The Incal: A Metaphysical Space Epic

An overview of the entire Incal Saga written by Alejandro Jodorowsky and illustrated by Jean Giraud, more commonly known as Moebius. Originally published between 1981 and 1988.
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SOURCES:
A Change of Path: Alejandro Jodorowsky’s “The Incal” by Anthony Paletta. L.A. Review Of Books. August 26, 2013.
lareviewofbooks.org/article/a...
In Search Of Moebius: BBC4 Documentary
• In Search of Moebius (...
#ModernAge #Moebius #TheIncal #AlejandroJodorowsky #ComicBooks #Comics

[@juniorjames7076]

As a child in the early 80s, I had cousins living in France and Belgium who would come and visit my family in NYC every other summer or winter Christmas holiday. Some would bring their European comics/graphic novels to trade with my American comic books. I could barely read French but I was mesmerized by the artwork of hardcover books by Mobieus like this or Tin Tin or others and had no problems trading away my DC Comics Presents or Marvel Two in One for them. I was also the only kid in my school with Kappa sports gear back then!

[@lifeonmars03]

What a cool memory. Sounds nice

[@stevenjones6780]

Dont ever give up your childhood...as such and in a manner of speaking.

[@graefx]

The foreword of the edition I have tells the reader how fortunate they are for not reading the Incal yet, because after you read it, you start seeing its imagery and themes everywhere and it becomes part of your creative output. The book and the story's Incal meta-mirroring each other.

Years ago I lost the last book of The Incal and never found it again. The publishing company that imported and translated to Portuguese doesn't exist anymore and I cannot find it even used, to finish my collection. It is a spectacular work!

[@gregorysgarrison]

I'm endlessly thankful for the effect The Incal had on my imagination as a boy in the 80's.

[@harmonicresonanceproject]

I couldn't agree more!

[@jacob_ian_decoursey_the_author]

You can really see the influence Moebius has had on science fiction cartooning. There are traces of everyone from Dave Gibbons, to Frank Miller, to Frank Quitely, to even Hayao Miyazaki (see Nausica). As much as Jack Kirby is considered the king of comic artists, I think it would be a valid argument that Moebius’ influence is far more extensive.

[@lesfreresdelaquote1176]

He was a major influence on the 5th element as well. But in France, he was specially popular under his actual name Giraud for his work on Blueberry.

[@ChuckD008]

Miyazaki has gone on record how Moebius influenced Nausica and it is VERY clear

[@shaft9000]

Eisner and Hergé were even greater influences to Giraud's style than Kirby. Funny how it goes... :)

[@anima6035]

@@ChuckD008 and Moebius named his daughter Nausicaa 😍 bringing us full circle!

[@88feji]

@@shaft9000 Moebius took Herge's clear line style and brought it to an unparalleled greatness of beauty ... seriously, no comic artists has produced as many breathtaking artworks as he did ... I started googling his artworks for probably 7 or 8 years by now and I'm still hit with some never seen before beautiful art everytime I google his name till now ...

[@tappajavittu]

This comic book, god damn, this comic book. 10/10 for me.

[@raiden_187]

Really is it that good

[@RarebitFiends]

@@raiden_187 I have been reading and collecting comics for nearly 40 years. I have around 60 longboxes of comics at the moment and have probably sold or given away an equal amount over the decades. Of the hundreds of thousands of pages of comics I have read from all over the world, The Incal is unquestionably the single best comic ever published. Some things like Akira, and Moebius' World of Edena come close, but nothing is quite as good as The Incal.

[@szymonskalka3319]

I just finished reading The Incal. Thanks for the summary and explanation of the symbolism.

[@darkroninmarvel]

I own the hard cover collected edition of the metabarons and the incal, they're worth it

[@noneofyourbusiness4616]

Sorry I borrowed and read them while eating a bunch of sticky peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

[@eugeniomarins2936]

I bought the Les Humanoïdes Associés first editions. I remember the agonising, years long wait between each publishing. Also from Jodo, but with Arno, Aleph Thau is epic. Les Mondes d'Edena is graphicaly great, but lacks a great story. Giraud worked with Charlier and produced the brilliant Lieutenant Blueberry, early in his career. Cheers from Brazil.

