View source for Valérian and Laureline

{{Short description|French science fiction comics series}}
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox comics meta series<!-- Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics. -->
|image               = Valerian and Laureline-comics album 21.jpg
|imagesize           = 
|caption             = Cover to the English version of album 21 (2018)
|schedule            = 
|anthology           = ''[[Pilote]]'' magazine
|graphicnovel        = y
|titles              = {{plainlist|
* ''[[Les Mauvais Rêves|Bad Dreams]]''
* ''[[The City of Shifting Waters]]''
* ''[[Empire of a Thousand Planets]]''
* ''[[World Without Stars]]''
* ''[[Welcome to Alflolol]]''
* ''[[Birds of the Master]]''
* ''[[Ambassador of the Shadows]]''
* ''[[On the False Earths]]''
* ''[[Heroes of the Equinox]]''
* ''[[Métro Châtelet, Direction Cassiopeia]]''
* ''[[Brooklyn Station, Terminus Cosmos]]''
* ''[[The Ghosts of Inverloch]]''
* ''[[The Wrath of Hypsis]]''
* ''[[On the Frontiers]]''
* ''[[The Living Weapons]]''
* ''[[The Circles of Power]]''
* ''[[Hostages of the Ultralum]]''
* ''[[Orphan of the Stars]]''
* ''[[In Uncertain Times]]''
* ''[[At the Edge of the Great Void]]''
* ''[[The Order of the Stones]]''
* ''[[The Time Opener]]''
}}
|lang                = fr
|SciFi               = y
|publisher           = [[Dargaud]]
|startmo             = November
|startyr             = 1967
|endmo               = March
|endyr               = 2018
|issues              = 
|main_char_team      = {{plainlist|
* [[#Valérian|Valérian]]
* [[#Laureline|Laureline]]
}}
|writers             = [[Pierre Christin]]
|artists             = [[Jean-Claude Mézières]]
|pencillers          = 
|inkers              = 
|letterers           = 
|colorists           = Évelyne Tranlé
|editors             = 
|creative_team_month = 
|creative_team_year  = 
|creators            = {{plainlist|
* [[Pierre Christin]]
* [[Jean-Claude Mézières]]
}}
|nonUS               = y
|reprint             = 
|relang              = nl
|relang1             = da
|relang2             = en
|relang3             = fi
|relang4             = de
|relang5             = it
|relang6             = no
|relang7             = pl
|relang8             = pt
|relang9             = es
|relang10             = sv
|TPB                 = Valerian: The New Future Trilogy
|ISBN                = 0-7434-8674-9
|altcat              = Valérian and Laureline
|alttop              = y
|sort                = Valerian And Laureline
|adaptation=Valerian and The City of A Thousand Planets
}}
[[File:Mézières - Christin - Tranlé.jpg|thumb|285px|Creators of ''Valérian and Laureline'': Eveline Tranlé (colorist), Pierre Christin (writer), Jean-Claude Mézières (illustrator)]]
'''''Valérian and Laureline''''' ({{langx|fr|Valérian et Laureline}}), originally titled '''''Valérian: Spatio-Temporal Agent''''' ({{langx|fr|Valérian, agent spatio-temporel}}) and also commonly known as '''''Valérian''''', is a French [[science fiction]] [[comics]] series, created by writer [[Pierre Christin]] and artist [[Jean-Claude Mézières]]. It was first published in ''[[Pilote]]'' magazine in 1967; the final installment was published in 2010. All of the ''Valérian'' stories have been collected in [[comics album|comic album]] format, comprising some twenty-one volumes plus a [[short story]] collection and an [[encyclopædia]].

