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| Valerian and Laureline | |
|---|---|
| Title | Valerian and Laureline |
| Publisher | Métal Hurlant/Pilote |
| Date | 1967–2010 |
| Creators | Pierre Christin (writer), Jean-Claude Mézières (artist) |
| Language | French |
| Genre | Science fiction |
Valerian and Laureline is a Franco-Belgian comic strip series created by writer Pierre Christin and artist Jean-Claude Mézières first published in Pilote in 1967 and later collected by Dargaud. The series follows two time-traveling protagonists serving the Terran Empire and later acting independently across a cosmology that intersects with settings like Paris, New York City, Moscow, and exotic worlds. Noted for influencing cinema and graphic novel artists, the series became a touchstone for creators associated with Métal Hurlant, Jean Giraud and filmmakers such as Luc Besson.
Valerian and Laureline blends elements from space opera, spy fiction, and fantasy within a serialized comics magazine format, combining Christin’s sociopolitical scripts with Mézières’ worldbuilding and design sensibility. The series deploys recurring motifs of time travel and cultural encounter across locations like Alpha Centauri, Venus, and imagined metropolises evocative of London, Tokyo, and Beijing. Its aesthetic influenced production design in cinema and television, shaping visuals in works by Ridley Scott, George Lucas, and the art direction of Star Wars and Blade Runner.
The first episodes appeared in Pilote between 1967 and 1969, serialized alongside strips by creators linked to René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. Early albums were published by Dargaud and later by Les Humanoïdes Associés. The creative team of Christin and Mézières collaborated intermittently through the 1970s and 1980s with contributions from colorists and editors active in Métal Hurlant and Heavy Metal. Translations appeared in English and other languages through publishers like Humanoids Publishing, Titan Books, and Dark Horse Comics, reaching readers in United Kingdom, United States, Germany, and Spain.
The principal protagonists are a male Temporal Agent from 22nd century Paris and a female peasant-turned-agent whose origins lie in Middle Ages France; both encounter alien polities such as the Galaxity-like bureaucracies and the militarized cultures resembling Roman Empire analogues. Secondary figures include antagonists and allies inspired by archetypes found in Sherlock Holmes pastiches, James Bond-style villains, and characters recalling personalities from Jules Verne, H. G. Wells, and Isaac Asimov. Recurring institutions resemble agencies similar to United Nations-style organizations depicted in speculative fiction and corporations evoking Weyland-Yutani from other narratives. Mézières’ designs populate the cast with androids, telepaths, and shapeshifters that recall aesthetic work by Jean Giraud and Enki Bilal.
Narratives pivot on missions that send the protagonists through historical nodes such as Renaissance, Industrial Revolution, and speculative future events like First Contact scenarios and interstellar conflicts akin to those described in Poul Anderson and Arthur C. Clarke novels. Major themes include cultural relativism, critique of expansionist imperialism reminiscent of debates around the Scramble for Africa and Colonialism, and philosophical questions paralleling those in works by Philip K. Dick and Ursula K. Le Guin. The series interrogates gender dynamics and partnership in ways comparable to evolving portrayals in 1960s and 1970s popular culture, while using satire directed at institutions similar to CIA parodies and bureaucratic satire found in Joseph Heller’s fiction.
The property inspired concept art and production design referenced by filmmakers Luc Besson, who produced a 2017 feature film adaptation, involving international studios such as EuropaCorp and crews with links to Warner Bros. Pictures. The series influenced visual artists in comic book houses like Marvel Comics and DC Comics as well as designers working on franchises including Star Wars and Star Trek. Its impact extends to animation projects and video game concept art, with echoes visible in titles from studios like Ubisoft and Square Enix. Exhibitions of Mézières’ art have been held at institutions such as the Centre Pompidou, Musée de la Bande Dessinée Angoulême, and galleries in Brussels.
Critics and scholars have compared the series’ imaginative range to that of Jules Verne and H. G. Wells, while commentators in Le Monde and The New York Times have noted its influence on later science fiction media. Awards and honors connected to the creators include accolades from festivals such as the Angoulême International Comics Festival and recognition alongside peers like Franquin and Hergé. Academics in comic studies and film studies cite the series in discussions of transmedia influence and European contributions to speculative art, and collectors seek original albums from early pressings by Dargaud and Les Humanoïdes Associés. The characters’ partnership model continues to inform portrayals of duos in graphic novels and science fiction franchises worldwide.
Category:Franco-Belgian comics Category:Science fiction comics Category:1967 comics debuts