The White Lama

The White Lama / Le Lama Blanc #1-6

by Alejandro Jodorowsky, Georges Bess (Illustrator)

Late 19th century Tibet, after the Grand Lama Mipam dies, Gabriel, the orphan of white explorers, is chosen as his reincarnation. As he is raised by a local family, the seeds of corruption and despair sprout across the land, and it will be up to the "White Lama" to fight his way back to the light. Alexandro Jodorowsky ("The Metabarons," "The Incal") partners with artist Georges Bess ("Son of the Gun") to tell a breath-taking & spiritual epic adventure set at the “Roof of the World.”

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Comix, Comic Book, Comics Manga, Graphic Novels Comics

296 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1995

About the author

Also credited as Alexandro Jodorowsky

Better known for his surreal films El Topo and The Holy Mountain filmed in the early 1970s, Alejandro Jodorowsky is also an accomplished writer of graphic novels and a psychotherapist. He developed Psychomagic, a combination of psychotherapy and shamanic magic. His fans have included John Lennon and Marilyn Manson.

Reviews

[David Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jodorowsky is once again telling the only story he really cares about: spiritual growth enforced by horrible pain. Not in space this time, but in...Tibet, or more precisely a very magical and fantastical version of Tibet.

Does it feel like one more remix of the same story I have read in Metabarons, Incal and Technopriests? Yes, it does.
Is it a good book? Of course, because he really knows how to tell that story. Blood, Shit and karma, this time without the usual helping of sex.

[Siona Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked a lot of the concepts in this book, but the ending went over my head a little (as it does with most Jodorowsky things). I liked the historical setting, and a lot of the religious/spiritual messages were appreciated.

[Oliver Hodson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Swamp Thing and much of Alan Moore's work, and I think White Lama covers many of the same ideas- the smallness and largeness of humanity. What I love about Jodorowsky and his collaborators, this time Georges Bess, is that the universe and eternity spanning epics are almost dead-panned. I think this happens especially because the art is wonderfully functional rather than elaborate, for example you don't get full page splashes like you do in Swampy, and the transformations of Gabriel/White Lama aren't accompanied by massive hymns of thought, but usually only a brief description or thought bubble. For me, this makes the drama and truth of the story more rooted in reality, which makes the spiritual and fantasy elements more compelling. The story itself is an interesting tale of destiny and fulfilling a personal journey, though I won't go into big details.

I am glad that the Humanoids' work is being collected in these big editions- as much as collecting the Incal in English in trades and floppies was one of my most challenging comics shopping experiences (and well worth it), it is nice just to get the complete story easily.

[Bryan Cebulski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as balls-to-the-wall crazy as I'd expect a graphic novel written by Alejandro Jodorowsky to be, but this was a pretty good Eastern spiritualism enlightenment story. While it doesn't stray too far from the narrative formula's tropes, the beautiful art and good storytelling make it worthwhile. White savior element is questionable though. Reminds me too much of the white supremacist motivations behind Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan--the idea that the white man can master any surrounding he is put into, surpassing even those who are native to the environment, etc. Osamu Tezuka's Buddha is probably a better work in the same vein.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredibly moving and deeply spiritual. It shows the struggle to remain good and true to your ideologies and beliefs especially in face of staunch opposition and fierce adversity. It showed that some are victims of circumstance and they behave one way due to never knowing that there is another way. I'm glad I read this and I do believe that it has changed me, and help me to seek my own spiritual enlightenment.

[Ethan Decker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was worried going into it that it'd be a Dances With Wolves in Tibet. I was right. A white dude becomes the reincarnation of the Grand Lama, destroys a village, saves a monastery, achieves mystical enlightenment at age 10 or something, befriends the yeti, and then achieves Ultra Enlightenment that ends the cycle of reincarnation -- as only a white man can.

It had some good themes and some interesting characters. And the art was nice. But ultimately it was hamstrung by melodramatic dialogue (of the epic hero type) and the entire premise. I'm done with Mighty Whitey / Going Native / White Savior stories.

