BD Charlotte’s monthly, with Bastien Vivès, threatened with disappearance for lack of pleasure

The comic monthly Charlottelaunched among others with Bastien Vivès in October, is threatened with disappearance, failing to obtain the approval of the joint publications commission, its founder said on Thursday, March 27. Charlotte The status of information magazine was denied by the joint commission of publications and press agencies (CPAP) in October, then introduced a graceful appeal, which was rejected in February.

« The content of the publication, devoted to comics, is mainly made up of articles of a timeless nature and information without direct link to news “Justified this commission in a letter of February 12. This decision deprives the magazine of the advantages of the economic regime of the press, a reduced rate of VAT to 2.1% and privileged postal rates. “” It is to condemn a newspaper to death. We are the subject of a disguised censorship attempt “, Tells the publication director, Vincent Bernière.

The texts provide, for comics periodicals, two criteria: stories which must not each exceed half of the pagination and at least 10% of the periodical for ” news sections “(Publications, interviews, criticisms, etc.). For example, in the number 1, dated October, after comics signed by authors like Florence Cestac, Chris Ware, Bastien Vivès or Florent Ruppert, 12 pages of articles evoke stories related to comics and popular culture dating back to the last century.

At first instance, the CPAP had noted ” The presence of several pornographic illustrations “, Reproach which did not return during the appeal. Vincent Bernière, known for having relaunched the magazine Hard metal In 2021, said he was planning to bring the case to administrative justice. The comic book press, flourishing in France in the years 1950-1970 and which was the media for the launch of series like Asterixhas gradually seen the number of titles are reduced, among other things to the aging of the readership and the disaffection of points of sale.