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Valérian and Laureline #2
The Empire of a Thousand Planets
Valerian and Laureline are exploring Syrte, capital planet of a system of 1,000 worlds. Their mission is to discover whether the Syrtians could present a danger to Earth. What they find is a decaying empire led by decadent aristocrats, a population ripe for revolution, and a mysterious caste of masked wise men who discreetly pull the strings from hidden fortresses. Swept up by the winds of history, the agents of Earth will have to choose a side…
48 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1971
76 people are currently reading
610 people want to read
About the author
Pierre Christin
209 books117 followersPierre Christin was a French comics creator and writer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
June 2, 2017
I loved this series as a teen and I still like it a lot. Of course one can not treat this story as a serious sci-fi - it's more of adventure fiction for kids/teens disguised as space opera than anything else. It's light and humorous (although not HAHA funny) with gorgeous graphics.
It's a really fast read and if you're into comic books you simply have to read it. Know your classics! ;)
P.S. So can't wait for this movie... But I hate the idea that they made Laureline blonde! >:(
It's a really fast read and if you're into comic books you simply have to read it. Know your classics! ;)
P.S. So can't wait for this movie... But I hate the idea that they made Laureline blonde! >:(
November 16, 2022
This was a fun space adventure with beautiful art. The world building is good, but the ending is a bit predictable.
September 16, 2017
Mislio sam, zbog naziva, da je ovo glavna prica koja je inspirisala film ali sem velikog bazara drugih slicnosti nema.
Sdruge strane stip kao strip je odlican. Fina prica sa puno ideja, lepi crtezi sa par odlicnih dizajniranih panela, narocito kostima i pejzaza. Tempo je brz posto na zalost nemaju previse strana na raspolaganju (cija je ideja da ogranici evropske crtace na 50 strana) tako da mnogo detalja same price bude zaobidjeno. Ali ope vrlo zabavno i jedan od stripova koji cu ponovo citati.
Sdruge strane stip kao strip je odlican. Fina prica sa puno ideja, lepi crtezi sa par odlicnih dizajniranih panela, narocito kostima i pejzaza. Tempo je brz posto na zalost nemaju previse strana na raspolaganju (cija je ideja da ogranici evropske crtace na 50 strana) tako da mnogo detalja same price bude zaobidjeno. Ali ope vrlo zabavno i jedan od stripova koji cu ponovo citati.
January 15, 2015
Despite the title, this book is more like planetary romance than space opera. Time travel capability on protagonist's ship is just a gimmick. I still don't understand the limitation of the time travel ships of Space-Time Agency, and if the limitation has been explained, maybe I missed them (maybe it is explained in another book of the series).
The one strong point of this book is the planetary romance theme through the adventure plot. Oh boy, how I spent hours of my life just watching the art of the exotic Syrte, and re-read the favorite scenes over and over again.
Despite my fondness of this book and series, I could only give 3 star for this book. Okay, a very fat 3 star, but not yet 4 star quality. The story oversimplify some things, leave some questions, even for a child.
It is the second book of the series, and I see this series is getting better on later books. Later books have more beautiful arts and more ambitious stories. From another point, later books have more mature/adult contents, so earliest three books of Valerian could be more suitable for young readers.
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My personal note:
I first read this comic at my childhood age, and Valerian is one of my "foundation" for building my taste in science fiction/fantasy (SF/F). I didn't know anything about SF concepts or jargons. This series had given me a taste of wonders in world building when reading science fiction, and pushed my imagination very hard. The imagination stretching exercise of this book affects me until now.
Without understand French language (even learning English is taking my whole lifetime to be a passive reader), I accept my fate to have limited access to this series.
The one strong point of this book is the planetary romance theme through the adventure plot. Oh boy, how I spent hours of my life just watching the art of the exotic Syrte, and re-read the favorite scenes over and over again.
Despite my fondness of this book and series, I could only give 3 star for this book. Okay, a very fat 3 star, but not yet 4 star quality. The story oversimplify some things, leave some questions, even for a child.
