Female Pioneers and Early Diversity

While the Golden Age BD industry was predominantly male, important female voices emerged. Claire Bretécher began her career in the 1960s, creating strips that subjected French society to withering satirical analysis. Her series "Les Frustrés" exposed the hypocrisies and anxieties of the post-1968 generation with unprecedented frankness. Bretécher's success opened doors for subsequent generations of female BD creators.

The period also saw BD beginning to grapple with France and Belgium's colonial legacy. While many series perpetuated colonial stereotypes, some creators began questioning these representations. The evolution of characters like Tintin's African adventures from crude stereotypes to more respectful portrayals reflected broader social changes. These early efforts, however incomplete, laid groundwork for more diverse and inclusive BD in subsequent decades.