The Belgian Comic Book Museum

Yes, you read that title correctly, I a comic book museum.  Not only did I go to one, I PAID for a ticket….  The first thing that popped in my head when my boyfriend mentioned he wanted to go to this museum on our recent trip to Belgium was Seth Cohen. Maybe because I had been watching O.C.  reruns over the Summer or because I recently saw the cutest pictures of Adam Brody (Seth) and Leighton Meester (Blair from Gossip Girl) on the red carpet, but Captain Oats would have certainly approved of this visit.  #ifyouknowyouknow

The official name of the museum is The Belgian Comic Strip Center, located on Rue des Sables 20 in the heart of Brussels, and it is dedicated to Belgian comics. After lunch we walked to the two story building and paid our €10 each to enter.

To be honest, I found the history of the building and the gorgeous Art Nouveau architecture more interesting than the comics (though I did like the little Smurf hut). Before the outbreak of the World Wars and at the end of King Leopold II’s reign the actual building was inaugurated in 1906, but not as a museum, it was funded by baron Charles Waucquez to serve as his textile warehouse. The lighting, grand staircase, detailed moulding, and stained glass were some of the standout features of the gorgeous building.

But back to the actual museum, I did like the exhibit that featured The Invention of Comic Strip and how ti began as well as the art of the comic strip (how it is actually created). There were actual comics from a handful of the 700 Belgium comic book artists including Tintin, Spirou, Bob and Bobette, the Smurfs, Lucky Luke, Blake and Mortimer, and Marsupilami. Take a look at some of my favorites from the museum:

Have you ever been to a Comic Book Museum?