It is the second book of the series, and I see this series is getting better on later books. Later books have more beautiful arts and more ambitious stories. From another point, later books have more mature/adult contents, so earliest three books of Valerian could be more suitable for young readers.
==========
My personal note:
I first read this comic at my childhood age, and Valerian is one of my "foundation" for building my taste in science fiction/fantasy (SF/F). I didn't know anything about SF concepts or jargons. This series had given me a taste of wonders in world building when reading science fiction, and pushed my imagination very hard. The imagination stretching exercise of this book affects me until now.
Without understand French language (even learning English is taking my whole lifetime to be a passive reader), I accept my fate to have limited access to this series.
December 10, 2017
Comics have had a huge influence in my life: I learnt to read from them with my grandad and they literally peopled my childhood, with statues and wall paintings of famous comics all around Brussels. I kid you not! There is even a museum dedicated to them, housed in a Horta building (famous art nouveau architect), where you are welcomed by Tintin’s red and white rocket!
Valerian was in my ‘radar’ but never one of my favourites, although I enjoyed the few I did read. Queue a few years, or two decades, and I’m very much wanting the rectify this. This instalment, the second in their adventures, see our two space-time agents investigating whether this Empire is a threat to their Galaxy, and get thrown into the middle of some weird and complicated situation.
This story came out in 1971 and yes, does show its age with the old-fashioned feel, but also some really good points/aspects to it, enough for George Lucas to be inspired by it when he created Star Wars... :0)
P.S. The new movie adaptation is sadly not a good one and has very little to do with this story. It kills me to say this, especially because I could see the huge potential only to see it flop :0(
Valerian was in my ‘radar’ but never one of my favourites, although I enjoyed the few I did read. Queue a few years, or two decades, and I’m very much wanting the rectify this. This instalment, the second in their adventures, see our two space-time agents investigating whether this Empire is a threat to their Galaxy, and get thrown into the middle of some weird and complicated situation.
This story came out in 1971 and yes, does show its age with the old-fashioned feel, but also some really good points/aspects to it, enough for George Lucas to be inspired by it when he created Star Wars... :0)
P.S. The new movie adaptation is sadly not a good one and has very little to do with this story. It kills me to say this, especially because I could see the huge potential only to see it flop :0(
May 23, 2017
There's too many walls of text, lots of cliches, and the characters are pretty bland. Honestly, if I didn't need a book becoming a movie in 2017 for my reading challenge, I would have probably passed it over. Some of the background art was pretty good though.
July 30, 2017
I wanted to read this because of the title similarities with Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, which is based on this series. However, when you see the trailer and compare it with this, I doubt there is much in common with that. In fact they look totally different. Which I hope means the movie is different from this.
Sure this started to feel pretty different from volume 0 and 1, but over time… considering how fast rain comes and turns into ice rain (that produces giant ice crystals) and how quickly it all melds you have to wonder how there can be any civilization on Syrtis if they have such primitive buildings.
And Veronique got captured again and something is done to her against her will…again. This time she fell into some giant clam, got drugged by it and is a party girl..... and so far we had no pov scene by her, it is all Valerian again.
The giant space battle is over pretty damn quickly. And while the look of these immortal humans is gruesome (they look flayed), their whole backstory as being the survivors of a long lost ship and how they now want to destroy earth as revenge for allegedly turning them into space monsters and how now they cannot go back and how on Syrtis everyone hates them is ridiculous. I could understand some insanity, but the animosity of the natives, they caused themselves.
Sure this started to feel pretty different from volume 0 and 1, but over time… considering how fast rain comes and turns into ice rain (that produces giant ice crystals) and how quickly it all melds you have to wonder how there can be any civilization on Syrtis if they have such primitive buildings.
And Veronique got captured again and something is done to her against her will…again. This time she fell into some giant clam, got drugged by it and is a party girl..... and so far we had no pov scene by her, it is all Valerian again.
The giant space battle is over pretty damn quickly. And while the look of these immortal humans is gruesome (they look flayed), their whole backstory as being the survivors of a long lost ship and how they now want to destroy earth as revenge for allegedly turning them into space monsters and how now they cannot go back and how on Syrtis everyone hates them is ridiculous. I could understand some insanity, but the animosity of the natives, they caused themselves.
