Japanese manga star Ito Ogure aka Oh Great takes centre stage in Paris this season, as the celebrated creator of Air Gear unveils his first graphic novel “Smoke” at the upcoming Festival du Livre de Paris. It’s a rare chance to discover a new side of one of Japan’s most influential artists – just one of the cultural highlights lighting up the French capital right now.

Also making waves: a spectacular immersive journey into the story of the Titanic, where visitors can step aboard the legendary ship and relive its myth and tragedy. Music and gaming fans can dive into “Video Games & Music” at the Philharmonie de Paris, tracing the evolution of iconic soundtracks from “Pong” to “Final Fantasy”.

Meanwhile, cinema lovers can rediscover Marilyn Monroe at a major retrospective at the Cinémathèque française, marking 100 years since her birth. And in Marseille, the Mucem explores the powerful – and often contested-role of motherhood in society with its thought-provoking “Bonnes Mères” exhibition. From manga to myth, video games to vintage Hollywood, these are our top cultural picks in Paris and beyond right now.