[@poliestotico]

Indeed

[@kittymama9186]

These great artists and writers have had a profound influence on modern art ,literature: and even science.There were strong and sometimes intertwined storyline and creative influences between The Incal,The Fifth Element,The "Harry Canyon sequence in The original film, "Heavy Metal" and dozens of other punishments , movies and tv series. We were more privileged than we realized to have fine and beautiful periodicals such as Heavy Metal,Epic and Omni available. Their like remains unmatched.

[@ErikBramsen]

One of the most under-credited comic book series is Valerian and Laureline. They basically lived in the Star Wars universe, right down to flying the Millenium Falcon. Burgers and olives my ass, Lucas ripped off Mezieres and Cristin.

[@TheBeird]

I read this a couple years ago. Liked it a lot. Was strange to see the beginnings of all the tropes and themes I've enjoyed through my lifetime

[@noneofyourbusiness4616]

The incal creates a New Universe, and, in so doing, reveals itself to be at one with Jim Shooter.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Don't go giving out all the spoilers! Save some discovery for the person who hasn't read it yet.

[@stevenlennon12]

I don't know what the heck ur talking about but I like Jimmy the gun. There's great interviews on youtube with him.

[@MrTomlette]

Hah. Nice.

[@climatebabes]

Jodorovski is turing out to be quite a guru, he even helped me process some real pain using is more recent books..

[@deathtone1614]

Never read anything Moebius has done. Guess I should change that. Great video.

[@bruhb7611]

If you’ve watched any Cyberpunk movie or the alien series, you have seen his work. The guy’s extremely prolific.

[@Pantano63]

Have you seen any movie set in a future city with flying cars? Yea, well, they stole that from a Moebius comic titled The Long Tomorrow.

[@govert6]

you should read it all

[@szymonkobuszewski3849]

IMO this is the best comicbook-themed YT channel! Keep up the good work!

[@AldousOnTheFarm]

This was excellent. Well researched, referenced, & concise in its coverage.

[@unrulysimian3897]

Looking forward to this.

[@mitchelllasalle8447]

When I first read the Incal, I searched KZbin for an analytical video just like this. Thank you so much for being the one to make it.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

You're very welcome. I hope it was helpful and informative.

[@mitchelllasalle8447]

@@StrangeBrainParts Honestly I just wanted to hear someone talk about it.

[@DennisCNolasco]

Fantastic analysis my friend. I need to read the entire series.

[@alexharris6622]

Always outstanding! Thank you!

[@Falcon364]

Yay new video!

[@lupin8876]

This is amazing, keep it up man

[@Detrituscomics]

Glad to see your channel finally picking up some speed.

[@frannyg7428]

love your stuff!!

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Thank you very much!

[@julioezequiel8935]

Thank you for this

Very nice video!

[@Liboo52]

Subscribed! So nice to hear someone talking about this bonkers work of art!

[@Cuelebre88]

Fist vídeo that I wathced from your channel and loved it dude, keep with de good work

[@robling1937]

Best comic reviews on youtube. Now I have like to go watch the mountain movie you mentioned.

[@WonderTracks]

Great work! Thanks. Cheers from Sweden

[@Michael-fs1cw]

Just finished it for the first time. What a journey. Definitely a 10. Can’t wait to get stuck into the rest of the jodoverse ❤

[@jakebown9821]

brilliant review, thank you :)

[@StrangeBrainParts]

You are welcome. Thank you!

[@glithmasterpro]

top video, nice work

[@statictech7]

Incredible video. You are highly skilled at what you do. Thank you!

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Thank you! And thanks for watching. :)

[@wks99]

Merci! Thank you!

[@DeathAlchemist]

I need to give this a reread because I remember being off put by the numerous conveniences, but knowing more what is trying to do could alleviate that. Wouldn't mind you the rest of the jodorowskyverse either.

[@citizenVader]

Must be over 30 years ago I found the incal.. I was hooked instantly..

[@bodhibaby5371]

Good job bro!!! Xo

[@Ironwalrus8989]

I enjoy reading the incal with Uzumaki by Junji Ito. It creates a similar juxtaposition and symmetry effect that the tales of the black freighter has in watchmen if you space out the chapters in the right order.