September 7, 2022
It only took two books to fall hopelessly in love with Laureline!
I noticed examples of George Lucas theft early- only to see that I missed some others when they were pointed out at the end of the story! There is NEARLY NOTHING original about the Star Wars movies- they are glorious (the first three) cut-and-paste jobs that borrow, nearly exactly, from previous works without shame.
I noticed examples of George Lucas theft early- only to see that I missed some others when they were pointed out at the end of the story! There is NEARLY NOTHING original about the Star Wars movies- they are glorious (the first three) cut-and-paste jobs that borrow, nearly exactly, from previous works without shame.
July 30, 2020
Y mis relecturas alcanzan a Valerian, el agente espacio-temporal creado por Pierre Christin y Jean-Claude Mézières, del que siempre quise leer más que los escasos tres álbumes que tengo del personaje en mi biblioteca. Justamente, El Imperio de los Mil Planetas es de sus primeros libros -el segundo, si no me equivoco- pero ya está aceitadísima la interacción entre sus personajes protagonistas -Valerian y Laurie, los dos agentes que viajan por el espacio, arreglando entuertos- y ese universo que los creadores sólo enriquecerían más y más. Aquí, nuestra dupla visita Syrte, la capital del Imperio de los Mil Planetas, para investigar qué grado de desarrollo han alcanzado y si significan o no una amenaza para la Tierra. Y aunque a priori parece que no -que Syrte es una suerte de edad medieval con alguna variedad fantástica por su contexto alienígena- aparece un reloj, nuestros héroes hacen la pregunta equivocada, se hacen notar y zas, despiertan la animadversión de “los sabios”, una suerte de religioso que son quienes mandan en verdad detrás del poder del Emperador. Es notable lo mucho que Christin mete en escasas 48 páginas, cuántas intrigas, secundarios, escenas de acción, traiciones y batallas, que se sienten además bien desarrolladas, así cómo el mundo nuevo que presenta, sus códigos, reglas y formas de vivir. Obviamente, tiene un ancho de espadas en la mano con el dibujo de Mézières, quien es capaz de ilustrar todo lo que el relato le pide y más, desbordando imaginación e inventiva viñeta a viñeta, página a página. Naves, seres, ciudades, batallas espaciales, nada se le escapa a Mézières. Si alguna cosa se le puede criticar al libro, es la sobreabundancia de texto en off que por momentos tapa demasiado -literalmente, tremendos bloques de palabras sobre los dibujos- páginas hermosas que ya se bastaban por sí solas para describir el mundo fantástico que es este Imperio de los Mil Planetas, pero claro, es un recurso completamente normal para las historietas de esta época. Nota: hay una versión cinematográfica reciente llamada cómo este mismo álbum con Luc Besson detrás. Aunque no es mala -los críticos la mataron, de todos modos- creo que no le hace tampoco justicia a su obra inspiracional.
August 21, 2020
Valérian and Laureline are, in this episode, sent off to the Empire of Syrte, an interplanetary empire that still hasn't manage to conquer space and time like Earth. There they are to find whether this alien culture poses any threats to Earth. Valérian and Laureline are advanced scouts and because having nothing to worry about would make for a very boring graphic album, there are of course concerns.
The art style here is less cartoonish than the previous book. There's still some of that style there, but it's not quite as pronounced and nobody looks like Jerry Lewis here. It's clear the artist style is developing and some of the scenes come off as striking. You get a sense of this alien empire in decline through the art, and it's also successful in showing menace around the strange masked priests.
In some cases, there's plot threads that seem abandoned however. For example at one point Valérian is captured by the priests and supposedly they read his mind. But after his rescue we never worry about it again. The priests never acknowledge much about whether they had anything or not, and never act on anything if they did. I'd almost say they got nothing, because if they had anything I imagine the big, climatic space battle would have had the priests' forces anticipating what Valérian and Laureline's starship could do. Instead, they throw everything they have at them as if the outcome could be different in the right circumstances.
