The third day of the 20th anniversary Herceg Novi Comic Strip Festival brought together what makes HSF so recognizable – a direct meeting between authors and the audience, live drawing, discussions, workshops and an evening music program. Guests from the world of comics particularly highlight the atmosphere of the festival, which is more reminiscent of a gathering of a large artistic community than a classic convention.
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Photo: Vuk Ilić
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.News culture
07.09.2026. 11:22h
The shipyard was one of the main venues of the festival this year as well. The terrace of the restaurant-bar “Jadran” brought together comic book lovers of all generations, who had the opportunity to watch the artists as they create, talk to them, receive a drawing or dedication, and also find new editions for their collections.
In addition to drawing for the audience, a program dedicated to ecology and the ninth art was held at the Square, while the trophy hall of the PVK “Jadran” was intended for educational content. Children over 10 years old participated in a comic book workshop, and festival guests presented their publications and spoke about the ways in which their works are created.
Immediacy is one of the details that foreign artists have particularly noticed. American author Sean Crystal, who works for the publishing houses DC and Marvel, says that he was delighted by the atmosphere in Herceg Novi, but also by meeting authors from the region and the world.
“The city is absolutely beautiful – the sea, the architecture and the food are incredible. The fact that comic artists from all over the world gather here makes me feel humbled and inspired. It warms my heart to be a part of this story,” said Kristal.
A similar impression was also made by Jim Mahfud, an artist whose work spans music, film, television, and gaming, and is also known for his character designs for the animated film “Spider-Man: Homecoming.”
“Everyone here is extremely kind, nice and very accommodating. It’s easy to work because you’re practically in paradise – you’re socializing and drawing for people,” said Mahfud.
For him, the special value of HSF is that the audience and authors are not separated by the conventional festival format.
“The festival is great because there’s no pressure, it’s focused on direct conversation and drawing. In the United States, conventions are places for commerce and money. This is not that – this is more of an artistic experience and enjoying each other’s company, having fun, laughing, sharing meals. We have a real sense of community and I really like that,” Mahfud said.
During his stay in Herceg Novi, he met numerous authors from the region, including Stephen Morian i Barry Kitson, and he had only words of praise for the domestic comics scene.
“This is a window to utopia”
Among the festival guests is a Slovenian author Izar Lunacek, which is in Herceg Novi for the sixth time. He presented his comic strip for children and a cartoon, but what was especially interesting was his view on what makes HSF different.
“This is such a good festival that even regular editions seem like jubilee editions – as if every year is the twentieth. This is, in my opinion, the best festival in the Balkans,” said Lunaček.
He particularly highlighted the fact that authors from different countries and backgrounds meet in one place.
“We are sitting at the table, Serbs, Croats, Bosnians, Montenegrins, Slovenians, there are Spaniards, Italians, French, Americans – this is a utopia of a festival, an occasionally open window to utopia,” said Lunaček.
This image perhaps best describes the third day of HSF – a festival where comics do not end on paper, but become an occasion for conversation, getting to know each other, and spending time together.
Forte Mare gathered an audience for the end of the evening
After the daily program, the festival atmosphere moved to the Forte Mare fortress, where the musical program once again attracted a large number of visitors.
The evening was opened by the local group Gorostas, led by Novljanin. Jovo Čeprnić, who has been associated with HSF since the first festival editions. After them, the Rambo Amadeus Quintet performed.
The iconic regional musician and his band offered the audience a recognizable combination of sharp lyrics, improvisation, and virtuoso performance, bringing the third day of the anniversary festival to its musical conclusion.
“The world has become caricatured. My caricatured style, and the same characteristic of comics, now most closely show the world as it is,” he said. RamboAmadeus.
HSF arrives in Tivat today, and then on Lovćen
The festival is moving from Herceg Novi today and continues its journey through Boka Bay. The HSF caravan will be at Tivat’s Magnolia Square from 11 am, where festival guests will talk to the audience, draw live, and a comic book exchange and a promotional environmental program will be organized.
In the afternoon, the caravan will travel by cable car to Lovćen, where the audience will be treated to fan drawing with a DJ session by the duo 2Bit, as well as a drawing school in nature.
The music program continues in Herceg Novi. On the steps of the 28th of October, near the cafe “L’Etage” and the pub “Got”, from 22 pm, Kanda, Kodža and Nebojša, one of the most important bands of the Belgrade alternative scene, will perform.
Admission to all festival programs is free, but due to limited capacity, the organizers recommend that the audience arrive early.
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20th Herceg Novi Comic Strip FestivalSean CrystalMarvelJim MahfudSpajdermenSquirrelForte MareRambo amadeus
