Carole Hoffmann (360Crossmedia): The history of Luxembourg in comic strip form

How did the idea for this historical comic book come about?

The project began in 2024, with a commission for a comic book to mark the 20th anniversary of a Luxembourg company. At first it was only eight pages, but when the time came for printing we wanted something larger, so we decided to add more on the history of Luxembourg. The 360 team began researching online and at the National Library, and this work sparked a real enthusiasm for the country's history. We discovered overlooked heroes such as John the Blind, Sigismund, Charly Gaul, and Grand Duchess Charlotte. In 2025, 360Crossmedia will celebrate its 25th anniversary. We had launched a rocket 38 kilometres into the sky for our 20th anniversary, and we wanted to do something else memorable for the 25th, so we decided to publish a comic book on the history of Luxembourg. It was a huge undertaking, but the publication coincided with a historic moment: on October 3, Grand Duke Henri handed over power to his son Guillaume. The comic book was released on the same day by our partner, Ernster, in three languages - French, German, and English.

Carole Hoffmann, CEO of 360Crossmedia, shares the origins, ambition, and challenges involved in creating the very first comic strip dedicated to the history of Luxembourg, from 963 to 2025.

What is the ambition behind this project?

Luxembourg has a thousand-year history, but this rich heritage remains little known in the collective memory. This is confirmed by a simple observation: Superjhemp, a humorous strip about an anti-hero, dominates comic sales. We think that this success reflects a void in popular historical references, and the book aims to fill this gap. Its wide distribution will help reinforce a common culture, accessible to all: citizens, residents, and tourists. Nearly half the population does not have Luxembourgish nationality—in Luxembourg City, the rate reaches 70 percent—so it’s not surprising that lots of people don’t know about our past. We believe that this work will prevent the country's history from being hijacked by extreme parties, as we have seen in other countries such as France and Italy.

“Historical accuracy was a real challenge, requiring around a thousand hours of work.”

“The aim is to make Luxembourg's history accessible to everyone.”

What were the main challenges facing the project?

Historical accuracy was the main difficulty. Despite the support of historians, people working in government departments, and enthusiasts such as Germain Birgen, we realized that certain chapters of history are presented differently depending on the source. On this subject, I recommend reading Denis Scuto's book “Une histoire contemporaine du Luxembourg” (A Contemporary History of Luxembourg) – and in particular the chapter on 1839 and the “polysemic” nature of history. Facts are often called into question by representations of the past, or even reconstructions of the past based on the present. Our work was therefore based on meticulously documented research, allowing readers to access all the sources and verify the accuracy of our work.

Another difficulty lies in the format: how can you recount World War I or the reign of Grand Duke Jean in seven images?

We believe we have succeeded in meeting this challenge by offering a work that is both informative and entertaining. Certain elements, such as clothing, required choices to be made. For example, there aren’t many usable sources for the 11th century, so we had to make choices about how to depict that era. Finally, the quality of the Luxembourgish translation was considered essential from the outset, and I think readers will be satisfied. We chose a low retail price—€19.50—to facilitate wide distribution.

Who are your personal favourite heroes?

Jean L'aveugle, of course, for his chivalrous nature and for everything he did for the country's economy; Guillaume II, who limited his own powers to put Luxembourg on the path to independence; and Grand Duke Henri, whose 25-year reign was marked by a courageous reform of the constitution in the context of the debate on euthanasia.

Available in three languages in Ernster bookstores. Order your copies in French, English, or Luxembourgish.