The Incal - A Landmark In Science Fiction Graphic Novels
In 1974, Chilean director Jorodowsky assembled an elite team of psychedelic, surrealist creatives - including an acting role from Salvador Dali and music composed by Pink Floyd - with the intention of bringing Frank Herbert’s book Dune (1965) into the domain of film.
Whilst the film never happened due to budget issues, the impacts of creative projects that have roots in Jodorowsky's gathering still ripple through space-time.
Jodorowsky brought in Jean Giraud AKA Moebius for concept design, and the two instantly knew that their collaborative efforts were only just beginning.
In 1980, they released their graphic novel The Incal as a 4 part series through French magazine Métal Hurlant.
The influences continued Jodorowsky's obsession with symbolism. The protagonist manifests the Fool card from Tarot, and through his naivety, he transforms and inspires everyone around him, as well as himself.
The science-fiction nature of the imagery from Moebius sees intergalactic travel, exoplanets and huge alien civilisations combined with mysticism, spiritual rebirth and religious satire.
The ultimate theme of the book attempts to make it explicit that humanity, in its love of technology and political authoritarianism, is neglecting the subtle and beautiful collective subconscious. There’s a warning here: if we don’t try to listen to the spiritual realm, if we neglect self-discovery, then our inevitable end is a life devoid of compassion, of real and authentic love, and true human connection.
“Love is the ultimate purifier; a force that can cleanse, renew and revitalize.”
Brian Michael Bendis - one of Marvel’s chief comic book writers - describes the influence of The Incal with anger:
“There is literally whole sections of this work that have been lifted [...] and put into major motion pictures with no credit.”
