Horizontale collaboratie

Set in the shadow of World War II, Horizontale collaboratie (2023–present, Lauwert) is a single-issue comic by writer James Vandermeersch and artist Carole Maurel that examines the complex, often stigmatized relationships between local women and occupying soldiers. Through Maurel’s evocative artwork, the story probes the moral ambiguities and societal judgments of “horizontal collaboration,” offering a nuanced perspective on a painful, rarely explored chapter of wartime history. This Belgian publication stands out for its sensitive handling of a controversial subject, highlighting the human cost of survival and loyalty in occupied Europe.