The series focuses on the adventures of the dark-haired Valérian, a [[Spacetime|spatio-temporal]] agent, and his redheaded female colleague, Laureline, as they travel the universe through space and time. Valérian is a classical [[hero]], kind, strong and brave, who follows the orders of his superiors even if he feels, deep down, that it is the wrong thing to do. On the other hand, his partner Laureline combines her superior intelligence, determination and independence with sex appeal. Influenced by classic literary science fiction, the series mixes [[space opera]] with [[time travel]] plots. Christin's scripts are noted for their humour, complexity and strongly humanist and left-wing [[liberalism|liberal]] political ideas while Mézières's art is characterized by its vivid depictions of the alien worlds and species Valérian and Laureline encounter on their adventures. The series is considered a landmark in European comics and pop culture,<ref>[http://www.afnews.info/wordpress/2010/01/06/valerian-e-laureline-la-serie-chiude-dopo-43-anni/ Italian announcement of final issue]</ref> and influenced other media as well; traces of its concepts, storylines and designs can be found in science fiction films such as ''[[Star Wars]]'' and ''[[The Fifth Element]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-12-16 |title="Star Wars" a-t-il tout piqué à la BD française ? Le (faux) procès de George Lucas |url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/culture/cinema/star-wars/star-wars-a-t-il-tout-pique-a-la-bd-francaise-le-faux-proces-de-george-lucas_1223825.html |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=Franceinfo |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bulten |first=Izak |date=2020-04-09 |title=Star Wars: 10 Things It Took From The Valerian Series |url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-valerian-series-inspiration-similarities/ |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=ScreenRant |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Desowitz |first=Bill |date=2017-07-24 |title=How Luc Besson's 'Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets' Was Inspired by His Trippy Sci-Fi 'The Fifth Element' |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/07/valerian-and-the-city-of-a-thousand-planets-luc-besson-the-fifth-element-sci-fi-1201849152/ |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=IndieWire |language=en}}</ref>

Many of the stories have been translated into several languages, including English.<ref name="Languages">{{cite web | title = Valerian eri kielillä - Valérian in different languages | url = http://www.saunalahti.fi/~alatera/Valerian/eri_kielet.html | access-date = 16 September 2006 }}</ref> The series has received recognition through a number of prestigious awards, including the [[Grand Prix de la ville d'Angoulême]]. An [[animated television series]], ''[[Time Jam: Valerian & Laureline]]'', was released in 2007, and a feature film directed by [[Luc Besson]], ''[[Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets]]'', was released in 2017.

==Concept and setting==
The original setting for the series was the 28th century. Humanity has discovered the means of travelling instantaneously through time and space. The capital of Earth, Galaxity, is the centre of the vast Terran Galactic Empire. Earth itself has become a virtual [[utopia]] with most of the population living a life of leisure in a [[virtual reality]] dream-state ruled by the benign [[Technocracy (bureaucratic)|Technocrats]] of the First Circle. The Spatio-Temporal Service protects the planets of the Terran Empire and guards against [[temporal paradox]]es caused by rogue time-travellers. Valérian and Laureline are two such spatio-temporal agents.<ref name="Bad Dreams">
{{cite book
 | last =  Mézières
 | first = Jean-Claude
 |author2=Christin, Pierre
  | title = Les Mauvais Rêves
 | series =  Valérian: Agent Spatio-Temporel
 | year = 2000
 | publisher = Dargaud 
 | location = Paris
 | language = fr
 | isbn = 2-205-04880-5 }}
</ref>

However, since the end of the story ''[[Les Foudres d'Hypsis|The Wrath of Hypsis]]'' (''Les Foudres d'Hypsis''), in which Galaxity disappears from space-time as a result of a temporal paradox, the pair have become freelance trouble-shooters travelling through space and time offering their services to anyone willing to hire them while also searching for their lost home.

