I wouldn't say comics are really popular in France. But we may have different interpretations of what comics are, as I don't consider "bandes dessinées" (e.g. Tintin) as comics.
As an avid reader of BDs, I would agree with you, but for the purpose of this discussion, and for the general public, these two are indistinguishable. Even to the actual translation, which is (pardon my rusty French) somewhere in the ballpark of "cartoon strips".
I imagine a pristine 1st edition Tintin or Asterix would be quite valuable.