Alles Comic!

Press information
5 March 2009

Linz09 will be totally dedicated to comics over the coming days. For one thing, the NEXTCOMIC Festival is kicking off its exciting lineup of activities on March 6. For another, a very special issue of Neuner, the Linz09 infomagazine, hits the streets today—this time around, the feature writers have been given some time off so that comic artists (including such greats as Rudi Klein) can show off their stuff.

NEXTCOMIC Opening on March 6
This interdisciplinary festival for comics and graphic literature is focusing on cross-fertilization among comics, film, electronic media, music and theater.

We encounter comics in films and ads, they influence fashion and design, and they’re an absolutely definitive element of international youth culture.

This interdisciplinary festival for comics and graphic literature takes a holistic approach to what might be called the ninth member of the visual arts community.

NEXTCOMIC features Gerhard Haderer’s video MOFF, comic prizewinner Nicolas Mahler, and Mangas made in Austria. It also presents artists from Electrocomics Berlin and the winners of the NEXTCOMIC competition. The NEXTCOMIC Academy is holding workshops and speeches about the latest currents in comics and contemporary comics projects. And if you still haven’t gotten enough, we cordially invite you to take part in the NEXTCOMIC “24 hrs. live drawing” event!

WHAT // Comic Festival
WHEN // March 6-8, 2009
WHERE // Ursulinenhof (festival headquarters), Ars Electronica Center, Linz Art University, Moviemento, Grand Café zum Rothen Krebsen, Medienkulturhaus Wels
IDEA / CONCEPT // Gottfried Gusenbauer
Participants // MOFF Haderers feines Schundheftl – Scherz & Schund Fabrik, Nikolas Mahler’s Flaschko, Manga made in Austria, Electrocomics Berlin, MKH Medienkulturhaus Wels, Fumetto - Internationales Comix Festival Luzern, Comicfestival Prag, GRRR ! Festival Serbia

Produced in cooperation with lin-c, Art Association for the Advancement of Comics and Graphic Literature, and with the support of the School Board of the Province of Upper Austria, Linz Art University and the Ars Electronica Center. The NEXTCOMIC prizewinner will receive support from MIC Customs Solutions.
Neuner – All Comics!

Neuner - comic special!
Neuner, Linz09’s free infomagazine, has been appearing bi-weekly since November 2008. Six issues have appeared to date—reporting on the Capital of Culture year program, delivering background features and giving participating artists a chance to speak their piece. Rounding out the offerings is a detailed event calendar including a listing of productions in Linz and vicinity that aren’t directly connected with Linz09. There’s also a venue directory with wheelchair access info. We’re proud to report that Neuner has been very well received!

The new issue of Neuner comes out on March 5. Number 7’s theme is comics, and right from the outset you’ll notice a major difference between this one and all previous (and forthcoming, no doubt) issues. No articles. Instead of journalists, all feature stories have been covered by cartoonists. And not just any Tom, Dick and Harriet. We are honored that Rudi Klein (whose work has appeared in such top publications as Der Standard, profil, trend, Titanic, Süddeutsche Zeitung and Die Zeit) has agreed to draw our cover and the piece about the Jewish Purimspil, and contribute the text to drawings by Rattelschneck (Berliner Tip, Titanic, Die Zeit, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, et al.). Readers of the German satire magazine Titanic will also recognize the work of Herr Mahler. The vibrant coterie of graphic artists who have left their indelible mark on this issue of Neuner also includes several (Austrian) women. To find out more about Anna Maria Jung, Edda Strobl, Ulli Lust, Jule K. and all the others whose comics appear in this issue, click on the artists’ biographies link below.

To download the latest edition of Neuner, click here.

At the Linz09 Shop you can subscribe to Neuner. Have 26 issues (every 14 days) mailed anywhere in Austria for only €30.

Download:

Bios of the Artists