In the first two albums Valérian travels through time in a two-seater device, the ''XB27'', which transports him to the various relay stations that Galaxity has hidden throughout time (e.g. in ''[[Les Mauvais Rêves]]'' (''Bad Dreams'') the relay is hidden below a tavern). In subsequent stories Valérian and Laureline use the saucer-shaped Astroship ''XB982'', which made its debut appearance in 1969 in the short story ''[[Across the Pathways of Space#The Great Collector (Le Grand Collectionneur)|The Great Collector]]'' (''Le Grand Collectionneur'').<ref>
{{cite book
 | last =  Mézières
 | first = Jean-Claude
 |author2=Christin, Pierre
  | title = Par les Chemins de l'Espace
 | series = Valérian: Agent Spatio-Temporel 
 | year = 1997
 | publisher = Dargaud 
 | location = Paris
 | language = fr
 | chapter = Le Grand Collectionneur
 | isbn = 2-205-04456-7 }}
</ref> The astroship is able to travel anywhere using a spatio-temporal jump, a sort of [[hyperspace (science fiction)|hyperspace]] drive enabling near-instant transportation anywhere in space and time.

The initial albums were generally straightforward [[conflict between good and evil|good versus evil]] adventure stories. However, thanks to Pierre Christin's interest in [[politics]], [[sociology]], and [[ethnology]], as the series progressed the situations typically arose from misunderstandings or [[ideological]] differences between various groups that could be resolved through reason and perseverance.<ref name="CJ#129">{{cite journal|last=Pomerleau |first=Luc |date=May 1989 |title=Pierre Christin and Enki Bilal, Called to Comics |journal=The Comics Journal |issue=129 |pages=62–67 |issn=0194-7869 |url=http://www.rpkbd.com/bilal/tcj129.htm |access-date=2 September 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060519051157/http://www.rpkbd.com/bilal/tcj129.htm |archive-date=19 May 2006 }}
</ref> The core theme of the stories is an optimistic [[Liberalism|liberal]] [[humanism]]: the adventures are not about defeating enemies but about exploring, facing challenges, and celebrating [[Multiculturalism|diversity]].<ref name="CJ#129" /> Thus, according to the academic John Dean, Christin "as a rule works into his narratives political, [[environmentalism|environmental]] and [[feminism|feminist]] concerns – thereby showing social ills are universal, no matter on what planet you land".<ref name="Interlude">
{{cite book
 |last        = Dean
 |first       = John
 |editor      = Dean, John
 |editor2     = Gabillet, Jean-Paul
 |title       = European Readings of American Popular Culture (Contributions to the Study of Popular Culture, Number 50)
 |access-date  = 16 September 2006
 |year        = 1996
 |publisher   = Greenwood Press
 |location    = Westport, Connecticut
 |isbn        = 0-313-29429-1
 |pages       = 23–43
 |chapter     = A Comics Interlude
 |chapter-url  = http://www.noosfere.org/mezieres/pages/extras/articles/jd01.htm
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20060210022644/http://www.noosfere.org/mezieres/pages/extras/articles/jd01.htm
 |archive-date = 10 February 2006
}}
</ref>

Another concept that developed was Galaxity as a proxy for [[Western world|Western]] [[democracy]]; contrary to its benign self-image it is actually [[imperialism|imperialist]] and prone to a corrupt [[real-politik]].<ref name="Klein">
{{cite book
 |last        = Klein
 |first       = Gérard
 |author-link  = Gérard Klein
 |editor      = Mézières, Jean-Claude
 |editor2     = Christin, Pierre
 |title       = Mézières et Christin avec...
 |access-date  = 20 March 2007
 |year        = 1983
 |publisher   = Dargaud
 |location    = Paris
 |language    = fr
 |isbn        = 2-205-02513-9
 |chapter-url  = http://www.noosfere.org/mezieres/pages/extras/articles/valgklein.htm
 |chapter     = Des messagers de l'actuel. Une exploration des mondes de Valérian
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110516105117/http://www.noosfere.org/mezieres/pages/extras/articles/valgklein.htm
 |archive-date = 16 May 2011
}}
</ref> Other themes include:
* Natural simplicity as superior to technological complexity.<ref name="Klein"/>
* Rejection of [[machismo]], violence and war in favour of [[femininity]] and nature.<ref name="U#23">
{{cite journal
 |last        = Perez
 |first       = Pepo
 |title       = Tierra de Gigantes
 |journal     = U
 |issue       = 23
 |date        = February 2002
 |url         = http://www.noosfere.org/mezieres/pages/extras/articles/U23.htm
 |access-date  = 16 September 2006
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20060523202807/http://www.noosfere.org/Mezieres/pages/extras/articles/U23.htm
 |archive-date = 23 May 2006
}}
</ref>
* Distrust of power and the suppression of individuality.<ref name="U#23"/>
* The ability of women to manipulate males sexually without being manipulated themselves.<ref name="Klein"/>

