13 February 2008
French comic strip writer Jul has been awarded the Rene Goscinny Award for 2008, after his book Guide du Moutard was elected best comic strip of the year.
The awards ceremony, which is held every year during the Comic Strip International Festival of Angouleme in France, first took place twenty years ago.
Rewarding talented writers across the world, it was created in the memory of famous French comic strip writer Rene Goscinny.
Goscinny is the author of numerous comic cartoons such as Lucky Luke, Iznogoud or Asterix, and has played an important part in the recognition of the profession.
Goscinny travelled to Corsica in the seventies, collecting ideas for Asterix in Corsica - an excellent, accurate and funny book depicting the island, its inhabitants and customs.
The story takes place on the island, where Asterix and Obelix meet locals who seem to be constantly obsessed by sleeping. One explains: "if I don't have a nap now then I won’t have the time before I go to bed".
Characters' names are also all very carefully chosen like Corsican chef Figatallix who reminds readers of the typical Corsican sausage Figatelli.