I love your enthusiasm and I love the Incal.

The storytelling and symbols Jodorowsky employs are very influenced by Tarot, Jung's psychology, and various Hermeneutic philosophies. It was a bit hard for me to get into it, as well as his movies, but once I got more educated in his worldview and philosophy it clicked really well and I can now appreciate his work more thoroughly. Btw, Jodorowsky's Technopriest series is illustrated by Mr. Zoran Janjetov who is my fellow countryman, small world ain't it :D

Great review. Love the channel!

I'm a fan of Moebius as I am into comic style illustrations. Heard of Incal before but more than that, I stumbled upon the splash page artworks from the book. Thanks for the recommendation, hopefully I'll add this to my collection. Your bookshelves are the stuff of dreams btw.

I just happened to have ordered it last week and will be reading it for the first time probably by the end of this week. Seeing this vid makes it even harder to have to wait though.

One of my favourite books to *try* and read, and pretend I understand what's going on. A true auteur masterpiece.

Wow...just found your channel. What an insanely great and in-depth review. Thanks.

Really, really excellently done review. Regardless of my thoughts on The Incal (I'm in group 1), the quality of this review warrants a sub and I'll definitely be checking out all of your other content!

I love this channel.

Thank you for your recommendations. Incal is the latest book I have bought based on your videos. Others include Mooncop and the series Demon. These come to mind easily. There are several others on my shelves. I enjoy independent comics that are not so much serial "capes and tights". Thank you, again.

The rebooted Prophet comics from Image comics are definitely inspired from Moebius and it's a great read!

Thanks a lot..I was looking for this review...hopefully you willcover Moebius's lesser known comics

Great comprasions and video!Thanks!

Have you ever read Berserk? I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. Dark Horse are releasing these beautiful deluxe editions

For word balloons, it's maybe because French takes more place than English. At that time the drawer kept the place for the balloon directly on the page. And I seem to remember that Moebius wrote himself the words in the French version (hand writing take, maybe, also more place than computer's writing). So, I don't know but that's maybe some reasons why :)

Good job as usual. I'm Italian have you ever heard of famous phenomenons by us like Tex, Dylan Dog, Zagor, Diabolik and the satirical Rat-Man? I don't think you can find in English but as general culture can be an interesting research.

I found it very difficult to read. Hard to get into. I love the art though!

Apparently a movie is going to be made. Director to be announced on Thursday(4 Nov) according to Jodorowsky's Facebook profile yesterday.

Definitely read "The Metabarons". Gimenez's art is insane.

I still treasure my first print edition by Self Made Hero from 2011. I find the cover art on that edition way more appealing than any of the subsequent editions.

The first time I read The Incal (which puts me in Group 3), I found it difficult to get through the entire book because the story didn't flow naturally enough. Since then I've watched Jodorowsky's movies and gained a better understanding of his storytelling style, which consists of a lot of raw, purely visual ideas that may not gel together as a coherent narrative. The highlight of this book is Moebius' art. Just beautiful. Have you read his other stuff (Blueberry, Airtight Garage, Arzach, etc.)? Would love to see a creator spotlight video on him!