These themes are underpinned by the vivid drawings of Jean-Claude Mézières, whose "visually stunning backgrounds: complex architecture, futuristic machines, otherworldly landscapes and odd-looking aliens",<ref name="Interlude" /> are what John Dean calls "staples of Mézières' seeming boundless visual inventiveness",<ref name="Interlude" /> resulting in what the artist Pepo Pérez likens to "''[[National Geographic (magazine)|National Geographic]]'', but on a cosmic scale".<ref name="U#23" />

==Principal characters==
[[File: Valerian and Laureline.jpg|thumb|180px|Valérian and Laureline as drawn by [[Jean-Claude Mézières]]]]
{{refimprove section|date=November 2022}}
===Valérian===
Valérian was born on Earth, in Galaxity, capital of the Terran Galactic Empire in the 28th century. He joined the Spatio-Temporal Service in the year 2713. He has been trained to think that Galaxity is always right – even when he receives orders that go against his morals he will, reluctantly, follow them. He much prefers to be a man of action than sitting around pondering what course to take next.

The early stories present Valérian as a typical square-jawed [[hero]] figure, who is strong and dependable (although an early running joke was that despite being a time-traveller he is always running late, especially when summoned by his boss). However, as the series progresses, he is increasingly portrayed as somewhat knuckle-headed. In ''[[World Without Stars]]'' (''Le Pays sans étoile''), he gets recklessly drunk on the colonists' home-made booze, in ''[[On the False Earths]]'' (''Sur les terres truquées''), the historian, Jadna, views him as useful only as cannon fodder and nothing else while in ''[[Heroes of the Equinox]]'' (''Les Héros de l'Equinoxe''), he comes across as woefully inadequate compared with the champions he is competing against. Although devoted to Laureline, he has been led astray by other women, such as in ''Heroes of the Equinox'' and ''[[Brooklyn Station, Terminus Cosmos]]''.

When Galaxity disappears in ''The Wrath of Hypsis'' he contemplates following his fellows into oblivion, much to Laureline's horror. Even afterwards, he feels the loss of Galaxity much more than Laureline, as it is his birthplace.

The name Valérian comes from Eastern Europe,<ref name="DBD">
{{cite journal
 |last=Maltret 
 |first=Olivier 
 |title=Dossier Mézières 
 |journal=Les Dossiers de la Bande Dessinée (DBD) 
 |date=August 2001 
 |issue=12 
 |pages=1–40 
 |url=http://www.noosfere.org/mezieres/pages/bio/dbd.htm 
 |access-date=1 September 2006 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051028215330/http://www.noosfere.org/mezieres/pages/bio/dbd.htm 
 |archive-date=28 October 2005 
}}
</ref> although its origin is Latin, from ''valere'' ("to be strong").<ref name="valerius">
 url = http://www.behindthename.com/name/valerius
</ref> Valérian was created by Mézières and Christin as a reaction to the fearless boy-scout (e.g. ''[[The Adventures of Tintin]]'') and American [[superhero]] characters that were prevalent in comics available in France at the time. Instead they sought to devise a "banal character" with "no extraordinary means of action".<ref name="CJ#129" />  Eventually, with Christin feeling that they had gone too far with this angle and that the Valérian character had become too stupid, from ''[[The Ghosts of Inverloch]]'' (''Les Spectres d'Inverloch'') onwards, Valérian was made more sympathetic and given a greater piece of the action.<ref name="CJ#129" />

In ''[[Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets]]'', a 2017 movie by [[Luc Besson]], Valérian is played by [[Dane DeHaan]].