[@lukasmischlich1178]

Would you mind to explain what you meant? Is there like a different way to read the Incal?

[@spawner2469]

@@lukasmischlich1178 I think he means reading two books, taking breaks between the chapters of one to read the other.

[@ctbinary42]

Fantastic series.

[@issavirgo4838]

The overlapping pyramids is the 3d representation of the star of david, but esoterically known as the Merkaba. If any of you who come across this video struggle with the spiritual parts the names to look up is drunvalo melchezidek and Mark passio

[@christophmahler]

I remembered the imagery of the 'INCAL' from sifting through comics in a book shop more than 30 years ago. Now, I have an idea what it was about. Enjoy these holidays.

[@ericcornish1983]

I've seen these a very long time ago in one of my favorite comic shops, I never had the chance to read these, I'm thinking its a good time to hunt these down.

[@chibbykill]

The best thing about the edition that I have is the forward by Bendis saying his work is inspired by it

[@malakiblunt]

Moebius also worked on ailen -designing the space suits . Jodorowsky also hired Ronn Cobb and Chriss Foss for Dune -who also both went onto ailien - Jodorowsky Dune is the greatest loss to SciFi ciniema ever . Breas my heart it was never made .

[@peterresetz1960]

Wow. I forgot all about this story until I saw this video title. While in the Army I read the Incal story in Heavy Metal as monthly chapters. I felt the artistry was somewhat crude, but understood that it takes great concentration to create each frame as to what the next frame needed to be for continuity and that tge artist couldn’t doddle to long on each frame as for detail. Being an illustrator as a hobby I understood that as my drawing were of fine detail and how long some of my illustrations took to create.

[@macsnafu]

Thanks to Marvel's Epic Comics for reprinting a lot of the Moebius' work in English, including The Incal.

[@alexdarko2217]

I’ve never heard or read this book before. I’m now Interested

[@jmp01a24]

As a long time fan of Moebius (You forgot Blueberry and the drawings he did under that pseudonym) and Alehandro Jodorowsky I found your video compelling & interesting. You are carefully explaning your view of the Incal, which is pretty much spot on, similar to mine. I am perhaps more of a esoteric type, so I do enjoy that aspect of Jodorowsky's work. Especially the Tarot and its many mysteries, Astrology and Magick. The part where "the fool" is split into 4 beings, notice how they each represent the 4 elements: Fire, Air, Water and Earth. With the 5th element being spirit.

[@MountainGuerrilla]

You can see Möbius' influence on almost all Sci Fi in the lat 19 century.

[@nerdfatha]

I've only read the part that was gen out on free comic book day a few years back. at some point I really need to read the rest. It looks amazing. I swear I had heard that The Fifth Element was inspired by this comic.

[@Astrolovescrypto]

Ive Seen Holy Mountain. After watching this video I'm convinced Jodorowsky attempts to literally spiritually awaken the viewer or reader.

[@Anders010]

Yes!

[@bruhb7611]

Please do more bande dessinée coverage. Stuff like the bellybuttons, Blake & Mortimer, Lone Sloane, Donjon and Corto Maltese are all legendary.

[@Will-kt5jk]

6:22 is that a Douglas Adams reference (42)? I just looked up the dates and this was a few years after Hitchhiker’s guide, so (given the "fool at the centre of events of cosmic significance" motif) I’m guessing it is.

[@Oliver_Hallowee]

Love this comic

[@AlucardNoir]

I love the Jodoverse. I probably spent way too much on hardcovers of the entire jodoverse. I should probably be happy Humanoids isn't publishing oversize deluxe editions all that often. By the way, I just discovered your channel and after binging a few videos I notices you seem to have had somewhat of a hard time getting into manga. Is that still the case, or you just haven't gotten to review any more?

[@stevenlennon12]

The minds involved in creating this shit are amazing 👏

[@briarpatchlogic]

That Moebius/Stan Lee pairing on Silver Surfer always struck me a bit odd...great stuff, as usual

[@StrangeBrainParts]

It was also serendipity. Both were living in L.A. at the time and they met at a party. (I do believe.) It was Stan who made the suggestion and Moebius agreed. Moebius was surprised when a script arrived a few days later.

