“Comics are no longer trashy books”

From the Indian superheroine to Hägar the Terrible, from burnout to the metaverse: the 15th edition of the Nextcomic Festival in Linz, Traun, Steyr and Wels also shows the impressive diversity of the world of comics. “Comics have long since ceased to be trashy books,” says Gottfried Gusenbauer. The director of the Caricature Museum in Krems, together with Katharina Acht, will lead the festival, which will open on Friday and last until March 25th. “Comics show relevant topics.”

This is also due to two trends. Firstly, comics are becoming more feminine. “Many of the comic artists are women,” says Gusenbauer. The stories would also be more differentiated: “It’s no longer just about superheroes.” Second, art discovered comics. “A lot of comics are like art-house movies.” Digitization has also arrived at Nextcomic. If you download the Artivive app onto your cell phone and hold it in front of selected comics, you can see how the pictures move: Two lovers begin to kiss in a picture by Michaela Konrad.

There are 33 exhibitions in the festival center in the Kulturquartier on Linzer Landstraße alone, and nine more at locations in Linz, Traun, Steyr and Wels. A total of 160 artists are involved, the organizational budget is 50,000 euros. Admission is free almost everywhere. Gusenbauer expects up to 20,000 visitors at the 42 exhibitions, some of which last longer than March 25th.

The Nextcomic Festival will open on March 17, 6 p.m., in the Kulturquartier, Landstrasse, and will last until March 25. Other locations in Linz, Traun, Steyr, Wels. nextcomic.org