===Laureline===
Laureline is a peasant girl from 11th-century France. In the debut adventure, ''Bad Dreams'', she rescues Valérian from the enchanted Forest of Arelaune. When she accidentally discovers Valérian is a time-traveller, he is forced to bring her back with him to Galaxity where she is trained as a Spatio-Temporal Agent and assigned as his partner.

In the early stories, Laureline generally sits in the background while Valérian saves the day in whatever situation the pair have found themselves, but her position changes as the series develops. ''World Without Stars'', the fourth serial published in ''Pilote'', the two characters are separated for most of the adventure, with Laureline stepping out from under Valérian's shadow for the first time, and she proves to be more than an equal to Valérian in ensuring that their mission succeeds.

''[[Welcome to Alflolol]]'' (''Bienvenue sur Alflolol'') brings Laureline's rebellious nature to the fore; unlike Valérian, she has not been born and raised by Galaxity and is prepared not only to question Galaxity's authorities but to rebel openly against them when their orders run contrary to her sense of morality. It also demonstrates her impulsive streak; she sides with the native Alflololians against Galaxity and Valérian with no thought for the personal consequences she may have to face herself. Her position as the true star of the series is cemented in ''[[Ambassador of the Shadows]]'' (''L'Ambassadeur des Ombres''), which is virtually a solo adventure for her as she searches the vast space station Point Central for the kidnapped Valérian and the Earth Ambassador. Later, when acting as independent agents, it is Laureline who questions the ethics of some of the jobs they are forced to take to make ends meet, notably in ''[[The Living Weapons]]'' (''Les Armes Vivantes'').

Despite being independent and efficacious, Laureline is not afraid to exploit her considerable sex appeal if it is to her advantage. For example, she attracts the attention of the Emperor of Valsennar in ''World Without Stars'' and, dressed in leather gear and boots, she manipulates Crocbattler and Rackalust in ''Brooklyn Station, Terminus Cosmos'' and regularly charms the [[#The Shingouz|Shingouz]] when negotiating with them for information. She has appeared nude in some adventures.  Mézières drew a picture of her for the French edition of ''[[Playboy]]'' in 1987.<ref name="Extras#1">
{{cite book
 | first = Jean-Claude
 | last = Mézières 
 | year = 1995 
 | title = Les Extras de Mézières
 | publisher = Dargaud 
 | location = Paris 
 | language = fr
 | isbn = 2-205-04443-5 }}
</ref>

She also has a certain affinity for animals such as the Alflololian Goumon in ''Welcome to Alflolol'', the Grumpy Converter from Bluxte, first seen in ''Ambassador of the Shadows'', and the Tüm Tüm (de Lüm) and the [[Tchoung (Valérian)|Tchoung-Tracer]], both introduced in ''[[On the Frontiers]]'' (''Sur les Frontières'').

The name "Laureline" was invented by Mézières and Christin who were seeking a name that would sound "medieval" and "soft".<ref name="DBD" /> The name has proven popular and there are now several thousand women in France named Laureline, the first one born in 1968, just a year after the publication of ''Bad Dreams''. There have also been variations such as "Loreline" and "Laurelyne".<ref>
{{cite web
 | title = Clins d'oeil
 | work = Valerian et Laureline, tout sur les agents spatio-temporels de Galaxity
 | url = http://dugueta.club.fr/clindoeil.htm
 | access-date = 1 September 2006
 | language = fr |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060616193807/http://dugueta.club.fr/clindoeil.htm |archive-date = 16 June 2006}}
</ref> Laureline was initially created just for the first story, ''Bad Dreams'', but recognising that they had a female character who was different from the bimbo types common to comics of the time, Mézières and Christin fell for her and, in response to positive reader feedback, retained her for the subsequent stories.<ref name = "CJ#129" />

In ''[[Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets]]'', a 2017 movie by [[Luc Besson]], Laureline is played by [[Cara Delevingne]].

