RAWALPINDI: An exhibition of the covers of Belgium`s most famous comic strip books started at a local hotel on Monday.

Titled `Highlights of the Belgian Comic Strip Art` and hosted by the Belgian embassy and the Hashoo Hotels Group, the exhibition was inaugurated by Sri Lankan High Commissioner retired Maj Gen Jayanath Lokuketagodage.

The Belgian embassy`s political counsellor, Karel Van Hecke, was also present on the occasion.

The exhibition included the covers of more than 56 comic strip books including Tintin Spirou, Bob and Bobette, the Smurfs, Lucky Luke and others.

The large-scale production of comics in Belgium started in the second half of the 1920s.

The comics that were available then came from France and were mostly available in parts of Belgium where French was spoken, including Wallonia and Brussels.

Mr Van Hecke said that the 1920s saw the formation of many new magazines catering to the youth.

He said while Tintin was very popular, it would take another decade for another successful comic magazine to appear.

`In the meantime, an increasing number of youth magazines published some pages with comics influenced by Tintin. In 2000, almost 40 million albums were printed in Belgium each year and 75pc of these were exported.

An estimated 75pc of the comics sold in France were made by three large Belgium comic publishers,` he said.

He said Belgium has played a major role in the development of the 9th art.

`In fact, event the designation of comics as the 9th art is due to Belgium,` he said, adding that Belgium has more comic strip artists per square kilometre than any other country in the world.

He talked about his favourite comic which was Jommeke Kinderherrschaft, the plot of which revolves around a small town where children undertook the role of adults and vice versa after drinking the village water.

The exhibition will continue for 13 days.