HardScienceFan
'what to eat' fan
Anyone here familiar with Valerian?
look up CoolFrenchcomics.com
rereading the "Ambassador of Shadows" now
EVALUATION*NOT MY OWN,I HASTEN TO ADD* just quoting here:
Valerian is the most popular science fiction series in French history. The creators are still churning them out; the most recent one was published in 2000. However, as far as I can determine, no one has been translating them into English. I looked for the series on the Internet, and aside from there being hardly any English-language pages about this series, the few that did mention it didn't discuss translations.
This, dear readers, is a major shame. Those of us not fortunate enough to be bilingual in French are missing out on some outstanding comics work, if the few translated Valerians--specifically Heroes of the Equinox for the moment--are any judge.
First, the writing. The translation is excellent, much better than the one I remember from World Without Stars. There are almost no awkward moments. The story is a huge satire of heroic quests, and there is considerable amusing contrast between the three different-but-similar superhero-type aliens and the realistic, vulnerable Valerian. The three aliens know, of course, that they're participating in a contest of utmost importance, whereas Valerian is willing to compete but out of duty, not out of a desire to shape a planet. They have deliberately two-dimensional, nonrealistic personalities--as I mentioned above, they often finish one anothers' sentences, walk in step, and pose in a line together. On the other hand, the aliens are allowed some unguarded moments "out of the spotlight" when, as individuals, they stop for the night: Irmgaal yells at his sword for overcooking his food, Ortzog is relieved to take off his tight girdle and resolves to get a bigger one, and Blimflim reads a recipe book.
The story is also well paced--one of the best-paced I've seen in a while, actually. Nothing is overplayed; each moment or incident gets exactly the right amount of attention, notably the scenes of combat. In an American graphic novel, such scenes would have been twice as long, if not more, and in manga, forget it, I'd still be trying to differentiate the action from the special effects. But in this book, action and combat exist only long enough to serve their purpose. (Indeed, the scene where the three aliens fught each other is a satire on similar scenes in superhero books; note that none of the characters suffer the slightest physical damage or even disarray from all the pounding, which only serves to highlight their detachment from Valerian's reality.)
Now, the art. Mezieres is, in a word, stunning. The variety of images, both of people and of backgrounds, is enormous. Even in relatively small panels, he manages to convey a sense of wonder about the beautiful alien landscape of Simlane. The three aliens are simultaneously impressive and ridiculous, with their silly superhero-style costumes (Blimflim's carrot-helmet is probably the silliest appurtenance). There are occasional satiric nods to American superhero art, such as the panel where the aliens take off; Irmgaal is flying away in a classic Superman pose. (And just to make the point stick, commentary on their takeoff includes "Those four are fantastic!" "Yes, really super, those heroes!") Even the lettering adds to the overall effect; the three aliens speak using typical incorrectly overemphasized words, whereas Valerian speaks in a "normal" tone of voice.
[SIZE=-1]The magnificent but crumbling city of Simlane--one of my favorite images in the story.
Ben's PLUG: READ THEM<BY ALL MEANS>>
Those of you who know Moebius probably get an inkling of what to expect
For Connavar,Ningauble nad other Swedes
[/SIZE] Stjärnlös värld
(Le Pays sans Etoile)
Landet uden stjerner
Stjärnlös värld, Fantomen 1-2/2004
Kampen om Teknorog
(Bienvenue Sur Alflolol)
Velkommen til Alflolol
Kampen om Teknorog, Fantomen 7-8/2004
Härskarens fåglar
(Les Oiseaux du Maître)
Herskerens fugle
Härskarens fåglar, Fantomen 25-26/2004
Ambassadören som försvann
(L'Ambassadeur des Ombres)
Skyggernes ambassadør
Skuggornas ambassadör, Fantomen 5-6/2002
De tusen planeternas rike
(L'Empire des Mille Planètes)
De tusinde planeters imperium
De tusen planeternas rike, Fantomen 18-19/2003
Den falska världen
(Sur les Terres Truquées)
I den falske verden
Det stigande vattnets stad
(La Cité des Eaux Mouvantes)
Storbyen der druknede
Stigande vattnets stad, Fantomen 7-8/2003
Vårdagjämningens hjältar
(Les Heros de L'Equinoxe)
Jævndøgnets Helte
Vårdagjämningens hjältar, Fantomen 11-12/2002
Tåg till Cassiopeja, tag plats
(Metro Chatelet, Direction Cassiopée)
Metro Chatelet, retning Cassiopeia
Tåg från Brooklyn, slutstation Kosmos
(Brooklyn Station Terminus Cosmos)
Brooklyn Station, endestation Kosmos
Spöket på Inverloch
(Les Spectres d'Inverloch)
Spøgelset fra Inverloch
Hypsis blixtar
(Les Foudres d'Hypsis)
Tordenkilen fra Hypsis
Bortom okända gränser
(Sur Les Frontières)
Over ukendte grænser
De levande vapnen
(Les Armes Vivantes)
De levende våben
Maktens Cirklar
(Les Cercles du Pouvoir)
Magtens cirkle
Hotet mot Ultralum
(Otages de l'Ultralum)
Ultralummets Gidsler
[SIZE=-1]
[/SIZE]
look up CoolFrenchcomics.com
rereading the "Ambassador of Shadows" now
EVALUATION*NOT MY OWN,I HASTEN TO ADD* just quoting here:
Valerian is the most popular science fiction series in French history. The creators are still churning them out; the most recent one was published in 2000. However, as far as I can determine, no one has been translating them into English. I looked for the series on the Internet, and aside from there being hardly any English-language pages about this series, the few that did mention it didn't discuss translations.
