This is not a comic!

The language of comics has found an ally in formal experimentation for its continuous evolution over the past century. This has reinforced the versatility of the medium, which has adeptly absorbed influences from a wide array of sociocultural and artistic references.

The consolidation of fanzines and self-publishing as an experience of authorial freedom, offering horizontal and transversal access, has accelerated the pursuit for new formal possibilities. In the early 21st century, this evolution was solidified with the emergence of fanzine and self-publishing circuits in the form of collectives and festivals, which have fostered prolific experimentation with the language of comics.

Fanzines represent the first step towards bold proposals aimed at breaking the moulds of a medium strongly bound to traditional forms of expression, which are inherently linked to the commercial nature of the projects. The absolute freedom championed by fanzines and self-publishing removed these constraints, enabling the exploration of diverse contributions that have fully transcended these self-imposed boundaries.

In recent years, the focus has shifted beyond merely exploring the graphic style of fanzines: themes have radically expanded to embrace a wide range of contributions, introducing innovative perspectives that break free from narrative restrictions. These developments delve into abstraction, question the material nature of the comic itself, and explore new ways of presenting it through mediums entirely unrelated to paper.

The exhibition This is not a comic! Fanzines: the avant-garde and innovation of comics seeks not only to provide an overview of the new expressive potential cultivated in fanzines through the work of over forty authors, but also to explore the creative dynamics driving these changes and discoveries. For this reason, an integrative programme has been designed that combines exhibition, creation and engagement, moving beyond the traditional showroom to present a living exhibit in constant transformation.