Good thing that US readers can now appreciate the Incal with the intended European format rather than the downsized version. But still, the English texts are way smaller than the original French version, where the hand drawn dialogues had quite a big font size and were really completely filling the speech bubbles. I can imagine how this could affect the reading experience. I never read the English version, so I hope that nothing was lost in translation, because from what I could see on this video comparing the different editions, it spotted a few translation changes. Note that the first edition books size was in fact originally a bit smaller than mainstream French “Bandes Dessinées” like Tintin. Note also that when it comes to US comics, French editors tend to do the opposite and oversize them to match our publishing standards (though it’s less and less true as French readers tend to really value original format for Japanese Mangas or US comics now). It’s also important to remember that this story was at first serialized in a magazine, with separate chapters published along the way, and then grouped into separate books. If you compare it to a Tv show, chapters were episodes within a season, and each book was a separate season. All this had an impact on the structure for storytelling. As a teenager in the 80’s, I read the books one after the other and had to wait for the next one to be published. There was not then one single book compiling all of the story, that came way later. So my reading experience was a bit different than “binge watching” the whole series afterwards. I never read any of the Incal “spin-offs”, like the Metabarons or Before the Incal. I am sure they are well done and very interesting, but for me The Incal story is all I need from this universe, I don’t need more. Jodorowsky’s stories are strange and confusing, and the Incal is not even the weirdest script he wrote. Part of it is because he’s crazy (I mean that in a good, creative genius mind way, but… yeah… there’s no way around it, the guy’s totallly nuts… or high on drugs… or both), but also because that was what SF was like in the 80’s. Since then, science-fiction became more and more down to earth, more “realistic” and less fantasy.

I'm currently in the "has only read The Incal once" group, and I really should re-read it at some point, I'm not entirely sure about some elements of the story and characters (for the most part), but I do love the artwork, and I think it was definitely worth a read just for that alone. I suspect Ill probably find more to like about the story if I re-read it, it certainly seems like the sort of story that needs to be read multiple times to fully appreciate, which actually fits in with the story's themes now that I think about it (In case anyone is wondering which edition I have, its the scaled down release, and I have to say, the deluxe version looks quite tempting)

I cant wait to read this for the first time., looks like its way easier to get hands on a regular hardcover - the deluxe oversized editions are going for like 650 US online lol - not that fancy haha. Must have been a limited edition run and those are just some resalers absolutely jacking up the prices. but wow it looks fantastic!

Very interesting. Atleast part of your review echoes my thoughts especially when it comes to the writing. Though I do keep revisiting this book and some of the other books for the Art alone, case in point being the Blacksad, Grandville, Okko, The Killer, Delilah Dirk, Witch Hat Atelier, Mort Cinder, The Beasts of Burden, the works of Kim Dong Hwa, Jean Pierre Gibrat's etc. and some that you have already mentioned like LW&C, Castle waiting and Usagi Yojimbo. The list of comics having transportive artwork is just so huge. Not that these writing is not strong in these books, but I would have bought these books for the artwork alone. I feel like standing inside the artwork with works like these. Now the one that I am looking forward to is Djinn by Ana Miralles and Jean Dufaux. The artwork looks really top class.

Thank you very much for a good review of a well known book without overhyping it! I have never read it. Tried to get into it several times because of the praise it gets but it is not my cup of tea. I am totally satisfied with looking at some of the beautiful panels, I do not need or want to dive deeply into the story. It just does not grap me. Maybe it is because SciFi from some years ago simply feels too dated for my likings? Fantasy, suspense, crime stories, horror or even comedy from back than holds up better in the present than SciFi. But that is just my two cents and I am happy for everyone who loves this book.

for the pronunciation of incal, it would be fair to say that it is in French, but with a Chilien accent that it should be pronounced... OK, je sors ;) For the sentiment uneven quality of the whole, I share it. It is also explained by the evolution of Moebius' life and career at that time and I would add that Jodorowsky, adapted to it in the writing of the story (I imagine, in fact but I do not know...). The beginning of the recognition, what he called his "mercenary works" with Hollywood, his spiritual researches (he made Blueberry eat vegetarian salad in a cantina of the far west...) and the fact that he was not obliged anymore to publish regularly to live, all that is seen and felt in Incal, especially after the first 2 volumes (my favorites) and marks for me the beginning of the end of his golden age that are the years Métal Hurlant. I am a lover of his work, I discovered Moebius with the Incal at its release, I was 10 years old... That marks you ;)

Well, this video just set a record for me - the fastest dislike! Is this what happens if KZfaq promotes your video at launch? 😁

Nice oversized edition. And the colours, were preserved has they should be, gives this a definitive retro style. Wish that one also includes the pre and after Incal albuns. It should be quite a bulky book for sure. For me , I still continue with my original collection, in separated albuns (80's and 90's).

