Belgian comics are a distinct subgroup in the comics history, and played a major role in the development of
European comics, alongside
France with whom they share a long
common history. While the comics in the two major language groups and regions of
Belgium (
Flanders with the
Dutch language and
Wallonia with
French) each have clearly distinct characteristics, they are constantly influencing one another, and meeting each other in
Brussels and in the bilingual publication tradition of the major editors. As one of the few arts where Belgium has had an international and enduring impact in the 20th century, comics are known to be "an integral part of Belgian culture".