About Us
Samandal is the Arabic term for a salamander. Much like the dual habitats of amphibious creatures, Samandal Comics thrive between two worlds: image and text, entertainment and substance, the lowbrow and the raised brow, the experimental and the traditional.
Samandal is a volunteer-based non-profit organization committed to advancing the art of comics in Lebanon and beyond. We have published 18 magazines, 7 comics anthologies, 6 graphic novels, a collection of 8 comic books for teenagers in Arabic, and have hosted comics-related events since 2007.
Samandal serves today as an alternative platform of expression for cultural and social issues. We prioritize the singular voice of the artist, their graphic and narrative experiments, and research that questions language. Our publications are read in several languages, from right to left as well as from left to right, and often propose innovative translation solutions.
Since 2014, Samandal has evolved its format, moving from a quarterly structure based on open calls (spanning 15 issues from 2007 to 2013) to an annual publication, each time led by a different editor. This transformation encompasses subjective decisions regarding editorial direction, themes, authors, working methods, and printing. In 2018, the open-call magazines made a return on an annual basis, coinciding with the expansion of our catalog to include solo comic books, graphic novels, as well as comics tailored for teenagers and young adults.
Over the years, Samandal has orchestrated workshops, residencies, exhibitions, and symposiums, making significant contributions to the comic art scene. The magazine has earned accolades, such as the Best Comics Magazine at FiBDA 2009, the Best Arabic Graphic Novel for ‘Yogurt and Jam’ and ‘Utopia’ at FiBDA 2013, the Audience Award for ‘Topia’ at the East London Comics and Arts Festival in 2018, and the prestigious Fauve d’Or de la BD Alternative at Festival International de la Bande Dessinée d’Angoulême in 2019. Furthermore, it proudly boasts the recognition of Mahmoud Kahil’s Comics Guardian Award and the Unesco-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture in 2019.
Founded by Omar Khouri, Hatem Imam, Lena Merhej, the Fdz, and Tarek Naba’a, the Samandal comics association family has now grown to include Lena Merhej, Joseph Kai, Raphaelle Macaron, Karen Keyrouz, Nour Hifaoui, Tracy Chahwan, Rami Tannous, Shakeeb Abu Hamdan, May Farra, Delphine Compain, and Carla Aouad.