But really that's not too egregious. Occasionally a few moments and the big reveal feel clichéd, but that's most likely because they weren't at the time. It's somewhat like watching original Twilight Zone episodes and predicting the twist way ahead of the end if only because such twists have been around so long we can predict them.
It's a fun and diverting adventure. The translation reads well and really most of my complaints only come up later, well after reading. While I'm into the story, I'm enjoying myself and that, I expect, is important.
The art style here is less cartoonish than the previous book. There's still some of that style there, but it's not quite as pronounced and nobody looks like Jerry Lewis here. It's clear the artist style is developing and some of the scenes come off as striking. You get a sense of this alien empire in decline through the art, and it's also successful in showing menace around the strange masked priests.
In some cases, there's plot threads that seem abandoned however. For example at one point Valérian is captured by the priests and supposedly they read his mind. But after his rescue we never worry about it again. The priests never acknowledge much about whether they had anything or not, and never act on anything if they did. I'd almost say they got nothing, because if they had anything I imagine the big, climatic space battle would have had the priests' forces anticipating what Valérian and Laureline's starship could do. Instead, they throw everything they have at them as if the outcome could be different in the right circumstances.
But really that's not too egregious. Occasionally a few moments and the big reveal feel clichéd, but that's most likely because they weren't at the time. It's somewhat like watching original Twilight Zone episodes and predicting the twist way ahead of the end if only because such twists have been around so long we can predict them.
It's a fun and diverting adventure. The translation reads well and really most of my complaints only come up later, well after reading. While I'm into the story, I'm enjoying myself and that, I expect, is important.
April 26, 2022
Swedish/English
All denna jefla text! Jag menar, när dialog i en pratbubbla tar upp merparten av en serieruta så är det något som inte stämmer. Tog ett par foton som illustrerar hur jag inte vill att en serie ska vara och som kan ses via denna länk; https://imgur.com/a/1QweQyP. Det är då en serie går från vara just det till att mer vara en grafisk roman eller något i den stilen. Inget fel med det, jag har läst en del bra sådana. Men ärligt talat så gillar jag inte en massa text när jag läser serier. Jag vill inte heller vara helt utan dialog, jag vill bara att den används med måtta. Så är absolut inte fallet med detta album.
Ett seriealbum som kom 2017 lagom till att Bessons filmatisering skulle ha premiär. Detta seriealbum inkluderar lite redaktionellt material. "Så skapades en klassisk science fiction-serie" (4 sidor), "En värld av influenser..." (2 sidor), "... som inspirerade en galax" (1 sida), "Rymdtidskarta över Linda och Valentins samtliga äventyr" (1 sida), citat från seriens skapare Jean-Claude Mézières och Pierre Christin samt ett efterord av Luc Besson. Äventyret i sig är helt okej och det är väldigt vältecknat.
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It was an okay read, but like so many other comic books in this particulair series I personally think there are a bit to much text to read. Some of the dialogue do spread over almost the entire panel and that's when you go from a plain old comic book to more of an graphic novel. Nothing wrong with that, I've read quite a few that's great, but I'm more of a person that wants the drawings to to the talking and storytelling, not excessive use of text and dialogue.
All denna jefla text! Jag menar, när dialog i en pratbubbla tar upp merparten av en serieruta så är det något som inte stämmer. Tog ett par foton som illustrerar hur jag inte vill att en serie ska vara och som kan ses via denna länk; https://imgur.com/a/1QweQyP. Det är då en serie går från vara just det till att mer vara en grafisk roman eller något i den stilen. Inget fel med det, jag har läst en del bra sådana. Men ärligt talat så gillar jag inte en massa text när jag läser serier. Jag vill inte heller vara helt utan dialog, jag vill bara att den används med måtta. Så är absolut inte fallet med detta album.
Ett seriealbum som kom 2017 lagom till att Bessons filmatisering skulle ha premiär. Detta seriealbum inkluderar lite redaktionellt material. "Så skapades en klassisk science fiction-serie" (4 sidor), "En värld av influenser..." (2 sidor), "... som inspirerade en galax" (1 sida), "Rymdtidskarta över Linda och Valentins samtliga äventyr" (1 sida), citat från seriens skapare Jean-Claude Mézières och Pierre Christin samt ett efterord av Luc Besson. Äventyret i sig är helt okej och det är väldigt vältecknat.
