And another banner. Angouleme is charming, but to an American it can seem kind of gray, especially after a few days. The banners liven things up considerably. However, I love Angouleme. I tell friends back in the U.S. that it's like the French Quarter in New Orleans, except the architecture is more captivating, there are more restaurants and bars, and they're cheaper, and there are no muggers or tourists. Well, usually there aren't many tourists. The festival will bring several hundred thousand comics fans of all ages to this little city through Sunday.