Welcome to the
German Comics Association

The German Comics Association, which is headquartered in Berlin, is the go-to association for anyone interested in comics and graphic novels. We are dedicated to the recognition and reinforcement of comics as a stand-alone artistic and cultural form. The association explicitly incorporates the entire spectrum of contemporary comics into its activities.

Current Projects and Events

Angoulême 2023

It is a first highlight in every comic year. As the largest comics festival in Europe, the Festival International BD in Angoulême attracts over 200,000 visitors to the Charente. Since 2014, there has been a regular presence here for German-language…

Read moreAngoulême 2023
LaetBeton & FondsBeton

On November 6 and November 27 2021, they were presented to the German and French public, respectively: The Beton special issue LaetBeton, published by Laëtitia’s former fanzine comrades-in-arms around Stephane Hirlemann, who also contributed the cover, in memory of the…

Read moreLaetBeton & FondsBeton
More Projects and Events

About us

The German Comics Association was founded in Berlin in September 2013. It emerged out of an initiative created by comic artists, researchers, producers and academics, who, as part of the International Literature Festival Berlin 2013, published the Comics Manifesto. It was signed by more than 800 creative artists, journalists, and scholars, among others. Significant goals therein include the reinforcing of the comics culture in German through the creation of an institute as well as the general reinforcement of the medium itself. With the establishment of the non-profit association, an instrument was created that would be able to actualize these goals in a number of ways.

Our founding member and long time chairman Stefan Neuhaus passed away in 2022. You can read our orbituary here.

The German Comics Association seeks to:
  • bring the German comic scene closer together
  • make German comics, graphic novels and manga more well known both at the national and international levels
  • promote the recognition of comics as a stand-alone artistic and cultural form
  • make available information for anyone interested in comics and, in the long term, to found a comics institute
The association’s offering is directed at:
  • comic creators
  • teachers
  • scholars and researchers
  • publishers
  • anyone interested who also supports the goals of the German Comics Association

Board of the German Comics Association

Axel HallingChairman
Axel Halling
Chairman

Holds degrees in Eastern European studies, Hungarian studies and Eastern and Southern European History from Berlin, Paris and Budapest. Cultural manager of German-Hungarian cultural exchanges, freelancer for a comics publisher, currently project manager and foundation advisor for the Federal Association of German Foundations. 

Mona SchützeVice Chairwoman
Mona Schütze
Vice Chairwoman

Studied German language and literature, theater studies and art history at the FU Berlin. Collaboration on various comic-related projects such as exhibitions, several publications on comic-specific topics. Worked for many years for Berlin comic publishers, currently as sales manager.

Katharina-Sofie NaujoksTreasurer
Katharina-Sofie Naujoks
Treasurer

Holds a degree in Cultural Studies, German Studies and Philosophy from Bremen. Completed a postgraduate degree in Cultural Management in Hanover. Previously worked as a Press Officer for the Bremen Theatre and for the Hanover State Theatre’s Artistic Management Offices, and as an Assistant to the Management of an Environmental Education Association in Hamburg. Chairman of the Board at the Hamburg Comics Festival until the end of 2018.

Our goals

Pursuing the goals of the association is made possible through the promotion of the arts and culture, such as through the organisation and hosting of cultural events (exhibitions, presentations, etc.), the promotion of the artistic handling of, for example, topics related to society, politics, history or culture through the comic medium, the promotion of political-aesthetic education (through publications, support and implementation of research projects, educational events, conferences).

We are committed to promoting comics as an element of cultural education in scholastic as well as civic life (through consultations, organisation and implementation of comic workshops and similar events, among others), promoting research projects in the form of scholarly work, but also through conferences or workshops.
An important goal is the establishment of a German institute for comics geared toward an international audience. As a centre of excellence, the institute is intended to support the production of comics as well as scholarly and educational activities through the medium. (The work of the institute of the Finnish Comics Society serves as a role model in this regard).

You can find the complete bylaws of the German Comics Association (in German) here.

Links

Contact

Deutscher Comicverein e.V.
c/o Axel Halling
Akazienstraße 5
10823 Berlin

info(at)deutscher-comicverein.de