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It was an okay read, but like so many other comic books in this particulair series I personally think there are a bit to much text to read. Some of the dialogue do spread over almost the entire panel and that's when you go from a plain old comic book to more of an graphic novel. Nothing wrong with that, I've read quite a few that's great, but I'm more of a person that wants the drawings to to the talking and storytelling, not excessive use of text and dialogue.
August 16, 2017
A short space adventure. There is little depth of characters or plot. There are some interesting parallels to Star Wars that makes you think perhaps George Lucas was a fan.
I read this to hopefully have some background for the new movie coming out.
I plan to read this to my daughter (age 5) as Star Wars is one of her favorite films. I think she'll love Laureline eventhough she doesn't actually do much in the adventure.
I read this to hopefully have some background for the new movie coming out.
I plan to read this to my daughter (age 5) as Star Wars is one of her favorite films. I think she'll love Laureline eventhough she doesn't actually do much in the adventure.
July 15, 2017
In many ways a more ambitious narrative than the previous volume.
July 22, 2022
É sempre fascinante voltar ao mundo de Valerian e Laureline!
March 7, 2017
Luc Bessonin ohjaamana elokuvana valkokankaalle lähiaikoina ilmestyvä "Tuhannen planeetan valtakunta" (Otava, 1975) on järjestyksessään toinen Valerian-albumi. Visuaalisesti ja sarjakuvakerronnallisesti albumi on melkoisen hieno, mutta tarina itsessään ei ollut minusta kovin kummoinen. Nostalgiapisteitäkään ei heru, kun en näistä lapsena myöskään kamalasti perustanut.
February 26, 2017
Φωτοβολταϊκά; Και γράφτηκε το 1971; :O
December 6, 2016
I like this adventure better than the first and I like the color palette better than the first. while reading this comic, I was looking at the illustrations so much. Especially since at the back of the book there is a page that compares images from the comic to stills from Star Wars, it was sort of odd reading this knowing it was an inspiration for it! During merchant scenes, I was particularly thinking of Star Wars. Overall, this series is fun. It's not great in terms of plot, at least so far, but humor in the first book and the illustrations through both books make up for the potential somewhat unsatisfied feeling. I also think I waited too long to get the second book and plan on getting the third soon.
Additionally, it is this book in the comic series that has been adapted into a film and I'm curious as to why they started with this one. It is technically the third because Bad Dreams, the very first Valerian comic, had different publishing and then was numbered as zero in the series after the publication of further installments- it is also often forgot about and hard to get so I just ended up reading a synopsis of it online. Anyway, because of this weird part in Bad Dreams where Laureline is turned into a unicorn I can see why that wouldn't necessarily be adapted, but why not start with The City Of Shifting Waters? I haven't watched the trailer since it was released not too long ago, so I'm going to watch it now. It'll be interesting to see what the film does and how it does upon its release!
Additionally, it is this book in the comic series that has been adapted into a film and I'm curious as to why they started with this one. It is technically the third because Bad Dreams, the very first Valerian comic, had different publishing and then was numbered as zero in the series after the publication of further installments- it is also often forgot about and hard to get so I just ended up reading a synopsis of it online. Anyway, because of this weird part in Bad Dreams where Laureline is turned into a unicorn I can see why that wouldn't necessarily be adapted, but why not start with The City Of Shifting Waters? I haven't watched the trailer since it was released not too long ago, so I'm going to watch it now. It'll be interesting to see what the film does and how it does upon its release!
July 15, 2017
Gorgeous, detailed art and all the most bizarre little touches - like a hail storm that turns into flower petals and, oh, a planet of stone colossuses that cry fat tears which can grant immortality. It's a world that takes diversity of experience as its starting point and never loses that.
