Cartoonists draw a line when it comes down to official prizes

The affair went mostly unnoticed amid the end-of-the-year celebrations: two cartoonists rebelled against the establishment, simultaneously yet independently from each other, just as the official guardians of culture were beginning to grant comic book creators the same status as other artists.

On December 28, the Spanish cabinet awarded the Fine Arts Gold Medal to a handful of individuals, among them Juan López, the 73-year-old creator of the popular 1970s cartoon Superlópez.

More recently López, who is better known as Jan to readers and cartoonists alike, made a cartoon version of Tadeo Jones, a character whose film version was the third highest grossing movie at the box office in Spain last year.

Three days later, Jan sent the following release: "I would like to express gratitude for the many congratulations I have received, and also to apologize for creating so much expectation among friends and colleagues, and mostly among my fellow residents of Toral.

"I would rather have been asked first, but I cannot in good faith accept the Fine Arts Gold Medal"

"I would rather have been asked first, but given the present social and political circumstances, I cannot in good faith accept the Fine Arts Gold Medal, which I have learned through the press has been awarded to me by the Spanish Culture Ministry, from whom I am still awaiting an official confirmation to act accordingly.

"I have always tried to feel good about myself, and in order to do that I have to stay as true as possible to my convictions. Greetings and warm hugs full of solidarity for everyone."

This newspaper unsuccessfully tried to reach Jan to ask him what he understands by those "present social and political circumstances."

Just as the cartoon world was discussing Jan's refusal, a very similar note was written in France. On January 1, the French government published the list of 681 potential recipients of the Légion d'honneur. One of these was Jacques Tardi, one of the holy men of the European comic book world.

Tardi stated that he wishes to "receive nothing, not from the current power nor from any other political power, no matter which." His statement made it clear that his decision was unaffected by the government's political tendencies.

In any case, being on the list does not automatically mean that one is going to receive the Légion. For that, the candidate needs to find endorsement from a previous Légion winner and pay for the ceremony out of his or her own pocket.

Tardi's work has focused most particularly on World War I, with work like C'était la guerre des tranchées or Putain de guerre! His most recent work is Moi René Tardi, prisonnier de guerre au Stalag II B, which explores the life of his own father, a military man who left the army after witnessing the horrors of World War II.