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Valérian and Laureline #1
La Cité des eaux mouvantes
Galaxity, capital of the Terran Empire in the 28th century. Valerian and Laureline are agents who protect mankind from rogue time travellers. Now they are sent to New York in 1986 to intercept Galaxity's worst megalomaniac, Xombul-except that in 1986, the world is in ruins and New York is about to be swallowed by the ocean. The two agents must navigate the shifting waters of the past to make sure that the future will exist.
60 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1970
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2254 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 259 reviews
August 9, 2017
This review is about the whole series in general.
Before I discovered manga, before I ever got any taste for American comic books, I was lucky enough to meet European comics. Once I read Thorgal, Asterix, Pelisse and Valerian series the bar was set and it was set high.
So now that I learned that Luc Besson is (quite sneakily) making a movie adaptation for Valerian comic book I got so excited that I decided to reread good old stuff. And by old I mean it is in fact old school sci-fi that started in 1967 and was successfully published till 2010. The story was incredibly popular and it had a major impact on European science fiction (when I saw The Fifth Element for the first time I knew I've already seen it all before somewhere) and some legendary sci-fi movies too...
This eye-candy comes from the future movie and I already love it!
Ok, done drooling, now back to the graphic story. Valerian aka Valerian and Laureline is old fashioned all right, particularly in meaning of ideas and how science/technology works - yeah, we're travelling in time with one button push, scientists invent crazy stuff and it all works, villains are evil and plotting, sometimes it's all straight out silly and all you do is roll your eyes and laugh. But the graphic part is beautiful, ideas are crazy and fantastically inventive, also - it's humorous and you do get to like main characters. Especially Laureline! I was always looking in my sci-fi for female characters with strong personalities and good sense of humour, plus smart - well, Laureline is all that. I didn't care much for Valerian's adventures (forgive me, my square jawed garçon...), but I was always curious for "What happens next to Laureline??"
This is not hard boiled sci-fi, it's all light and funny adventure, colourful and entertaining. But it's all really big fun! While the first volume was never my favourite, next ones in series are real treat. Gonna read them all!and can't wait for this mooooooooooovie!
Before I discovered manga, before I ever got any taste for American comic books, I was lucky enough to meet European comics. Once I read Thorgal, Asterix, Pelisse and Valerian series the bar was set and it was set high.
So now that I learned that Luc Besson is (quite sneakily) making a movie adaptation for Valerian comic book I got so excited that I decided to reread good old stuff. And by old I mean it is in fact old school sci-fi that started in 1967 and was successfully published till 2010. The story was incredibly popular and it had a major impact on European science fiction (when I saw The Fifth Element for the first time I knew I've already seen it all before somewhere) and some legendary sci-fi movies too...
This eye-candy comes from the future movie and I already love it!
Ok, done drooling, now back to the graphic story. Valerian aka Valerian and Laureline is old fashioned all right, particularly in meaning of ideas and how science/technology works - yeah, we're travelling in time with one button push, scientists invent crazy stuff and it all works, villains are evil and plotting, sometimes it's all straight out silly and all you do is roll your eyes and laugh. But the graphic part is beautiful, ideas are crazy and fantastically inventive, also - it's humorous and you do get to like main characters. Especially Laureline! I was always looking in my sci-fi for female characters with strong personalities and good sense of humour, plus smart - well, Laureline is all that. I didn't care much for Valerian's adventures (forgive me, my square jawed garçon...), but I was always curious for "What happens next to Laureline??"
This is not hard boiled sci-fi, it's all light and funny adventure, colourful and entertaining. But it's all really big fun! While the first volume was never my favourite, next ones in series are real treat. Gonna read them all!
December 25, 2016
Lepi crtezi, slatka ali malo naivna pricica ali i odlicna postavka za lep dugacak serijal stripova.
Mada kada se uzme da je ovo iz kasnih 60tih onda je prosto fenomenalno i svaka cast Pjeru i Zan Klodu na ovome.
Cim nadjem sledece nastavke bacam se na citanje.
Mada kada se uzme da je ovo iz kasnih 60tih onda je prosto fenomenalno i svaka cast Pjeru i Zan Klodu na ovome.
Cim nadjem sledece nastavke bacam se na citanje.
January 7, 2018
My first time with Valerian and Laureline. 3D chess, holy Star Trek! Originally published in 1976. Has a pretty old-fashioned and, dare I say it, cartoonish look to it. But then it is about 40 years old. Laureline is mostly in the sidelines, with a supporting role and the whole shebang is a little sexist, but considering the comic's age I can live with that.
My free Kindle edition (kindle unlimited/amazon prime reading) from 2010 does not have the best resolution, the speech bubbles are a little out of focus.
The artwork grew on me pretty quickly. Guys in 70s hippy clothing, what's not to like. Good story, too. Pretty chatty for a comic, though, with a lot of text. Sometimes overly crowded with speech bubbles.
I liked the artwork, colouring and plot. Aged fairly well, although it doesn't have any of the flashiness and visual depth of modern comics. I would recommend this to friends and maybe even get another volume. I have not watched the movie yet, but I might do so now.
My free Kindle edition (kindle unlimited/amazon prime reading) from 2010 does not have the best resolution, the speech bubbles are a little out of focus.
The artwork grew on me pretty quickly. Guys in 70s hippy clothing, what's not to like. Good story, too. Pretty chatty for a comic, though, with a lot of text. Sometimes overly crowded with speech bubbles.
I liked the artwork, colouring and plot. Aged fairly well, although it doesn't have any of the flashiness and visual depth of modern comics. I would recommend this to friends and maybe even get another volume. I have not watched the movie yet, but I might do so now.
December 11, 2020
Valerian and Laureline travel back to a 1986 that has been ravaged by ecological disasters to recover a fugitive from their time period. This was written 40 years ago so it feels somewhat dated. It's entertaining enough but full of wordy exposition.
February 4, 2017
I have not had the best of luck with French comics. Perhaps it's the casual sexism that seems present whether the book was written last year or 40 years ago. Maybe it's the essay's worth of text on each page no matter how idiotically straightforward the plot is. Or it could just be a petty hatred of the awful fashion and hairstyles.
I'll acknowledge I only picked up this one in particular because it's getting a big budget movie adaptation. My generally thinking is that if someone thinks it's inspirational enough to risk hundreds of millions of dollars on, there might be something worth checking out. But based on this first book I kind of want to hunt down some interviews with Luc Besson to figure out what he found so compelling. My guess: he read it when he was young and impressionable, and it was widely available.
There's no much here in terms of story that really impressed me. It's pulpy science fiction with thinly sketched out characters. The hero has a big chin, and attractive sidekick, and a mad scientist villain who looks like about what I'd imagine if you said the words "French mad scientist".
And I absolutely must harp on the text. Comics are a visual medium, but whether it's the 1930 or 2017, there are always writers who jam too many written words on the page. I remember reading old X-Men comics and realizing that I could skip most of the narration boxes and lose virtually no meaning.
Valerian is in some ways worse. There are entire paragraphs that either didn't need saying, or could have been expressed better with a few panels of action. And even without the walls of text, Valerian is constantly talking to himself about things that I already understood, or that could have been communicated through subtler means, like facial expressions or reactions.
If there's anything keeping this from 1 star, it's the environments. Every space in this book is well defined, giving a strong sense of space and atmosphere. In some ways, the scenery does more heavy lifting in storytelling than many of the characters.
There's just not enough here for it to really transcend its origins. It's a pulpy sci fi pastiche from the 70's, and it should probably have been left at that.
I'll acknowledge I only picked up this one in particular because it's getting a big budget movie adaptation. My generally thinking is that if someone thinks it's inspirational enough to risk hundreds of millions of dollars on, there might be something worth checking out. But based on this first book I kind of want to hunt down some interviews with Luc Besson to figure out what he found so compelling. My guess: he read it when he was young and impressionable, and it was widely available.
There's no much here in terms of story that really impressed me. It's pulpy science fiction with thinly sketched out characters. The hero has a big chin, and attractive sidekick, and a mad scientist villain who looks like about what I'd imagine if you said the words "French mad scientist".
And I absolutely must harp on the text. Comics are a visual medium, but whether it's the 1930 or 2017, there are always writers who jam too many written words on the page. I remember reading old X-Men comics and realizing that I could skip most of the narration boxes and lose virtually no meaning.
Valerian is in some ways worse. There are entire paragraphs that either didn't need saying, or could have been expressed better with a few panels of action. And even without the walls of text, Valerian is constantly talking to himself about things that I already understood, or that could have been communicated through subtler means, like facial expressions or reactions.
If there's anything keeping this from 1 star, it's the environments. Every space in this book is well defined, giving a strong sense of space and atmosphere. In some ways, the scenery does more heavy lifting in storytelling than many of the characters.
There's just not enough here for it to really transcend its origins. It's a pulpy sci fi pastiche from the 70's, and it should probably have been left at that.
April 22, 2018
This story of time traveling agents in a environmentally destroyed New York City in 1986 to find a megalomaniac madman from the future is a fun adventure to read. I found the retro art to be charming, and the use of colors is different from what one typically sees in comics these days. The downside is that this was published more that 40 years ago, so there are some stereotypes regarding race and gender that would probably make modern readers uncomfortable.
November 1, 2017
Not a great first experience with graphic novels 😂. The plot was fairly boring and the writing was pitiable (maybe because it was translated from French, but I'm not sure). However, I do forsee myself reading other series (I may want to try manga, too) in the future.
Any suggestions??
Any suggestions??
January 8, 2017
After seeing the beautiful piece of eye-candy that is the trailer for Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, I had to see if it was based on a book. And it is! Specifically, a French comic series that started back in 1967 & ran until 2010. It's said that some of its concepts can be seen in The Fifth Element & Star Wars. Unfortunately, trying to track down where to start in English was tricky (no thanks to Goodreads, where the listing for these is a bit of a hot mess). START WITH THIS ONE!! Thankfully you can read it online here.
Valerian & his assistant Laureline, agents with the Spacio-Temporal Service, must track down a nefarious villain that has time traveled from the 24th century back to the ancient year of 1986. In that year, a hydrogen bomb accidentally exploded near the north pole, flooding coastal cities & wreaking havoc upon society. Clearly it was the perfect opportunity for an enterprising ne'er do well to set himself up as ruler with the help of his mind-controlled robots.
Valerian & his assistant Laureline, agents with the Spacio-Temporal Service, must track down a nefarious villain that has time traveled from the 24th century back to the ancient year of 1986. In that year, a hydrogen bomb accidentally exploded near the north pole, flooding coastal cities & wreaking havoc upon society. Clearly it was the perfect opportunity for an enterprising ne'er do well to set himself up as ruler with the help of his mind-controlled robots.
July 15, 2017
This is the first time I've read any of the Valerian and Laureline series. Edward and I are going to be discussing a number of these Christin and Mézières stories for our upcoming Euro Comics episode, doing so in anticipation of the new Valerian movie. My sense of things, given this first volume, is that the movie probably won't retain the "lighter" side of this property. Mézières's art adds a more innocent (not the right word, I know) or youthful feel to the stories, even though Christin's subject matter is by no means simple.
November 25, 2016
I believe in doing my homework before seeing some movies. You know if its a remake watch the orginal, or go to the source material. With Luc Beeson's Valerian coming out next year I decided to start with the first volume.
Now there are e some surface similarities to Dr. Who. Valerian and Laureline are space-time agents who are sent into the past to chase after a villain who failed to conquer Earth in the future. Our two heroes are sent back to a 1986 (because it does not look like the 1986 we know) to capture said fiend.
The similarities to Dr. Who arrive in a few ways. An Earth 's past which does not quite look like ours. Some light humor, time travel, a companion, true Laureline is more of an equal than a companion, and I think you can see why I don't find the two franchises too dissimilar from each other. Especially as both series improved after their intial episodes.
A decent experience for my first expaoure to French comics.
Now there are e some surface similarities to Dr. Who. Valerian and Laureline are space-time agents who are sent into the past to chase after a villain who failed to conquer Earth in the future. Our two heroes are sent back to a 1986 (because it does not look like the 1986 we know) to capture said fiend.
The similarities to Dr. Who arrive in a few ways. An Earth 's past which does not quite look like ours. Some light humor, time travel, a companion, true Laureline is more of an equal than a companion, and I think you can see why I don't find the two franchises too dissimilar from each other. Especially as both series improved after their intial episodes.
A decent experience for my first expaoure to French comics.
Read
August 17, 2017I might have enjoyed this in middle or high school. Reading now, I found the characters flat and the story, or at least the style in which it was presented, dull. I'm willing to believe the dialog is better in the original language. Perhaps funnier? I felt like it was meant to be humorous, but the humor was left out by mistake. I ended up skimming out of boredom.
The art was too cartoonish for my taste.
Flooded cities are always a plus, though.
The art was too cartoonish for my taste.
Flooded cities are always a plus, though.
March 5, 2010
This is the Valerian I remember the best from my youth. And it still works! Good, high adventure. Time has not biten this a bit. It is still as good as it was when I read it the first time in the 1970s.
February 6, 2021
Just experimenting with Hoopla to see how audiobooks work, because my new car doesn't have a CD player, (apparently almost no new cars do...idiots). But anyway, got it figured out and then saw that it had the old Valerian comics, so one thing let to another and...
Anyway, this was apparently the second Valerian story, but the first assembled into a graphic novel and so the initial exposure for most folks, although there was really minimal origin story to it. Whole thing's set in a post-apocalyptic Earth in the "distant future" of 1988...and so none of the aliens and planetary world building for which the series became later known.
TRIVIA: The gangster/musician character of "Sun Rae" is a none-too-subtle reference to legendary jazz oddball Sun Ra, and the goofy scientist "Schroeder" is obviously Jerry Lewis, both figures who in the '70s (and probably all other decades too) were more popular in France than in the States.
Anyway, this was apparently the second Valerian story, but the first assembled into a graphic novel and so the initial exposure for most folks, although there was really minimal origin story to it. Whole thing's set in a post-apocalyptic Earth in the "distant future" of 1988...and so none of the aliens and planetary world building for which the series became later known.
TRIVIA: The gangster/musician character of "Sun Rae" is a none-too-subtle reference to legendary jazz oddball Sun Ra, and the goofy scientist "Schroeder" is obviously Jerry Lewis, both figures who in the '70s (and probably all other decades too) were more popular in France than in the States.
June 6, 2017
Interesting concept, otherwise I would knock it down to one-two stars for being extremely dated, sexist, and outrageously cartooney in personality depictions.
February 22, 2017
The plot and the basic concept behind the world in this story is very engaging and cool... But oh my Lanta, is it poorly executed! It's very "tell, not show" (everyone thinks out loud in dialogue bubbles, instead of the artists showing us the characters' thought processes through illustration).
It's also hokey as all getout. I feel that Laureline is mishandled-- she proves to be a capable, smart, independent problem-solver, but she is still forced to endure stereotypical/ antifeminist sentiments, such as Valerian's remark about "The cheek from these space-time chicks" and other such assorted nonsense. I know it's because it's from 1940-something, but... I don't have to like it.
I'm glad the film writers/ directors see the potential in this graphic novel for a decent movie in the year 2017, and I hope they polish up the characterization and emphasize the visuals more. Judging from the trailer, it looks like that's exactly what they're planning.
It's also hokey as all getout. I feel that Laureline is mishandled-- she proves to be a capable, smart, independent problem-solver, but she is still forced to endure stereotypical/ antifeminist sentiments, such as Valerian's remark about "The cheek from these space-time chicks" and other such assorted nonsense. I know it's because it's from 1940-something, but... I don't have to like it.
I'm glad the film writers/ directors see the potential in this graphic novel for a decent movie in the year 2017, and I hope they polish up the characterization and emphasize the visuals more. Judging from the trailer, it looks like that's exactly what they're planning.
December 14, 2016
I've only been able to find this in the french version. Never in my life have I been so excited to be bilingual! ;)
Update: Okay, so fun story. Unlikely, as only a time-space travel story can be. And a little sexist at times (apparently, women's lib will take a giant step backwards in the 24th century, if a male author from 1970 is any kind of fortuneteller).
I have high-ish hopes for the movie...
Update: Okay, so fun story. Unlikely, as only a time-space travel story can be. And a little sexist at times (apparently, women's lib will take a giant step backwards in the 24th century, if a male author from 1970 is any kind of fortuneteller).
I have high-ish hopes for the movie...
January 21, 2017
Read in prep for the movie. Love the art. Great and exciting cartooning, gorgeous colors.
It's amazing that this pulpy time travel tale pre-dates Star Wars, and I wonder how much it owes to Flash Gordon. Looking forward to reading more!
It's amazing that this pulpy time travel tale pre-dates Star Wars, and I wonder how much it owes to Flash Gordon. Looking forward to reading more!
May 23, 2016
If the whole series is this enjoyable, I am gonna squeee like a happy pig.
Give all the stars!!!!!
Give all the stars!!!!!
August 11, 2020
This was an odd romp in a series I'd not experienced before. I've read other European graphic albums such as Asterix or Tintin, but this is a new experience. The series is anchored in a future where mankind has achieved the stars and can travel through time and space. We're mostly at piece with each other, but troubles are always bound to arise which is where agents like Valérian and Laureline come in.
In this first volume, Humanity's only political prisoner, Xombul, has escaped and traveled to the distant past to do who knows what - but whatever it is it will be bad, very bad. Worse, he's going to the dark age of humanity - after nukes melt the Arctic and plunge the world into a cataclysm. Little history exists of this time, we only know that humanity survived and emerged from this horror to take to the stars and travel time itself.
The story is odd and at times seems awkward. By the way, if there was justice, the movie would have been made when Bruce Campbell was in his prime because Valérian looks like a cartoon version of him, chin and all. The plot and dialogue are played serious, but the art frequently looks cartoonish. At one point we meet a genius scientist who looks an awful lot like Jerry Lewis. I mean, yes the French supposedly loved him, but it's an odd choice. It's quite possible there's more humor that is lost in translation.
The plot jerks a bit like a new driver who is getting used to using a clutch. Suddenly it's stopped and dragging, suddenly it lurches forth in action. There's little warning about these moments, and some abrupt changes are do to elements that we received little warning about until a page or two prior. Wait, what, we need to worry about massive volcano eruptions now? Since when? Since now!
Despite these flaws that again could just be translation and cultural differences and not a flaw of writing, the book remains entertaining enough that I reserved a few follow-ups at the library. The back and forth between villain and heroes is engaging enough, and it makes enough sense to keep going.
In this first volume, Humanity's only political prisoner, Xombul, has escaped and traveled to the distant past to do who knows what - but whatever it is it will be bad, very bad. Worse, he's going to the dark age of humanity - after nukes melt the Arctic and plunge the world into a cataclysm. Little history exists of this time, we only know that humanity survived and emerged from this horror to take to the stars and travel time itself.
The story is odd and at times seems awkward. By the way, if there was justice, the movie would have been made when Bruce Campbell was in his prime because Valérian looks like a cartoon version of him, chin and all. The plot and dialogue are played serious, but the art frequently looks cartoonish. At one point we meet a genius scientist who looks an awful lot like Jerry Lewis. I mean, yes the French supposedly loved him, but it's an odd choice. It's quite possible there's more humor that is lost in translation.
The plot jerks a bit like a new driver who is getting used to using a clutch. Suddenly it's stopped and dragging, suddenly it lurches forth in action. There's little warning about these moments, and some abrupt changes are do to elements that we received little warning about until a page or two prior. Wait, what, we need to worry about massive volcano eruptions now? Since when? Since now!