Now, there are clunky things - lots of expository dialog, that often doesn't expose that much. Laureline, despite occasionally getting to spunkily say "here press this button. Ha I am competent." doesn't do much besides be a pretty sidekick/girlfriend. At the climactic moment when our heroes are asked to join the rebel cause, Valerian alone says "I accept" - Laureline is given no lines in the scene - this pretty much sums up the dismissal of her character in many parts of the story - including an escape plan that she spends drugged out of her mind, sleeping with the enemy prince? Okay that's... creepy. BUT I admit, compared to other male-authored comics of the late 60s it is extraordinarily egalitarian. (That bar is mighty low, though.)
I digress. I'm still giving it four stars because I genuinely enjoyed reading it. I wish I'd had access to these comics as a kid.
Now, there are clunky things - lots of expository dialog, that often doesn't expose that much. Laureline, despite occasionally getting to spunkily say "here press this button. Ha I am competent." doesn't do much besides be a pretty sidekick/girlfriend. At the climactic moment when our heroes are asked to join the rebel cause, Valerian alone says "I accept" - Laureline is given no lines in the scene - this pretty much sums up the dismissal of her character in many parts of the story - including an escape plan that she spends drugged out of her mind, sleeping with the enemy prince? Okay that's... creepy. BUT I admit, compared to other male-authored comics of the late 60s it is extraordinarily egalitarian. (That bar is mighty low, though.)
I digress. I'm still giving it four stars because I genuinely enjoyed reading it. I wish I'd had access to these comics as a kid.
Read
January 29, 2018Pese a ser de los primeros de Valerian y Laureline, ya deja el listón bastante alto. La forma en la que crea otros planetas y razas alienígenas me parece bastante original. Es cierto que hoy en día hay más en esa estela, pero en su momento ciertamente fue rompedor. Y aún hoy en día, es algo que vale la pena leer tanto por el dibujo como por la historia que no deja de sorprender y que posee un ritmo trepidante.
March 12, 2017
Una aventura en un mundo capital de un imperio que lentamente está entrando en decadencia por culpa de sus gobernantes. La pareja de agentes tiene que hacer alianza con el bando revolucionario. El final es bastante sorpresivo, pero nunca se aleja de un estilo literario juvenil y un poco inocente.
May 17, 2022
Incal'ı okuduktan sonra bu bana biraz yavan geldi ama içerisindeki "uzmanlar" ve bu uzmanların tanıpakları vakıf'ın ilk zamanlarını anımsattığı için ilgi çekici bir yanı da yok değildi.
Diğer 3 çizgi romanı da bulup okumak istiyorum.
Diğer 3 çizgi romanı da bulup okumak istiyorum.
April 5, 2017
Better than the first one. Pretty entertaining and cool artwork for something from 1971. Can definitely see the influence it had on Star Wars.
December 25, 2024
Nice sci-fi setting, unbearably poor storytelling.
September 16, 2017
Ceci est la première BD de Valérian que j'ai lu. Ça fait des années que je m'attend a en lire un et j'aurai du commencer plus tôt! Ce n'était simplement pas une série que je retrouvait dans mon enfance. Quand je me suis rende compte que l'artiste, Jean-Claude Mézières, a travailler sur le film 5th Element j'ai eu un intérêt dans cette BD mais je n'ai j'avais fait le travail de le retrouver. Avec la sortie de l'adaptation de Valérian de Luc Besson ce fut un peu plus facile a retrouver ce livre.
Il y a quelques année j'ai appris que George Lucas était accusé d'avoir pris inspiration pour Star Wars de Valérian. Un nombre des images dans cette BD, originalement écrit en 1971, se trouvent sur des sites web montrant cette comparaison. Je ne suis pas convaincue que les ressemblances sont terriblement évidentes pour pouvoir expliquer l'inspiration. Certainement les deux travaux sont du type "Space Opera", ceci est evident. Certaines choses comme Valérian figée dans une substance similaire au "carbonite" dans lequel était suspendue Han Solo pourrait certainement avoir été une inspiration. D'autres choses, tel les ressemblances entres les Connaisseurs et Darth Vader je ne trouve pas comme preuve d'inspiration. Les masques ne se ressemblent pas beaucoup et lorse qu'ils sont enlevés ils ne ressemblent pas au vieux Anakin.