===Other characters===

====Mr Albert====
[[File:Mister Albert.jpg|upright|thumb|left|Mr Albert]]
Mr Albert is Galaxity's contact on 20th-century Earth. He makes his first appearance in ''[[Métro Châtelet, Direction Cassiopeia]]''.<ref name="Métro Châtelet, Direction Cassiopeia">
{{cite book
 | last =  Mézières
 | first = Jean-Claude
 |author2=Christin, Pierre
  | title = Métro Châtelet, Direction Cassiopeia
 | series =  Valérian: Agent Spatio-Temporel
 | year = 1980
 | publisher = Dargaud 
 | location = Paris
 | language = fr
 | isbn = 2-205-04639-X }}
</ref> He is a retired gentleman who drives an obsolete [[Renault 4CV]] and lives in the [[suburb]]s of [[Paris]], France. He maintains a wide range of contacts in government and scientific circles as well as with many experts in fields outside the mainstream such as [[ufology]], [[telepathy]], and [[Magic (paranormal)|sorcery]]. He is also a [[pigeon keeping|pigeon fancier]] and uses his [[carrier pigeon]]s to relay messages between some of his contacts. Unlike Valérian he tries to avoid getting involved in the thick of the action and never acts impulsively, always preferring to take his time about things. He enjoys the finer things in life: gourmet cuisine, fine wines and likes to take things easy.

The character of Albert is partially influenced by that of August Faust, the main character in the strip ''The Extraordinary and Troubling Adventure of Mr August Faust'' (''L'extraordinaire et Troublante Aventure de M. August Faust''), written by [[Fred (comics)|Fred]] and drawn by Mézières in 1967.<ref name = "DBD" /> {{clear}}

====The Shingouz====
[[File:Three shingouz, from "The Ghosts of Inverloch".jpg|upright|thumb|Three shingouz, from "The Ghosts of Inverloch"]]
The Shingouz are aliens who make their first appearance in ''Ambassador of the Shadows'' and re-appear regularly throughout the subsequent albums. They are brown, short-furred creatures, slightly less than a metre tall, resembling flightless [[bird]]s with a [[snout]] instead of a [[beak]].

Shingouz have a high [[alcohol tolerance]] and preference for strong [[alcoholic beverage]]s, which they consume in large quantities. The Shingouz society is [[capitalism|capitalist]] to the extreme. Shingouz want a profit from everything they do. They are especially adept in trading important and sensitive information to interested parties. Valérian and Laureline have struck up a relationship with a group of three Shingouz who have a particularly useful network of contacts in all the major space communities. They are especially fond of Laureline, which she often uses to her advantage in striking favourable deals with them.<ref>
{{cite book
 | last =  Mézières
 | first = Jean-Claude
 |author2=Christin, Pierre
  | title = Les Habitants du Ciel. Atlas Cosmique de Valérian et Laureline
 | series = Valérian: Agent Spatio-Temporel 
 | year = 1991
 | publisher = Dargaud 
 | location = Paris
 | language = fr
 | chapter = Les Shingouz
 | isbn = 2-205-03921-0 }}
</ref>

In the feature film ''Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets'', the Shingouz are replaced with the similar negotiating species Dogan Daguis.

