Born in France in 1947, Chantal Montellier is recognized as one of the leading figures in Francophone comics. Translated into several languages since the early 1970s, her works were published in major comic magazines such as Charlie Mensuel, Métal Hurlant, Ah! Nana, and (À Suivre), as well as by prominent publishers including Les Humanoïdes Associés, Futuropolis, Dargaud, Casterman, and Actes Sud. Presented in major recent exhibitions devoted to the history of comics, her work was also the subject of solo shows— Qui a peur de Chantal Montellier ? ("Who’s Afraid of Chantal Montellier?")—at MAMCO Geneva in 2023 and at Villa Arson in Nice in 2024.
Committed, visionary, and graphically experimental, Chantal Montellier received critical acclaim early on. Her reception, however, often focused on her political engagement, sometimes overshadowing the recognition of her formal and aesthetic innovations. Without overlooking this crucial militant dimension—now rediscovered by a new generation—this monograph seeks to offer a comprehensive reappraisal of her work. It draws on analyses by a dozen contributors and includes the reprinting of several historical texts that shed new light on the artist’s critical legacy.
The publication also features the first reissue of La Mare rouge, a story originally published in 1984–1985 in the magazine Révolution. More broadly, it places strong emphasis on imagery—original drawings, printed pages, and archival materials. Complementing the exhibition Qui a peur de Chantal Montellier ?, which presented the artist’s work through juxtapositions, associations, and montage across large display tables, the book includes a section titled “Visual Essays.” Through image dialogue and visual composition, this section aims to develop a critical perspective of its own.
This collective monograph celebrates the radicality and visual power of Chantal Montellier’s work while contributing to the recognition of the women’s heritage of comics—transmitting and reaffirming the significance of her artistic and political commitment.