Les visuels de ce livre crée un monde superbe. On apprend peu des personages de Valérian et Laureline mais j'ai l'interest d'en apprendre plus! Je chercherai certainement plus d'histoires dans cette series. Je ne sais pas si je ferait recommendation de commencer avec ce livre. Étant le deuxième dans la chronologie de la series j'aurai peut être commencer avec le premier.
Il y a quelques année j'ai appris que George Lucas était accusé d'avoir pris inspiration pour Star Wars de Valérian. Un nombre des images dans cette BD, originalement écrit en 1971, se trouvent sur des sites web montrant cette comparaison. Je ne suis pas convaincue que les ressemblances sont terriblement évidentes pour pouvoir expliquer l'inspiration. Certainement les deux travaux sont du type "Space Opera", ceci est evident. Certaines choses comme Valérian figée dans une substance similaire au "carbonite" dans lequel était suspendue Han Solo pourrait certainement avoir été une inspiration. D'autres choses, tel les ressemblances entres les Connaisseurs et Darth Vader je ne trouve pas comme preuve d'inspiration. Les masques ne se ressemblent pas beaucoup et lorse qu'ils sont enlevés ils ne ressemblent pas au vieux Anakin.
Les visuels de ce livre crée un monde superbe. On apprend peu des personages de Valérian et Laureline mais j'ai l'interest d'en apprendre plus! Je chercherai certainement plus d'histoires dans cette series. Je ne sais pas si je ferait recommendation de commencer avec ce livre. Étant le deuxième dans la chronologie de la series j'aurai peut être commencer avec le premier.
April 19, 2024
Similar to last time, but with a considerably more interesting setting.
Valerian and Laureline travel to an unexplored solar system to assess potential threats. They follow a series of suspicious clues and come into conflict with an order of metal-helmeted priests.
SPOILER
After being captured and escaping twice, investigating ancient ruins, and infiltrating the imperial palace, the conflict culminates in a series of space battles wherein the metal helmets are defeated. Finally, they are revealed as irradiated earthlings, immortal survivors of a long ago colonization mission, believed lost. They blow themselves up, things in the empire of a thousand planets ostensibly improve, and V&L return to Galaxity. The end.
/SPOILER
It’s a dumb story, poorly written. A single thread complicated by a series of random obstacles. There is no emotion, no character building. Dei ex machina, of course. Secondary characters show up to bail out the heroes as needed. The evil of the metal helmets is never established. Nor any reason to “liberate” the planet. Way too much text, much of it pointless.
The saving grace remains the art, and Christin has at least provided Mezieres with ample opportunity for illustration here, which he makes good use of. None of these things are essential to the plot, but contribute to a rich setting. Crumbling ruins, an ice dragon, sticky jewels, solar sails etc.
Still, I love this format. With better characterization, more suspense, and less text, it would be excellent.
Valerian and Laureline travel to an unexplored solar system to assess potential threats. They follow a series of suspicious clues and come into conflict with an order of metal-helmeted priests.
SPOILER
After being captured and escaping twice, investigating ancient ruins, and infiltrating the imperial palace, the conflict culminates in a series of space battles wherein the metal helmets are defeated. Finally, they are revealed as irradiated earthlings, immortal survivors of a long ago colonization mission, believed lost. They blow themselves up, things in the empire of a thousand planets ostensibly improve, and V&L return to Galaxity. The end.
/SPOILER
It’s a dumb story, poorly written. A single thread complicated by a series of random obstacles. There is no emotion, no character building. Dei ex machina, of course. Secondary characters show up to bail out the heroes as needed. The evil of the metal helmets is never established. Nor any reason to “liberate” the planet. Way too much text, much of it pointless.
The saving grace remains the art, and Christin has at least provided Mezieres with ample opportunity for illustration here, which he makes good use of. None of these things are essential to the plot, but contribute to a rich setting. Crumbling ruins, an ice dragon, sticky jewels, solar sails etc.
Still, I love this format. With better characterization, more suspense, and less text, it would be excellent.
