Valerian: The Complete Collection Volume 1

I saw the movie Valerian and actually didn’t hate it. Sure the two main characters had absolutely zero chemistry, sure the plot was convoluted and trite. And sure, it was a headache-inducing CGI smorgasbord. But I liked it’s style and imagination. I was curious to read the inspiration behind the movie, a French comic series with a ton of similarities to Star Wars (even though it predates it). This was probably a charming and novel series when it debuted in the 1960s, but it’s magic is somewhat lost on me. This is worth your while if you’re a fan of vintage comics or late 60’s-era science fiction.

I watched the movie of "Valerian" in the summer - it was a messy movie, but I could see a spark in there, and wanted to find out more about where it'd come from. So I ordered this comic compilation.

I enjoyed the comics more than the movie, for sure, although the first couple were weaker than the last one in this volume - which is why I'm giving this a lower rating.

Brimming with ideas and very original - you can see where it's influenced other sci-fi of the time, such as the original Star Wars trilogy, a fact that the authors are well aware of and that is brought up in the introduction. The art style isn't quite like anything I've seen before - to be fair, I'm not a big comics reader, and my main experience with comics has been the show more Tintin series. Both come from the same Franco-Belgian tradition, so there are some similarities, of course. I think the thing that most confused me when reading is the order of the panels sometimes being different to what I'm used to.

So I recommend this book in general! But perhaps I only recommend the movie if you want some brightly coloured, high octane entertainment. show less

I sometimes use the phrase Bande Designee to separate the French/Belgian etc graphic novels from English and US comics. There is definitely a difference between the two and this epitimies this, I first really realised this when I first visited Paris and there was a shop on the corner and I got to see the variety there.

This is a science fiction story with time travel and a lot of crazyness, it's interesting and it's both Valerian and Laureline are quite strong people and while there's romance it isn't introusive into the story.

It starts with Valerian and Laureline meeting in the past and travels through the 80s and into the future where they meet several enemies and try to ensure that their present happens. Features the stories Bad show more Dreams; City of Shifting Waters and The Empire of a Thousand Planets.

I want to read more of these. show less

Les dessins montrent leur âge(surtout les courleurs) et les personnages ne sont pas consistant tout au long du recueil, mais les histoires sont bien. Un bon début et cela a tout de m^me très bien vieilli comme BD. Divertissant!

Divided into 3 parts, my favorite was Empire of a Thousand Planets.
Very colorful, loved the art, fit the story style.

Fast paced sci-fi graphic novel. Fun read.

Did not finish