The National Book Centre (CNL) has just unveiled the results of a new study, conducted by Ipsos, on "?Les French and the BD?". It aims to measure the comic book practices of French people, aged between 7 and 75, and to determine what might lead them to read (for those who read little or nothing).
A young readership and the paper always privileged
One of the main findings of the study was the age of comic book readers. The readership tends to be male and is very important during childhood, especially between the ages of 9 and 13, with comic book reading declining with age.
For example, three-quarters of children read about 12 comic strips a year, while half of adults read 3. Among all readers, paper remains the preferred medium, even though a quarter of children and a third of adults also read in digital format.
Generations attracted by different styles
The French people's favourite comic book remains the adventures of Atérix and Obelix. But pre-teens and teenagers also like manga.
"?La comic book reading is at a crossroads: if the Franco-Belgian album still reigns, the manga's push, carried by a young readership, seems inexorable ?", explains Vincent Monadé, President of the NLC.
The family is the first prescriber of comic books for children, but from the age of 16 the choice is largely autonomous and the advice or recommendations carry much less weight.
Pleasure, relaxation, and time
Having more time is an important lever to encourage all French people to read comics, the study points out. The other main triggers are money and discovering themes more suited to one's interests.
Finally, among children and adults, pleasure and relaxation are mentioned as the main motivations for reading comics.
