If you’re trying to learn French, one of the best ways to practice is to read in French so you can learn more words and then acquire a better vocabulary. If you are intimidated by French books but are past the children’s book reading stage, why not read some comics? They are a lot of fun to read and since there aren’t too many words on the pages (usually) and a lot of images, you can easily understand what’s going on. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best French comics from multiple francophone countries and regions. You can easily buy them or borrow them at your local library. Enjoy reading these timeless classics!
The Best French Comics to Read
Tintin
You’ve probably heard or read at least one of the albums from this classic Belgian comic book. With 24 albums, Tintin is one of the most popular comic books of the 20th century. Written by Georges Remi (under the pen name Hergé), the reader follows the adventures of Tintin, a Belgian reporter, investigating difficult cases with his trusty sidekicks Snowy (his wire fox terrier dog) and Captain Haddock (Tintin’s best friend). They travel to South America, Egypt, Indonesia, the United States and even the moon! You will love the recurring characters: Professeur Tournesol, the Dupont brothers, Nestor, and Bianca Castafiore.
Astérix (et Obélix)
Astérix et Obélix is another classic comic you’ve probably heard about. There have been many television and cinema adaptations of some of their most famous adventures including Asterix and Cleopatra, Asterix at the Olympic Games, and Asterix Conquers Rome. There are 37 books. The comic books chronicle the adventures of two best friends, Astérix and Obélix Gauls living in the only village not occupied by the Romans in 50 BC. They are able to resist the Romans because of the village druid, Panoramix, who makes a magic potion that gives supernatural strength to the villagers. Obélix fell in the potion when he was a young boy so he is always supernaturally strong but little astérix takes the potion when fighting against the Romans.
Aya de Yopougon
Aya de Yopougon is loosely based on the author’s life in Côte d’Ivoire. The comic books chronicle the life of a few characters that are all linked in one way to Aya. Aya helps people with their dilemmas and daily issues. There are some recurring themes that often appear in these stories: the advancement of women in society, honesty and loyalty, family and community. Since it’s a small community, Aya knows most people and helps them no matter who they are. You will learn more about this African country that was a French colony until 1960. This comic was critically acclaimed and they made a film adaptation in 2012.
Spirou et Fantasio
This is another very popular Belgian comic. Since the comic started in 1938, there have been many writers and illustrators that have fueled these stories. The two main characters, Spirou and Fantasio are journalists who find themselves in various adventures. Spirou’s pet squirrel, Spip, and their friend, the inventor Count of Champignac follow them in their adventures. There are more than 50 albums, so you really get to see the evolution of the characters through the different authors. If you want to read them, you should buy some box set.
The Belgium people love Spirou and Fantasio so much that there is a Spirou mural in Brussels.
Paul
Paul is a comic series from Quebec and was created by Michel Rabagliati. The 8 album comic series chronicles the life of Paul Rifiorati from his childhood to his life as a father. Even if there are serious issues that are explored, like death and mourning, the author always uses light humour in his albums to keep the reader optimistic about life. Since it is a Quebec comic, the French is all little bit different from French of Belgian comics.
Gaston La Gaffe
This Franco-Belgian comic illustrates the daily woes of this office junior. Gaston first appeared in the Spirou magazine, and even appears a few times in the Spirou et Fantasio comic books. He is a very lazy worker and always gets himself into accidents (gaffe means blunder in French). This antihero lives a normal, pretty boring life but his daily adventures are entertaining and quite funny. If you read both Gaston and Spirou, it’s fun to have a parallel between the two stories.
Boule & Bill
Those Belgians sure love comics! This is another comic book series from Belgium and it is another comic from the Spirou magazine. The comic tells the story of a 7-year-old boy (Boule) and his cocker spaniel dog (Bill). Boule and Bill have many adventures in their house and around their city. There are a few recurring characters like Boule’s mother, father, Caroline (the pet turtle), Pouf (Boule’s best friend and rival to Bill), and others. This comic was adapted into television, cinema, and video games.
