French critics assocation ACBD has picked Romain Bertrand and Jean Dytar‘s Les Sentiers d’Anahuac [tr. ‘The Paths of Anahuac’] as the recipient of its highest annual award, the Grand Prix de la Critique 2026. The authors and their publisher, Delcourt, will formally receive the award at the Society of Authors of the Graphic & Plastic Arts (ADAGP) in Paris on March 21, 2026.
The ACBD said about the book [translations via DeepL]:
“Romain Bertrand and Jean Dytar deliver one of the most accomplished and relevant comics of 2025. In Les sentiers d’Anahuac (The Paths of Anahuac), they revisit the pivotal era of the Spanish conquest of Central America by Cortés. They retrace the priesthood of an indigenous native who devoted his life to compiling a codex detailing his own pre-Columbian culture, under the aegis of a Franciscan priest. In doing so, they explore fascinating questions: how did forced evangelization replace Aztec culture? How could it have happened so drastically in such a short time? How could the essence of the previous civilization be preserved?
“For this authentic and thoroughly researched story of the creation of this cultural codex, Jean Dytar has devised a comic-book style inspired by the hieroglyphics and symbols used by the indigenous people to codify their writing. They subtly guide the eye through pages teeming with information, which remain easy to read and have a style similar to ligne claire (clear line). This essential work speaks volumes about our own era, in which the desire for cultural recovery still drives many geopolitical endeavours.”
The book is presently not available yet in English, but international awards can help with a rights pickup by an English-language publisher. The translated synopsis for The Paths of Anahuac:
“In the 16th century, upon his arrival in Mexico, Franciscan priest Bernardino de Sahagún lamented the systematic destruction of indigenous culture by the conquistadors. He embarked on the writing of a monumental collection, a transcription of Aztec memory. A young indigenous boy, Antonio Valeriano, born after the Conquest, helped him in his task and, along the way, rediscovers his own cultural heritage…”
The Paths of Anahuac won out against graphic novels covering such genres and subjects as contemplations on love and sexuality (Une obsession, by Nine Antico; Dargaud), the transformative path of music (Soli Deo Gloria, by Jean-Christophe Deveney & Edouard Cour; Dupuis), eco post-apocalyptic sci-fi (Silent Jenny, by Mathieu Bablet; Label 619/Rue de Sèvres), and the hazards of being an online influencer (Sangliers, by Lisa Blumen; L’employé.e du Moi). To view samples of the finalists, you can check them out here.
Last year’s winner of the ACBD Grand Prix de la Critique was Deux filles nues [tr. ‘Two Girls Nude‘] by Luz, published by Albin Michel. While not guaranteed, recipients of the Critics Grand Prize have also occassionally received the Fauve d’Or at Angoulême. This happened in the case of Luz’s graphic novel. Unfortunately, the cancellation of the festival included the cancellation of its awards but the authors can take heart in this win.
In prior years the formal award ceremony would take place during the Angoulême Festival, in late January. Unfortunately the Festival has been cancelled, although previously the ACBD had already stated its intention to boycott in solidarity with creators fighting for change.
The Association des Critiques et journalistes de Bande Dessinée (ACBD) is a collective association of critics and journalists who cover comics in the Francophone world. Formed in 1984, its membership includes media professionals predominantly from France, Switzerland, Belgium, and Canada. They bestow five awards annually covering kids’ comics, English-sourced material, comics from Asia, and Québécoise (French Canadian) comics. The Grand Prix de la Critique is the association’s oldest and highest award, dating back to its founding. Awards are decided by multiple rounds of voting by the ACBD’s active membership.