[Juho Pohjalainen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to imagine how common it is for a wise and perceptive ruler to somehow have an ambitious and wicked second-in-command, without no one ever finding out. In this story it happens twice.

Besides that it's a pretty great story, though. There's a great classic character arc, topped with more than a few good and important lessons, enlightenment, and fine art. Well worth anyone's while.

[Randy Pradhana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating 4.5 stars, the best Jodorowsky's i've ever read.

[Art · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic masterpiece!

[Enrique Borrella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. I liked the drawings too but I feel like illumination isn’t worth spending 60 years in the worst possible situations lol.

[dp · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF after a whole ass year - it was type mid, no cap

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

More Adventure than spiritual

[Ihor Kolesnyk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ходоровськи мене втомлює ментально. Це суцільний психоделічний тріп, де герої живуть доволі шаблонно при усіх проявах суперсил, магії і різної іншої декоративності. До буддизму воно все має мало стосунку. Знову цей білий герой, який центрує на собі увагу читача у всесвіті Тибету. Астрали, езотерика, фігня-мігня.. Деяким авторам треба почати нарешті цікавитися трохи більше існуючими традиціями світу, а не лише теософією, аюрведою і Блаватською.

[C. Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I didn't recieve this book for practically free from my library I wouldn't have ever thought to read it. Everything from the synopsis to the general layout of the book was alien to me; extending to some very eastern-focused themes that I have literally no personal experience with.

However, am I ever glad I gave it a go because this book may just be my favorite read of the year. The art is absolutely magnificent whether Bess is painting vivid, confusing hallucinations or sprawling and lush landscapes. The pages very faulter to catch the eye and are a draw for anybody who appreciates art as a whole.

The dialogue never comes off as corny or forced, which is a difficult thing to achieve when dealing with monks, Buddah and reincarnation themes. Sometimes the exposition comes off a little heavy-headed, but it's a welcome addition to readers unaccustomed to the culture.

I couldn't recommend this book enough. It's absolutely spectacular, a sleeper-hit and a main-stay on my permanent shelf.

5/5 stars

[Kormak · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when you mix Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey arc, the White Savior trope, AMAZING artwork by Georges Bess, and a solid dose of Jodorowsky's madness, goofiness, and genius?

You get "White Lama."

If you set aside the VERY outdated idea of a European coming to Tibet to save the people and achieve enlightenment, what remains is a highly enjoyable and at times deeply moving fantasy story about an orphan who endures numerous hardships to ultimately become a spiritual warrior.

I'm not an expert on Tibetan Buddhism, but even I suspect that Jodorowsky's ideas are not exactly... kosher, if you catch my drift. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the battles with black magicians, the encounters with corrupted monks, magical cats and the story of a Yeti adopted by a hermit monk who aids his reincarnations. It may not be as mind-bendingly crazy as some of Alejandro Jodorowsky's other comic books, but it's just crazy enough to avoid being mistaken for a historical or serious narrative.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unexpected and interesting story, following some of the themes of other of Jodorowsky's works, but remaining fairly distinct from his SF stories. Excellent artwork, as well. Glad I picked this one up.

[Przemysław Skoczyński · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sporo wielkich słów i mistycznych odlotów kosztem fabuły.

[Martin Hassman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Něco z příběhu Milarepy, něco z příběhu Dalajlámy, něco z mystiky. Pěkné a silné počtení.

[David Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming to this book via Jodorowsky's movies is quite disorienting! For once you have a comprehendible narrative (a classic campbellian hero's journey) with lots of blood and Tibetan magic thrown in to round out a morality tale.
It's only my second graphic novel so was a lot of fun and grittily illustrated.

It may just be a little tame for followers of the author's cinematic incantations

[Đenis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kresba 4/5
Příběh 4/5
Nahlédnutí do tibetského mnišského prostředí je zvláštní a někdy i psychadelické. Nevím jak moc se kniha ztotožňuje s reálným budhismem, ale máme tady všechny ty zákony a míru, čestnosti, reinkarnaci, trocha magie, astrální projekci a čistém srdci, až mi někdy jde z toho hlava kolem.

