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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Necessary Reading, March 18, 2005
This review is from: The Incal: The Epic Conspiracy (Paperback)
INCAL is a science fiction romp, full of metaphysical elements, fast plots, and bizarre characters. It has been likened to Frank Herbert's DUNE in terms of "soft" sci-fi. World audiences might understand the aesthetic from the film THE FIFTH ELEMENT, which similarly merges metaphysics and a sci-fi future. It is a particular subgenre of science ficiton, and INCAL stands as a major work in the genre -- if not in all of comics.
This is the first volume in the new DC Comics edition of the classic French science fiction graphic novel published by Humanoids. Be aware that Humanoids used to offer their own volumes in English, and they're still floating around -- and searchable on Amazon. The Humanoids editions are in normal American comics proportions (leaving white space on the bottom of the page) and are on better paper, whereas the DC editions are on cheaper paper and in slightly different proportions, mirroring those of the French original.
If you've been interested in French comics or Moebius over the years, you've probably heard of INCAL. It was tremendously successful, spawning a prequel and a sequel. Two other series spring out from INCAL: METABARONS and TECHNOPRIESTS. All are written by Alexandro Jodorowsky, though the artists vary.
METABARONS has proven more popular, at least in the states. And, reading INCAL today, it doesn't seem as shockingly new as it must have when it was published. Moebius, while a master, was not yet at the top of his game. But INCAL remains enjoyable: it helps you forge new neural connections.
Read it.
-- Julian Darius, Sequart.com (for sophisticated study of comic books and graphic novels)
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great story, lousy color, June 27, 2008
This review is from: The Incal: The Epic Conspiracy (Paperback)
I'd love to recommend this tale of cosmically nuanced intrigue. The characters are rich and the tale is brisk and humanely relevant (who doesn't love the irony that is the end of this series?).
So, having written that opinion why would I give this otherwise masterpiece a 3 star rating? It's the horrid Beltran digital coloring. It is too much of a distraction for me after having read this ages ago. I bought it because a friend had me sold on the idea of having reading copies to preserve my old limited edition published almost 20 years ago from Graphitti Designs. It is gorgeous. I had the Marvel Epic line oversized (that's what they call the format now) trade editions, but I parted with them some time ago.
I wish I still had them now.
For what it's worth, Beltran, in his element, coloring his own work looks fine, even good. He's just a bad match for the uniquely crisp but organic line work utilized by artist Moebius.
This was clearly an effort for the "kids" to line up for. The format is also too small and makes the otherwise expansive design of the art seem too cramped after enjoying the larger format for so long.
I hoped the coloring would be a little richer but between the poor color choices (and that pesky habit of digital colorists to mold the color under the illusion of trying to look 3 dimensional) the smaller format just doesn't work to the service of the story.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent comic, November 10, 2010
This review is from: The Incal: The Epic Conspiracy (Paperback)
This is an amazing scifi comic, if you are a fan of creative surreal original scifi, do yourself a favor and read Jodorowsky comics, especially The Incal.
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