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Altor #1
Magic Crystal
Dans le monde du jeune Altor, une grande menace plane.
- GenresComicsGraphic Novels
48 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1986
1 person is currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Mœbius
540 books929 followersJean Henri Gaston Giraud (pen-name: Mœbius) was a French artist, cartoonist, and writer, who worked in the Franco-Belgian bandes dessinées tradition.
Also published as Jean Giraud.
Also published as Jean Giraud.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 30, 2021
I have the original 1986 hardback in French from Dargaud. I remember having some hope for this then new series, it being led by the famous Moebius (under his Giraud moniker) and his clearly talented student Bati. I also liked the fantasy fiction vibe with the sci-fi planetary romance undercurrents. I understand there’s several volumes in the series, but they seem very obscure and hard to find.
The story, by Giraud unusually, is a bundle of fantasy fiction tropes that don’t make much sense. The protagonist, young elf Altor, is a bit of a nonentity. The art is very good for backgrounds and little intricate details, but the characters are weak. Much as Bati is following the graphic style of Moebius, he is most assured when he deviates from it and does his own thing. At times the whole thing is very gauche, but at others it promises greatness. Trolls with laser guns! Dragons versus spacecraft! Mystical sorcery as high level tech! This could be really good.
But it flatters to deceive. The story builds and builds only to lead to wordy reveals and a tune in next time ending, with lots of daft questions to be answered in the next episode. Possibly with a rather glib answer. This is not thought through nor does it have any passion in the telling. Nevertheless, it’s intriguing, hence the score. I might read on if I can find any of the following episodes.
The story, by Giraud unusually, is a bundle of fantasy fiction tropes that don’t make much sense. The protagonist, young elf Altor, is a bit of a nonentity. The art is very good for backgrounds and little intricate details, but the characters are weak. Much as Bati is following the graphic style of Moebius, he is most assured when he deviates from it and does his own thing. At times the whole thing is very gauche, but at others it promises greatness. Trolls with laser guns! Dragons versus spacecraft! Mystical sorcery as high level tech! This could be really good.
But it flatters to deceive. The story builds and builds only to lead to wordy reveals and a tune in next time ending, with lots of daft questions to be answered in the next episode. Possibly with a rather glib answer. This is not thought through nor does it have any passion in the telling. Nevertheless, it’s intriguing, hence the score. I might read on if I can find any of the following episodes.
February 19, 2019
I am determined to try science fiction this year. Specifically the Florida based series by Piers Anthony. Thought i'd try this to prepare. If this is any indication, i'm not getting through Anthony.
The story is some kind of search for crystals with space ships and various typical fantasy creatures. Pretty clear that when the story needed to go some where, some fantasy device is used to move a space. All silly hocus-pocus nonsense.
The artwork is weak in all ways but in the depiction of landscapes.
Bottom line: i don't recommend this book. 2 out of 10 points.
The story is some kind of search for crystals with space ships and various typical fantasy creatures. Pretty clear that when the story needed to go some where, some fantasy device is used to move a space. All silly hocus-pocus nonsense.
The artwork is weak in all ways but in the depiction of landscapes.
Bottom line: i don't recommend this book. 2 out of 10 points.
September 27, 2022
Even Mœbius couldn't make this fruitcake's nutty dream-fantasy, that he nurtured for years, into anything but an awkwardly pathetic and absurd waste of time. According to the afterword, after Bati somehow sold According to the afterword, after Bati presented his version of this disasterpiece, Mœbius had to re-write the story and direct all the art.
Bati is convinced that each planet has it's own "person", to which I say "why not?" as long as it doesn't condescend itself to appear in a human form" (which it does) and this is his manifesto. He's also selling unicorns as the greatest entities of our world. I could get behind that for giggles and poopsicles if it was a creature that hasn't been explained logically by the description of rhinos morphing the whole way from the eastern to the western world. Come up with something that isn't over-cliched to a point of nausea! The biggest absurdity is someone, who should've had teeth dragging on the floor given his implied age, had forgotten that he saved an entire planet in his past!
Here's a great example of what you get with this:
A telepathic all-knowing unicorn's eyes become completely white and it sends a beam of knowledge and power from its alicorn into the pederast-fantasy incarnate girl's chest right above the garment that is kept on her breasts with some incredible adhesive which allows her to remember her power over the magic protector-crystals.
Bati's art is EXCELLENT (*****) which keeps you in the thrall of this turd. I love how perfectly Mœbius explains it: "...but in order to fully enjoy Marc's art, one must almost step into each panel. Then you see it is truly precise and exquisite.".
Why is the series called Altor? He's just the pesky Elf who simply tags along with the entourage. Is he supposed to be Bati? What a sucklefart!
Bati is convinced that each planet has it's own "person", to which I say "why not?" as long as it doesn't condescend itself to appear in a human form" (which it does) and this is his manifesto. He's also selling unicorns as the greatest entities of our world. I could get behind that for giggles and poopsicles if it was a creature that hasn't been explained logically by the description of rhinos morphing the whole way from the eastern to the western world. Come up with something that isn't over-cliched to a point of nausea! The biggest absurdity is someone, who should've had teeth dragging on the floor given his implied age, had forgotten that he saved an entire planet in his past!
Here's a great example of what you get with this:
A telepathic all-knowing unicorn's eyes become completely white and it sends a beam of knowledge and power from its alicorn into the pederast-fantasy incarnate girl's chest right above the garment that is kept on her breasts with some incredible adhesive which allows her to remember her power over the magic protector-crystals.
Bati's art is EXCELLENT (*****) which keeps you in the thrall of this turd. I love how perfectly Mœbius explains it: "...but in order to fully enjoy Marc's art, one must almost step into each panel. Then you see it is truly precise and exquisite.".
Why is the series called Altor? He's just the pesky Elf who simply tags along with the entourage. Is he supposed to be Bati? What a sucklefart!
January 18, 2015
This is a funkadelic fantasy/sci-fi mashup in the spirit of Heavy Metal magazine. It has magic, elves, spaceships, and trolls with laserguns. This is the first of a three volume series. The art has a groovy vibe.
September 6, 2016
Moebius was a great artist and his art just carried this thing through. Story was a bit tedious spacey fantasy.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews