When Jean Giraud or Moebius passed away, the international "comic book" or "graphic novel" lost the last of the 4 great giants who shaped the medium (the other three being Osamu Tezuka, Will Eisner and Jack Kirby)- geniuses who combined an innovative and unique look and feel, with a tremendous breadth of work. While American exposure to Moebius actual comic book work was limited- his overall effect in terms of design and mass media can't be understated - first through the translations of "Metal Hurlant" into "Heavy Metal"- but then coming to full fruition as designer for "Alien", "Tron", Blade Runner" and "The Fifth Element". Arguably, while the techno-fetish side of cyber-punk was influenced by Japanese Manga (Otomo's "Akira")- Giraud gave it the "film-noir" aspect. And of course- cyber-punk went and informed everything else.To re-read The Incal- is to revisit and artist at his creative prime, working with his best life-long collaborator - Alejandro Jodorowsky. The result is a great visual jazz riff between the two. Moebius lays down sheet after of stunning visual layouts and details- while Jodorowsky's plot twists and turns keep you running with the momentum. Reading this now, 30 years after it's launch, a lot might seem familiar- the work influenced a lot of current science fiction - "the Fifth Element" and even the Matrix- but that's because this is the source material for what we see now.TBH- a feel this piece time-travels a lot better than "The Watchmen" or "Dark Knight"- it maintains a fresh, vital take on the world around it. Hopefully, more of Moebius work will finally make it to the US. In the meantime don't miss this.

Epic sci-fi, cosmic, comic, profound