February 4, 2017
This book can be read as a stand alone! And I'm in love. Every comic/graphic novel I have read so far (I haven't read many) always ends with a cliff hanger or with a sort-of-an-ending-not-really-to-be-continued type of conclusion. Sure this one can be said to also have an open ending since there is a next volume, but you can totally be satisfied by its we-return-to-earth and mission accomplished happy ending.
The story is fun and light even when the characters get apprehended. They seem to always find an easy way out making the whole situation not so dire. Likewise, when it seems that Valerian is being played or is an idiot by seeing the enlightened at the end and will surely be killed but is NOT! He is actually warned by the enlightened themselves to get out before things blow up.
After feeling giddy from such a fun read did I realize this is the second book of the Valerian series. I would like to learn more of the backstory of the enlightened, the story between Valerian and Laureline and the universe in general. All these are not touched upon in this book.
The story is fun and light even when the characters get apprehended. They seem to always find an easy way out making the whole situation not so dire. Likewise, when it seems that Valerian is being played or is an idiot by seeing the enlightened at the end and will surely be killed but is NOT! He is actually warned by the enlightened themselves to get out before things blow up.
After feeling giddy from such a fun read did I realize this is the second book of the Valerian series. I would like to learn more of the backstory of the enlightened, the story between Valerian and Laureline and the universe in general. All these are not touched upon in this book.
June 10, 2017
The more I dive (back) in the "Ravian/Valerian" universe, the more I get curious about Besson's take. Can't wait to see the finished movie.
But re-reading these comics, makes me also wonder if I shouldn't buy them in their original French version. The Dutch translation feels sluggish using a language that is way too formalised and misses dynamism and fun.
What I really love about this series is how it doesn't restrict itself and allows for the most fantastic of scenes and crazy species, habits, etc... this is Space Opera at its best.
Christin clearly has some doubts about our human morals, it feels like he is a great proponent of "L'homme est bon par nature ; c'est la société qui le corrompt." Valerian and Laureline are therefore more than agents of time and space, they are also the knights of morality Christin sends out to protect the universe against the human race's bad traits.
But re-reading these comics, makes me also wonder if I shouldn't buy them in their original French version. The Dutch translation feels sluggish using a language that is way too formalised and misses dynamism and fun.
What I really love about this series is how it doesn't restrict itself and allows for the most fantastic of scenes and crazy species, habits, etc... this is Space Opera at its best.
Christin clearly has some doubts about our human morals, it feels like he is a great proponent of "L'homme est bon par nature ; c'est la société qui le corrompt." Valerian and Laureline are therefore more than agents of time and space, they are also the knights of morality Christin sends out to protect the universe against the human race's bad traits.
August 10, 2017
Valerian dan Lorelain kali ini mendapat tugas untuk mencari info mengenai sebuah kekaisaran berperadaban tua namun masih belum mampu melakukan perjalanan lintas ruang dan waktu: apakah kekaisaran itu merupakan ancaman bagi Galaxity? Ternyata kekaisaran tersebut didominasi oleh kaum enlightened yang menjadi kaum berkasta tinggi, mendekati kasta kaum ningrat. Kaum tersebut melakukan pembatasan penguasaan pengetahuan bagi rakyat Syrte, dan menggantikan kedudukan ilmu pengetahuan dengan agama.
Dalam penyelidikan mereka, terungkap bahwa kaum enlightened merupakan ancaman bagi Bumi sehingga Valerian dan Lorelain memutuskan untuk bekerjasama dengan sekelompok pergerakan bawah tanah dari golongan pedagang untuk melakukan pemberontakan.
Dalam kondisi terpojok, akhirnya kaum enlightened mengungkapkan jati diri mereka yang sebenarnya. Nasib mereka sesungguhnya getir dan pilu juga T_T.
Dalam penyelidikan mereka, terungkap bahwa kaum enlightened merupakan ancaman bagi Bumi sehingga Valerian dan Lorelain memutuskan untuk bekerjasama dengan sekelompok pergerakan bawah tanah dari golongan pedagang untuk melakukan pemberontakan.
Dalam kondisi terpojok, akhirnya kaum enlightened mengungkapkan jati diri mereka yang sebenarnya. Nasib mereka sesungguhnya getir dan pilu juga T_T.
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