Les nombrils
Les nombrils (the bellybuttons) is a Quebec comic series. It first appeared in the humour magazine Safarir in 2004 but was quickly picked up by Spirou magazine. Even if the three main characters of this comic are teenage girls, even men will enjoy this funny and ridiculous story. The series chronicles the life of Karine (a very tall, lanky, kind, smart and hardworking girl) and her two frenemies Jenny (a redhead, shallow, self-obsessed girl) and Vicky (a black brunette also very shallow and narcissistic). Jenny and Vicky always tease and taunt Karine and always lives in their shadows. This comic does tackle important issues like family, rejection, bullying, sex, homosexuality, etc.
Lucky Luke
This Wild West comic was invented by Belgian cartoonist, Morris, in 1946. It takes place in the American Wild West. Lucky Luke, a lone cowboy who is well-known around town because he shoots his gun faster than his shadow, his horse Jolly Jumper and dog Rantanplan journey across the West. They are often asked to capture the most notorious gangsters in the West: the 4 Dalton brothers (Joe, William, Jack and Averell). The 4 brothers are always trying to outsmart Luke but never can. Luke meets some of history’s most important figures like Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain, and Jesse James.
Les Schtroumpfs
You probably know Les Schtroumpfs because of the 2011 movie with Katy Perry and Neil Patrick Harris but these small blue creatures have existed since 1958. This Belgian comic series has more than 35 albums. The Schtroumpfs live in a mushroom village in the middle of a huge forest and all live together in harmony. There are about 100 of them and they all have a singular characteristic like the 7 dwarfs in Snow White: you have a “Lazy Smurf”, “Grouchy Smurf”, “Brainy Smurf”, etc. They have a few enemies namely Gargamel the wizard and his cat Azrael, Hogatha an ugly witch and Gargamel’s godfather Balthazar who try to capture the Schtroumpfs to make gold with them or eat them.
Capitaine Kébec
This is another Quebec comic series which chronicles the adventures of the satirical superhero Capitaine Kébec. This superhero is the only one who can save the world (or at least Montreal) from a supervillain named Frogueman, an ex Montreal policeman. This superhero doesn’t look like your typical superhero. His costume is a little bit all over the place: he has welder’s safety goggles, wears a towel as a cape, etc.
Titeuf
Titeuf is also a Swiss comic and is one of France’s most popular comics. This comic depicts the life of an 8-year-old blond boy with a blond cowlick. He loves girls but doesn’t really understand them yet so he gets himself into trouble with the often. He is secretly (or not so secretly) in love with a girl called Nadia. This is a bit harder to read since there are some French expressions that are used by teenagers and kids or people from lower-income families like “tchô” (good bye) et “c’est pô juste” (it’s not fair). If you’re not familiar with these types of expressions you might be searching through the internet every few pages but you should really read it since it’s very funny.
Le Marsupilami
This series was created by André Franquin and also first appeared in the Spirou magazine. The Marsupilami actually appeared in the Spirou et Fantasio comics before it got its own spin-off series. This black-spotted yellow monkey/cheetah creature lives in the jungle in Palombia (a fictitious South American country). It has an extremely long, flexible, and strong tail which he uses in his daily life. The Marsupilami is known for his catchphrase: Houba! The Marsupilami is always being hunted by hunters looking to capture him since he is the only of his kind (except for his wife and three kids but they don’t appear in the stories at first).
Red Ketchup
Red Ketchup is the most known and one of the most popular French Canadian comic. The series depicts an FBI rogue agent named Steve “Red” Ketchup. He is albino and starts a very large cocaine dependence after he investigates on Raul Escobar (a caricature of Pablo Escobar). He is very violent and if it weren’t for his skills at capturing villains, his bosses would have kicked him out of the FBI a long time ago. If you like action and violence, you’ll love this comic.
Becassine
Becassine is a French comic series and is considered to be the first French comic with a female protagonist. Becassine, a young Breton housemaid, is the main character of this 27 album series. The story chronicles the adventures of this young woman. She helps during the war, she goes to Turkey, she goes skiing, drives a car, becomes a school teacher and sees snow for the first time. This is quite a controversial comic because Becassine can mean ‘foolish or stupid girl’ so the people from Brittany are not happy the French have depicted their people this way.
What are your favorite best French comics?