Despite these flaws that again could just be translation and cultural differences and not a flaw of writing, the book remains entertaining enough that I reserved a few follow-ups at the library. The back and forth between villain and heroes is engaging enough, and it makes enough sense to keep going.
Read
July 21, 2017Seeing the trailer for the upcoming movie, "Valerian - And the City of 1000 Planets", made me wonder about the backstory to this interesting tale. The movie is based on a series of graphic novels, of which The City of Shifting Waters is the first. There's a true retro look and feel to the story, which originally appeared in 1968, and it cleverly introduces our two main characters as time-traveling agents from the future. Their mission is to return to the deteriorating Earth of 1986, chasing after a villain who plans to gather information from the flooded ruins of New York City with the intent of building his own space-time machines and conquering the galaxy. Give this fun story a try!
-- Louisa A.
-- Louisa A.
June 1, 2021
Tämä oli tarinana ensimmäistä albumia eheämpi. Valerian matkaa vuoteen 1986 (minun syntymävuoteeni), joka sarjakuvan maailmassa kärsii vetypommien aiheuttamasta siihen asti tunnetun maailman lopusta. Jäätiköt ovat sulaneet, vedenpinta noussut metreillä ja nyt maakin järisee. Kaiken tuon keskellä ensimmäisestä tarinasta tuttu rikollinen tavoittelee jälleen valtaa ja haluaa muokata tulevaisuuden omannäköisekseen. 2700-luvun ihmisille nuo vuodet aina 2300-luvun alkuun ovat pimeitä vuosisatoja, sillä mullistusten takia paljon tietoa katosi. Ensimmäinen toimiva aika-avaruusalus rakennettiin vuonna 2314.
September 4, 2017
I would have loved this if I'd read it when it was first published, if that had been possible. Now, though I can see the attraction, I'm less impressed. No regrets about reading it but it doesn't inspire me to go out and get the rest.
January 31, 2018
I was hoping for some Moebius or Bilal style avant-garde comic art, instead it was drawn in a pedestrian '60s style. Laureline is the female sidekick and doesn't have much agency, as she says, she's there because she can cook. The plot reminds me of period YA SF. I guess it was OK as a read once comic but I'm not reading anymore in the series.
January 28, 2022
I’m all giddy for this book, I had a blast reading it!
July 13, 2021
Klassinen seikkailu. Albumi on alunperin julkaistu 1968. Mukana mukavasti ajankuvaa ja ajalle tyypillisiä scifi-ideoita. Nostalgiaa parhaimmillaan. Piirrostyyli viehättää. Vauhtia ja kiperiä tilanteita riittää.
May 7, 2017
Loved the whole "Space-Time Traveling" theme. And the whole end of the world, NYC vibes. The illustration was pretty dope too! A lot of text on the pictures but it's okay. Might consider reading the sequels. Definitely looking forward to the movie with Cara Delvigne!
February 13, 2017
Pretty cool old school comic. I requested that my local public library buy it since the movie is coming out soon. I will read the next volume if my library gets it.
July 16, 2025
Not the comic the movie was based off of but the characters are. I’m so confused how this turned into that movie.
April 10, 2017
Got this for free from Amazon!
Anyway, despite a childhood of Tintin and Asterix comics (among others) I'd never encountered this title till I came across the buzz surrounding the upcoming movie. The artwork is pretty good -- perhaps a bit more cluttered than I prefer of European comics of the time -- and the story/dialog surprisingly light on the racism and sexism prevalent of the era. I don't know if I care enough to seek out the other books, but it's certainly something I'd recommend to voracious young comics readers (especially since I'm now hesitant to do so for my once-beloved Tintin books.)
Anyway, despite a childhood of Tintin and Asterix comics (among others) I'd never encountered this title till I came across the buzz surrounding the upcoming movie. The artwork is pretty good -- perhaps a bit more cluttered than I prefer of European comics of the time -- and the story/dialog surprisingly light on the racism and sexism prevalent of the era. I don't know if I care enough to seek out the other books, but it's certainly something I'd recommend to voracious young comics readers (especially since I'm now hesitant to do so for my once-beloved Tintin books.)
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