Does anyone else use Hoopla to read comics? I’ve discovered it about a year ago. And its amazing and FREE! As long as you have a library card and your library hosts Hoopla, you have access to hundreds of comics. Anyway, on my Hoopla (via my iPad), I have read Beauty, all The Lumberjanes, The Kitchen, Comics by Jason, Castle Waiting, and many more. And I’ve just checked and The Incal is there too. Only downfall, you only get 8 titles a month. I have to wait until Sept to get a fresh batch of comics. I highly recommend! Get a library card and check out your local library website for Hoopla. Oh, and they offer “regular” books, audiobooks, movies, and tv too. Definitely available in Canada and US. Not sure about other countries tho.

Just listen to Jodorowsky in interviews and go with the way he says it. Which is In-CAL.

well, try metabarons than

Given its publishing history in English its not surprising there are so many in group one. I read a few chapters in Heavy Metal, as a teen, but it was decades before I discovered the complete edition....and now, we finally get the correct sized edition...as a limited print...

Just purchased one of the last of the 1500 print run for this edition from eBay. I drew out of my 401k I had no idea it was on the market until I stumbled across it by accident . The smaller version the print is far too small but the work was profound in my life back in 2016 and with that said it’s a towering achievement superior to Watchmen and Moebius is perhaps the greatest artist and graphic novel artist whoever lived .

why disable likes & comments? Its a good review and I wanna like it/support!

Also, Before the Incal and Final incal are pretty great. Will answer lot of questions you might have about the first book (That I think everyone has)

I have decided to join group 3......I have 4 books on order that are currently in transit: The Incal, Final Incal, The Technopriests & The Metabarons (looking for Before The Incal). It's boom or bust over here lol. I'll report my findings once I get through it all.

@ForTheLoveOfComics/ Interesting and insightful review. I’ve always admired Moebius Artwork. May pick The Incal up one day, preferably if they ever reprint the Absolute Edt. One thing that has always bothered me about European Comics, is the obsession with TINY LETTERING, Arrghh!! I wear glasses, new prescription, but after your review if I ever get to it, I’d prefer the Absolute Size. - Thank You

They are doing the same format for The Metabaron by jodorowsky

It's supposed to be pronounced as Inkɑl or at least that's how Jodorowsky pronounced it in the amazing documentary titled 'Jodorowsk'y Dune' which is exactly about the failed project you've mentioned (and about Jodorowsky other insanely surrealistic movies). I highly recommend that movie, some of his movies as well if you are into such trippy experiences. However, good to see that it finally got the proper publishing format, as far as I know (Hungarian viewer here) Blacksad got treated inappropriately as well as each of its stories should have been published separately in large format. p.s.: great channel by the way, great to see some fresh air and not another superhero-oriented one

Hi. What about "Before the Incal" and "After the Incal"? Are they like "Dune Messiah" and "Children of Dune" - wherein the Awe and the Enjoyment is equal whether you decide to continue the series or not

My limited A3 black and white print of "l'Incal Noir".... THAT's oversized. This is just proper size. 8D.

I had the original books in english. the humanoids colors are dim by comparison. wish I still had them.got them in the 80"s at mile high comics

Ouch, just checked and the oversized edition is $890!

The president of El Salvador 🇸🇻 is reading this book. So I looked it up, very interesting 🧐

FTLOC, would you be willing to do a similar video on The Metabarons if you have the editions to compare? Secondly, do you feel the colors in this oversized Incal are dulled and less vibrant than the smaller edition? I've seen that complaint made about The Metabarons oversize edition and am wondering if it applies to The Incal as well.

What are the dimensions of this edition? I can't seem to find that information anywhere. Amazon measures the black and white oversized edition as 12.6 inches tall but this seems bigger. And is there a non-slipcase edition? I found a french edition that is also 12.6. If you could clear this up for me, I would greatly appreciate it!