This, dear readers, is a major shame. Those of us not fortunate enough to be bilingual in French are missing out on some outstanding comics work, if the few translated Valerians--specifically Heroes of the Equinox for the moment--are any judge.
First, the writing. The translation is excellent, much better than the one I remember from World Without Stars. There are almost no awkward moments. The story is a huge satire of heroic quests, and there is considerable amusing contrast between the three different-but-similar superhero-type aliens and the realistic, vulnerable Valerian. The three aliens know, of course, that they're participating in a contest of utmost importance, whereas Valerian is willing to compete but out of duty, not out of a desire to shape a planet. They have deliberately two-dimensional, nonrealistic personalities--as I mentioned above, they often finish one anothers' sentences, walk in step, and pose in a line together. On the other hand, the aliens are allowed some unguarded moments "out of the spotlight" when, as individuals, they stop for the night: Irmgaal yells at his sword for overcooking his food, Ortzog is relieved to take off his tight girdle and resolves to get a bigger one, and Blimflim reads a recipe book.
The story is also well paced--one of the best-paced I've seen in a while, actually. Nothing is overplayed; each moment or incident gets exactly the right amount of attention, notably the scenes of combat. In an American graphic novel, such scenes would have been twice as long, if not more, and in manga, forget it, I'd still be trying to differentiate the action from the special effects. But in this book, action and combat exist only long enough to serve their purpose. (Indeed, the scene where the three aliens fught each other is a satire on similar scenes in superhero books; note that none of the characters suffer the slightest physical damage or even disarray from all the pounding, which only serves to highlight their detachment from Valerian's reality.)
Now, the art. Mezieres is, in a word, stunning. The variety of images, both of people and of backgrounds, is enormous. Even in relatively small panels, he manages to convey a sense of wonder about the beautiful alien landscape of Simlane. The three aliens are simultaneously impressive and ridiculous, with their silly superhero-style costumes (Blimflim's carrot-helmet is probably the silliest appurtenance). There are occasional satiric nods to American superhero art, such as the panel where the aliens take off; Irmgaal is flying away in a classic Superman pose. (And just to make the point stick, commentary on their takeoff includes "Those four are fantastic!" "Yes, really super, those heroes!") Even the lettering adds to the overall effect; the three aliens speak using typical incorrectly overemphasized words, whereas Valerian speaks in a "normal" tone of voice.
Ben's PLUG: READ THEM<BY ALL MEANS>>
Those of you who know Moebius probably get an inkling of what to expect
For Connavar,Ningauble nad other Swedes
[/SIZE] Stjärnlös värld
(Le Pays sans Etoile)
Landet uden stjerner
Stjärnlös värld, Fantomen 1-2/2004
Kampen om Teknorog(Bienvenue Sur Alflolol)
Velkommen til Alflolol
Kampen om Teknorog, Fantomen 7-8/2004
Härskarens fåglar(Les Oiseaux du Maître)
Herskerens fugle
Härskarens fåglar, Fantomen 25-26/2004
Ambassadören som försvann
(L'Ambassadeur des Ombres)
Skyggernes ambassadør
Skuggornas ambassadör, Fantomen 5-6/2002
De tusen planeternas rike
(L'Empire des Mille Planètes)
De tusinde planeters imperium
De tusen planeternas rike, Fantomen 18-19/2003
Den falska världen
(Sur les Terres Truquées)
I den falske verden
Det stigande vattnets stad
(La Cité des Eaux Mouvantes)
Storbyen der druknede
Stigande vattnets stad, Fantomen 7-8/2003
Vårdagjämningens hjältar
(Les Heros de L'Equinoxe)
Jævndøgnets Helte
Vårdagjämningens hjältar, Fantomen 11-12/2002
Tåg till Cassiopeja, tag plats
(Metro Chatelet, Direction Cassiopée)
Metro Chatelet, retning Cassiopeia
Tåg från Brooklyn, slutstation Kosmos
(Brooklyn Station Terminus Cosmos)
Brooklyn Station, endestation Kosmos
Spöket på Inverloch
(Les Spectres d'Inverloch)
Spøgelset fra Inverloch
Hypsis blixtar
(Les Foudres d'Hypsis)
Tordenkilen fra Hypsis
Bortom okända gränser
(Sur Les Frontières)
Over ukendte grænser
De levande vapnen
(Les Armes Vivantes)
De levende våben
Maktens Cirklar
(Les Cercles du Pouvoir)
Magtens cirkle
Hotet mot Ultralum
(Otages de l'Ultralum)
Ultralummets Gidsler
[SIZE=-1]
[/SIZE]
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