[@system-error]

You should see the Batman story Moebius sent to DC, that they angrily rejected. It's hilarious. Batman vs Depressman. A masterpiece, the greatest Batman story ever told.

[@praveenp1369]

Craziest combination ever

[@lawrencedoliveiro9104]

14:26 Notice those somewhat worn, cracked and generally shabby-looking paving stones. Moebius just seemed to love doing that kind of thing all over his floors and walls and buildings.

[@michaelbuehler3897]

Just read this book today, I can see where a lot of Sci Fi got it's ideas from.

[@Newyorkeden]

This was the most amazing comic book I read as a kid, reading it again 45 years later I was struck by how much should I have retained and Inc. What the hell is it gonna take to get this movie finished for chrissake pitch in a couple of thousand

[@satnamo]

We are the accumulation of the experience and de dream of humanity that preceded us for das past continues to flow on within us in 100 waves

[@Transformers217]

I just finished reading The Incal and it is a masterpiece! But I didn’t think that the Metabaron killed Difool early in the story, I just thought he knocked him out and Difool was pretending to be dead until the time was right for him to attack and help out the Metabaron. I guess it’s open for interpretation, but the story is amazing!

[@therussiancomicbookgeek]

I recon you uploaded this before 🤔

[@49558201]

too cool

[@johngreylove1359]

All i can say is....thank you.

[@arthurbriand2175]

The Cast of the Meta-Barons is one of the greatest comic series I ever read.

[@raiden_187]

Is it that good?

[@arthurbriand2175]

@@raiden_187 The best description I think is transgenerationnal Shakespearean Cyber-punk. It's weird science fiction but it's great.

[@mehernoshtarapore8902]

​@@raiden_187mindblowing its like speed

[@xzoop]

Yay!

[@brunofranco4416]

Wow, I watched/read all the Jodorowsky movies and comics you mentioned in the video.

[@KitchenSinkSoup]

Have you read Moonshadow by J.M. DeMatteis and Jon J. Muth? Beautiful comic (first fully painted American comic) if overwritten.

[@lawrencedoliveiro9104]

16:53 Where does the light come from? What is the name of the light-bearer?

[@FredMaverik]

There's also The Seven Stages of Spiritual Alchemy, and other Alchememist concepts such as that of the Alchemical God made of the four different elements and the Great Work.

[@Rgoid]

Hope you get to Jim Starlin’s Dreadstar. Just be sure to start with The Metamorphosis Odyssey.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

I did have a series up about that a few years ago. You're right, I do need to remake it. It did include Metamorphosis Odyssey and The Price, as well as the ongoing series. Although, I still have to read the recent Dreadstar Returns.

[@Rgoid]

@@StrangeBrainPartsI managed to watch it now.

[@Langkowski]

The ending, where he says "I must remember" as he falls, show that he is able to fall a little bit further each time before he forgets. The time will come when he remembers.

[@dayelu6028]

Yeah, you will remember one day you've commented this comment countless times. Cheers!

[@ianr.navahuber2195]

13:22 Man. And I thought Grant Morrison was the only crazy one to ever use the Rebis in Comic books

[@erstwhilegrubstake]

Solune. Soleil et lune. Sun and moon.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

That's it exactly.

[@jarekskawinski8929]

Jodorowsky is not well known name? Maybe in USA because in Europe he is comics giant. Anyway, great stuff as always.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

I can almost definitively say that, in North America, his work is not well known. He has a following but it is a cult following.

[@jarekskawinski8929]

@@StrangeBrainParts Heh, funny :) In Europe it feels like every third or so comic album is made by him :)

[@StrangeBrainParts]

I bet I could go to all the comic stores in my area and, if I looked hard, I MIGHT find The Incal and maybe Metabarons.

[@blackphoenix77]

I'm in the USA and I know about Jodorowsky and his works

[@lawrencedoliveiro9104]

Seems like in 🇺🇸, “comics” means “superheroes” as in Marvel, DC and all that same old stuff. For example, Moebius did a reimagining of the Silver Surfer, and it did not go down well. He gave up and went back to 🇫🇷.

[@pascalraskal9347]

My father gave me all of them, love them, love him .