Was waiting for some Moebius, I have the original Titan editions which are well worth the price as they are different translations and colours. Still waiting for Dark horse to publish the Airtight Garage saga. One day, so expensive to buy the Titan editions from the 80's.

Looks like a great edition. I read it spread across multiple issues of Heavy Metal back in the day. I'm also interested in The White Lama. Have you read that?

To those that say it’s a European comic and they just write different, I would say that it’s a Jodorowsky comic and he just thinks and writes differently. See The Holy Mountain for a deeper dive into his philosophies.

I appreciate how you voice your opinion with the context you are coming from. Hearing about how your impressions and reactions of the Incal throughout the years was great. I’m curious to see if you have already or will do more reviews of moebius’ work. I love the history of the Incal but more because of Moebius. I find Jodorowsky inconsistent with his storytelling and overall cohesiveness and more importantly completion of some of his projects... movies and graphic novels. Nothing pisses me off more than a weird rushed ending or random tangents that don’t lead to meaningful closures etc.

Don't get the hate of recoloring older stuff. I'll wait till that happens to get this series. Loving the new Sandman Deluxes. I don't think I'd liked it as much with the original coloring...

I just started reading this and love the police designs as well as the city. I'm not so sure about the main character. Should I buy the 35$ hardcover or the 125 oversized (in your opinion)?

Holy Shit! That thumbnail had me skip a beat. I was this close to getting the oversized deluxe edition but thought not to go for it due to 1. The price 2. I'd have to keep both the deluxe and HC since whoever I asked aint at all into The Incal. They seemed biased and not worth 'owning HC' for a mediocre title.

Could you please do a video about the recoloring of Geof Darrows Hardboiled series by darkhorse

How good is the Metabarons and Technopriests.? Do I have to read The Incal prior to those books?

Group 2 represent ✋

I am weirded out by the attention lavished on The Incal by this and other channels. Incal is... nice. It is totally okay. It is worth a look for any comics fan. But the 800-pound juggernaut of European sci-fi is Valerian and Laureline; the yardstick that everything else inevitably gets compared to. This is quite presumptuous of me, but considering the very wide range of interests covered on this very channel, I kind of thought that the humanist themes of Valerian would have been more up your alley than the "mere" psychedelic wish-fulfillment fantasies of Incal.

Was the original language French?

Gracias! Excelent vídeo ! I'm ilustrator old most cómic ilustrator hahahahaha!

here is a "movie trailer" for the incal created by the artists who made Heavy Metal. I trust how they pronounce it. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mZqGntyr19mVdp8.html

Any excuse to buy a new comic.

Hey man! Why did you stop using the musical intro on your video's?

Jodorowski and moebius rocks

48 pages?!

Before the incal has better story in my opinion, sequel not so much. You should check them out anyway and see for yourself. And yes, great content as usual.

Anyone else getting crazy asmr from his accent?

Plx Cover the topic of Tintin being a racist

It's pronounced "Incal."

It doesn't really matter how you pronounce "The Incal" since it is just a translation of the original title. If you really want to say it properly, you should say "L'Incal" the French way... which is hard for a non native French speaker : translate.google.fr/?hl=fr#view=home&op=translate&sl=fr&tl=en&text=l'incal (click on the speaker to hear the voice) Personally, I love the drawings but I don't like the story. There is too much esoteric and surrealistic themes for my taste . Jodorowsky, the writter, was a member of the Panic movement and a man very interested in tarot, shamanism, alchemy, etc. I don't like to mix sci-fi with these topics. Moebius was 100% French, but Jodorowsky was Chilean/French (mostly Chilean, he spoke French with a very thick spanish accent). His story telling style was very weird and absolutely not representative of how European author usually work. By the way, I'm translating an interview of Moebius on my channel (subtitled in English). Take a look if you want to learn a bit more about him and European comic books.