the manga, creator in particular of the series "Ranma 1/2" or even "Maison Ikkoku" ("Juliette, I love you "in French).

© 2020 AFP