The Association of French Comics Critics and Journalists (ACBD) announced wordless, 3D graphic novel Jean Jambe et le mystère des profondeurs by Matthias Picard the winner of their annual Prix Jeunesse kids prize. The ACBD also narrowed down its contenders for their signature award, the Grand Prix de la Critique.
Roughly translating to ‘Jean Jambe and the Mystery of the Depths’, the book is a wordless graphic novel that uses 3D (glasses come included) to immerse the reader in a story about a character that follows a mysterious thread below ground. It was published by Éditions 2042’s kids imprint 4048. You can check out a some more of the book here.
The critics association said about the book [translated via DeepL],
“The members of the ACBD chose to recognize a highly original wordless adventure. In Jean Jambe and the Mystery of the Depths, Matthias Picard introduces a charming little character who explores the deepest parts of the Earth. He constructs his narrative like a wandering journey with no specific destination. The reader becomes part of the story by putting on cardboard 3D glasses that give real immersion to the environments and artwork.”
Jean Jambe is Matthias Picard’s third title for kids – and also his third wordless 3D kids comic. It comes after the two instalments in Picard’s Jim Curious series, which are both available with English covers: Jim Curious and the Journey to the Heart of the Sea (2014), and Jim Curious and the Jungle Journey (2019). While both ‘English editions’ were released by Éditions 2042, Jungle Journey was later released for the US by Abrams in 2021.
Critics’ Grand Prize 2025 Finalists
The ACBD also gave the five shortlisted books still in contention for the Grand Prix de la Critique. The organisation’s highest prize that is essentially their book of the year.
The books were selected from a 15-book longlist during the weekend of bdBOUM festival in Blois, last weekend. A final vote of ACBD members on December 2 will pick the winner.
Most are currently unavailable in English, with no localisation as yet in the works (that we know of). Hopefully the increased profile these awards afford will give a publisher or two enough interest for a pick up. The exception of the bunch is Silent Jenny, by Matthieu Bablet – thanks to the partnership between Label 619 and Magnetic Press this one will be coming out in 2026.
The finalists are:
- Une obsession [tr. ‘An Obsession’ ], by Nine Antico (Dargaud) — meditations by the author on sexuality and love, as she travels to Venice following a break up
- Sangliers [tr. ‘Wild Boars’], by Lisa Blumen (L’employé.e du Moi) — psychological thriller as a beauty influencer struggles against superficial demands and expectations in today’s digital age
- Les Sentiers d’Anahuac [tr. ‘The Paths of Anahuac’], by Romain Bertrand & Jean Dytar (Delcourt) – about 16th century Franciscan priest Bernardino de Sahagún and a young indigenous boy’s efforts to preserve Aztec culture
- Silent Jenny, by Mathieu Bablet (Label 619/Rue de Sèvres) — post apocalyptic eco-dystopian scifi from the author of Adrastea, Shangri-La, and Carbon & Silicon. Magnetic Press expected to publish English edition in 2026
- Soli Deo Gloria [tr. ‘Glory be to God Alone‘], by Jean-Christophe Deveney & Edouard Cour (Dupuis) – From the artist of Herakles; a coming of age story set in the Holy Roman Empire, about two children, their love for music, and how it shapes their lives.
The Grand Prix de la Critique’s longlist featured some familiar names. Jesse Lonergan‘s Drome (released in French by 404 Graphic) and Bryan Talbot‘s Grandville prequel The Casebook of Stamford Hawksmoor (released in French by Delirium) got a nod from Francophone comics critics. Sadly not enough to be in the final running but still a privilege.
Formed in 1984, the Association des Critiques et Journalistes de Bande Dessinée (or Association of Comics Critics and Journalists) – ACBD – is a French-language collective of those who cover comics in the media (print, online, TV, radio etc). It has five awards delivered annually: one for kids books (Prix Jeunesse), one for French Canada (Prix Québécoise), one for work sourced from Asia (Prix Asie), one for work sourced from the English language (Prix Comics), and – of course – the Grand Prix de la Critique.
