Bandite Declares Open Season at FISW!

When Bandite packs her bags, it's not for a vacation... it is to save the planet through comics!

Join us on October 15, 2025 in Bellevue, Washington, for the official launch of the ‘Comics 4 Climate’ exhibition, where our favorite mascot, Bandite, is ready to blow some bubbles... of environmental awareness.

But who is Bandite? Imagine a female raccoon, mischievous, dedicated, a bit sarcastic, but always ready to sow seeds of ideas in curious minds. She steals hearts and pencils instead of trash, and it’s thanks to Caroline Perrier that her striking name and rebellious coat are a representation of the festival Les Troubadours de la BD. So mark your calendars, sharpen your pencils, and get ready to kick off the new school year with humor and fun!

Comics 4 Climate: An exhibition with energy (and style)

Bandite didn't come alone. She arrives with a traveling exhibition that combines comics, ecology, and youth engagement. Comics 4 Climate is a project that makes noise... but a gentle noise, like the sound of pages turning and ideas germinating.

The concept? Using comics as a tool for awareness, advocacy, and artistic expression. Because yes, talking about the climate is good. Drawing it is even better. And when it is funny, touching, and driven by young people, it's downright irresistible.

Objectives of the exhibition:

•         Raise awareness about climate change and biodiversity

•         Encourage artistic expression among young people

•         Promote comics as a socially responsible medium

And as Bandite says (between two sketches): "I've read all the IPCC reports... but I prefer speech bubbles and pencils."

Why FISW? Because superheroes start at school.

It is no coincidence that Bandite chose FISW for its grand launch. It was an obvious choice as there was a natural alliance between the committed mascot and a school that cultivates innovation, diversity, and cultural openness.

FISW is a Green School recognized locally in the Pacific Northwest and by the AEFE. A place where students learn to think, create, express themselves... and dream of a better world. It is here that the Evergreen Lantern Collective was launched in March 2025 with Catherine Boucher-Amblard of FISW, Thomas Siffer of Terreau, Aline Bloch of Aline's Cardboard, author Laura Nsafou, and myself representing the Sjj agency. Between math, French, and English classes, and a well-deserved break, FISW students will become the scriptwriters of tomorrow's world. And to mark the occasion, a comic strip contest is being launched:

•         Option 1: Create your own climate-themed comic strip

•         Option 2: Imagine the ending of one strip illustrating Bandite's misadventures in the face of climate change

The partnership with Sjj agency and the enthusiastic welcome from the teaching team make this event even more special. Bandite is hugely excited. She even promised not to nibble on the pencils (well... not all of them).

What Bandite is up to (spoiler: there will be bubbles, seeds, and growing ideas)

The exhibition not just displays comic strips; it offers a creative and joyful immersion into the world of Bandite and comics.

In the program:

•         Original, funny, and powerful comic strips

•         Creative workshops  

•         The story of Bandite, present in person (or almost)

•         French idiomatic expressions

•         Artistic nods to Magritte, Niki de Saint Phalle, and other geniuses of the imagination

And be warned, Bandite has planned a special outfit for the occasion... somewhere between superhero and gardener of the imagination. She's ready to make a splash.

And what's next? The festival continues... but the heart remains in Bellevue

After FISW, Bandite will hit the road (or the subway, or bicycle, depending on the mood) to continue his mission. Two parallel tours on the West Coast and East Coast of the United States:

•         Seattle: French American School of Puget Sound

•         San Diego: French Literature & Arts Festival – Alliance Française de San Diego

•         New York: 6 public schools in Manhattan and Brooklyn, in partnership with the FLAM EFNY organization,  

However, FISW will remain the symbolic starting point. The place where it all began, where she first reflected and created. And as Bandite says: "You never forget your first stage... especially when it's full of smiles and colored pencils."

Conclusion: Bandite is waiting for you!

The ‘Comics 4 Climate’ exhibition is much more than an event. It's a collective adventure, an invitation to think differently, to draw the world of tomorrow with boldness and tenderness.

So, whether you're a student, parent, teacher, artist, or simply curious... come meet Bandite, discover the comics, participate in the workshops, and, above all, sow your own seeds of ideas.

"Bandite is ready. And you? Pencils sharpened, ideas blooming, let's go for Comics 4 Climate!"

Sylvie Joseph-Julien*

Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters 

Founder & Director Sjj agency – a nonprofit organization that promotes French language and Francophone cultures through comic arts and youth literature in the United States and in Europe. 

*Article written by Sylvie Joseph-Julien, translated by Natalie Muller and Romain Joseph

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Additional resources:

On FISW as a Green School

•         French Immersion School of Washington Website. https://www.fisw.org/green-school 

On Bandite and the Les Troubadours de la BD festival

•         Sjj agency. Invitation au lancement de l’expo Comics 4 Climate et du festival Les Troubadours de la BD : https://www.sjjagency.com/comics4climate 

•         Concours Comics 4 Climate 2025-2026: https://www.sjjagency.com/comic-arts-contest 

On Evergreen Lantern Collective

• Evergreen Lantern collective: Evergreen Lantern | Sjj agency

• Thomas Siffer Terreau: https://www.terreau.us/ 

• Aline Bloch Aline’s Cardboard: https://www.alinescardboard.com/

• Nos Jours brûlés par l’autrice Laura Nsafou en tournée à FISW en mars 2025 Nos jours brûlés - tome 1 | Éditions Albin Michel

On comics as a tool for engagement and teaching

• Groensteen, Thierry. La Bande dessinée : mode d’emploi. Les Impressions Nouvelles, 2006 : https://lesimpressionsnouvelles.com/livre/la-bande-dessinee-mode-demploi/ 

On Climate Change and Education

•         GIEC (IPCC). Rapport spécial sur le réchauffement planétaire de 1,5°C. Résumé pour décideurs : https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/2/2019/09/IPCC-Special-Report-1.5-SPM_fr.pdf 

UNESCO. L’éducation au développement durable. Page officielle : https://www.unesco.org/fr/sustainable-development/education 

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