[Igor Guimarães · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ainda que de momentos brilhantes , especialmente por uma arte alucinante e muito bem disposta , entretanto a narrativa se pega em vários conhecidos ganchos de Jodorowsky, e mesmo em alguns estereótipos cansativos .

Talvez tenha que ser de fato, um livro para ser consumido em intervalos longos. Talvez um 3,5, a experiência visual é realmente alucinante

[Campo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avoiding the drama of a white saviour for all... the idea that a wise man can reincarnate in any body he wishes or wills is not something to make a fuss about.

The story is interesting and you will enjoy trying to figure out if there will be violence or not ... being a monk there should not.. so the waiting is a blast.

[Shawn M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jodorowsky's most accessible work in comics.

[Marina M S · Rating 5 out of 5]

.

[Jenell]

The art and storytelling were so beautiful…about a white savior. Each page was acid, hard to stomach. I finished it but cannot rate or recommend.

[Adam Šilhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bohužel nejspíš nejedeme s Jodorowskim úplně na stejné vlně.

[Corey Timmins · Rating 2 out of 5]

The "Great White Hope" part of the story turned me off.

[Gabriela Norato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Generalmente no leo novelas gráficas (realmente esta es una de las primeras para mí) sin embargo puedo asegurar que "El Lama Blanco" de Alejandro Jodorowsky y Georges Bess es realmente una obra extraordinaria.

Visualmente este libro - que originalmente fue publicado en 6 tomos entre 1988 y 1993 - es muy atractivo, las ilustraciones de Bess mezclando a la vez lo grotesco y lo sublime, dándole a las palabras de Jodorowsky la tangibilidad necesaria para llegar al lector de una manera más efectiva e inolvidable.

Sus personajes son redondos, interesantes y con múltiples facetas; y su protagonista Gabriel Marpá (a quien también debe su nombre este libro) es sometido a un arduo viaje de transformación que es el centro de la narrativa y su más poderoso elemento.

"El Lama Blanco" es evocativo, profundo y con mensajes de trascendencia, que aplican en la vida de cualquiera y no solo en personas creyentes en el budismo y sus doctrinas. Siendo agnóstica, muchas de sus frases me parecieron aplicables a mi existencia sin importar que mi credo no se alinee con el de Gabriel Marpá; y su llamado hacia la humildad, el arrepentimiento, el perdón, la amabilidad hacia el prójimo y la espiritualidad son de gran importancia en la actualidad.

Entre algunas de aquellas muchas frases inspiradoras se encuentran las siguientes:
"El universo no es más que un libro inmenso del cual tú mismo extraes el conocimiento..."
"A veces, Gabriel, para encontrarse es necesario haberse perdido..."
"Aquí, donde nada permanece, la vida fluye como un río... y es en el instante mismo donde se encuentra la pureza de lo maravilloso."
"El mal que tú infliges, tú te lo infliges..."

Recomiendo que cualquiera lea esta novela y de ella aprenda un poco, mientras al tiempo se entretiene y pasa un buen rato. Muy buen libro.

[Pavel Dobrovsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ani 30. let od prvního vydání nelape spirituální variace na Tarzana z pera surrealisty a mystika Jodorowského po dechu. Od narození pod štíty Himálaje je běloch Gabriel vychováván Tibeťany ve víru budhismu, který ho přivede k nadpřirozeným vnitřním silám a prohlédnutí skrz klamavou realitu. Gabriel nepatří k xmenům, ale do údernické ligy vnitřního rozvoje a jeho výprava za osvícením je prošpikovaná hlubokou znalostí tibetského budhismu, symbolismem, i drtivou kritikou bezohledné a pokrytecké civilizace. Pro mě jde zatím o komiksový zážitek roku. I když třicet let starý. (psáno pro časopis Level, www.level.cz)

[pierlapo quimby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raro connubio di incisività narrativa ed eleganza stilistica tra testi e disegni.