[@rolandkatsuragi]

Now I can understand why Mœbius was allegedly a fan of nootropics

[@Newyorkeden]

What is it gonna take to get this movie done for chrissake

[@ChuckD008]

I don't know HOW they'll fit this into one movie that isn't 3.5 hr (or at least 3 hr)

[@antonydrossos5719]

I have yet to actually read any of Moebius' works, whether he wrote them or not. I mostly know his work from movies like Heavy Metal, Dune & Superman II. I'd love to read the Incal series myself, so I can take it all in. I'm wondering if this story had any influence on Yukito Kishiro when he wrote Battle Angel Alita.

[@lawrencedoliveiro9104]

Everybody inspires everybody else. Until somebody cries “copyright infringement” and gets the slavering lawyer wolf-packs involved ...

[@ian2081]

Take a drink every time he says ‘incal’

[@d4peters86]

Aka the comic that the Fifth Element kinda ripped off from what I’ve heard

[@d4peters86]

@@ie8250 Ah. Well that’s good that he was pleased with the movie

[@StrangeBrainParts]

There was a lawsuit that was lost. Moebius did work on the movie, which diminished the strength of the lawsuit. I think the director, Luc Besson, did admit to being inspired by The Incal? I don't believe Jodorowsky had any involvement.

[@i.m.evilhomer5084]

I think Jodorowsky has since buried the hatchet. I mean, he's is no stranger to having his work "homaged" at this point. I believe he talks about it in the December 2002 issue of Danish comic magazine "Strip!" (heh).

[@stevenlennon12]

Can someone tell me what I have ?lol. In around 2005 give or take a year or so in either direction.i had returned to comics in 2000.anyway the incal comic was released and I bought them and enjoyed them. It was about 5 issues from what I remember again give or take.does anyone know what this was? Was this the complete story? What was this? Thanks in advance ☺

[@karanjotsingh1873]

Wait what about AFTER THE INCAL that was amazing too

[@lawrencedoliveiro9104]

8:45 Deepo, the Concrete Seagull, is not exactly a heroic character either. His mustering of enough personal bravery to rescue his master represents a worthy step in character development, wouldn’t you say?

[@BobF510]

This content is an odyssey of discovery and growth. Reading a book with akin content was a life-altering adventure. "Galaxies United" by Olivia Whitestone

[@lawrencedoliveiro9104]

6:48 I see what you did there ... the inverted Fool card, and JohnDiFool is also inverted!

[@poliestotico]

I like how this is kinda underground out of europe like knowing asterix and obelix or tintin :P

[@josefschiltz2192]

I've only ever read part of the Incal, sadly. I used to buy Heavy Metal magazine whenever - and wherever - I could, but it proved difficult to get a continuous run. That was years ago. Since they've been collected, I must get for myself the complete story. I'm a bit annoyed with myself, but that's life. Sorry, Moebius!

[@marcustmachado]

IN -CALL - INNER CALL - WHEN I DISCOVERED THAT I FELT REALLY STUPID.

[@AA-wd2or]

They must made movie

[@whiterabbit1632]

The NYC in The Fifth element is a carbon copy of The Long Tomorrow city...

[@Gigas0101]

Does this mean you're going to talk about Meta-Barons?

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Possibly that and the Technopriests.

[@lawrencedoliveiro9104]

9:35 “Animah” ... life. “Thanatah” ... death.

[@Noname-yu8qw]

great comic book, but there is an updated version which sucks because someone recolored it in another style which sucks, the original Moebius colors are great

[@bullrun2772]

What you mean

[@mihak1314]

@@bullrun2772 there are 2 vewrsions of the comic book, the original and a newer one with different colors which sucks

[@bullrun2772]

@@mihak1314 can send me a link

[@sonang7721]

3:12 I think you made a mistake there, there's only one sequel to The Incal and that is the Final Incal book. It continue directly after the original book's ending.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Technically you are correct. Moebius started on the sequel before his death. This was published as After The Incal and it's considered an incomplete, first draft of what would become The Final Incal.

[@sonang7721]

@@StrangeBrainParts I like the original book but have mixed feeling about the prequel and sequel. The prequel and sequel just doesn't feel like it connected to the original work at all.

[@luiginoto3352]

The anomaly in the Matrix