==Origins==
[[File:Valerian Astroship.jpg|thumb|left|{{center|Valérian and Laureline’s Astroship, the XB982, as it appears in ''[[Orphan of the Stars]]'' (''L'Orphelin des Astres'')}}]]
Childhood friends Jean-Claude Mézières and Pierre Christin had previously collaborated on the comic strip ''Le Rhum du Punch'' (''Rum Punch'') in 1966 while both were living and working in the United States.<ref name="DBD" />  Upon their return to France they initially intended to create a [[Western (genre)|Western]] strip but, with the genre already well represented in French comics thanks to ''[[Lucky Luke]]'', ''[[Blueberry (comics)|Blueberry]]'' and ''[[Jerry Spring]]'', Christin instead proposed that they turn their hand to science fiction, a genre he felt was unrepresented in French comics at the time.<ref name="CJ#129" />  The decision to work in the science fiction genre was also influenced by the political climate in France at the time; Mézières and Christin saw ''Valérian'' as a "backdoor" means to react against the prevailing doctrine of [[Gaullism]].<ref name="CJ#129" /> Although science fiction was not a favourite of ''Pilote'' editor [[René Goscinny]], Goscinny wanted his magazine to be diverse and innovative and so agreed to commission ''Valérian''.<ref name="DBD" />

There had been French science fiction comics before ''Valérian'' such as Kline's ''Kaza the Martian'' (a childhood favourite of Mézières),<ref name="DBD" /> Roger Lecureux and [[Raymond Poivet]]'s ''Les Pionniers de l'Espérance'' ''(The Pioneers of Hope)'' (which Christin found tired and repetitive)<ref name="CJ#129" /> and [[Jean-Claude Forest]]'s ''[[Barbarella (comic book)|Barbarella]]''.  ''Barbarella'' is famous for its strong female titular character, but Christin has denied any influence on the character of Laureline, stating that she was inspired by [[Simone de Beauvoir]]'s ''[[The Second Sex]]'' as well as the burgeoning feminist movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s.<ref name="ABC">
{{cite press release
 |publisher   = Dargaud
 |year        = 2001
 |url         = http://www.noosfere.org/mezieres/pages/extras/abc/abc.htm
 |title       = Christin/Mézières, l'abécédaire
 |access-date  = 1 September 2006
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070828050418/http://www.noosfere.org/mezieres/pages/extras/abc/abc.htm
 |archive-date = 28 August 2007
}}
</ref> However, contemporary reviews of the early stories by [[Jean-Pierre Andrevon]] describe the books as "Forestian".<ref name="Andrevon_1970">
{{cite journal
 |last        = Andrevon
 |first       = Jean-Pierre
 |author-link  = Jean-Pierre Andrevon
 |date        = December 1970
 |title       = La Cité des eaux mouvantes
 |journal     = Fiction
 |issue       = 204
 |url         = http://www.noosfere.org/mezieres/pages/extras/articles/val01crit01.htm
 |access-date  = 17 September 2006
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070828050424/http://www.noosfere.org/mezieres/pages/extras/articles/val01crit01.htm
 |archive-date = 28 August 2007
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite journal
 |last        = Andrevon
 |first       = Jean-Pierre
 |author-link  = Jean-Pierre Andrevon
 |date        = December 1971
 |title       = L'Empire des mille planètes
 |journal     = Fiction
 |issue       = 216
 |url         = http://www.noosfere.org/mezieres/pages/extras/articles/val02crit01.htm
 |access-date  = 17 September 2006
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070828003556/http://www.noosfere.org/mezieres/pages/extras/articles/val02crit01.htm
 |archive-date = 28 August 2007
}}
</ref> Mézières and Christin were also heavily influenced by literary science fiction such as that by [[Isaac Asimov]] (especially ''[[The End of Eternity]]''),<ref name="U#23" /> [[Jack Vance]] (especially ''The Blue World''),<ref name="DBD" /> and [[John Brunner (novelist)|John Brunner]].<ref name="CJ#129" /> [[Jean-Marc Lofficier|Jean-Marc]] and [[Randy Lofficier]] have also suggested that [[Poul Anderson]]'s ''Time Patrol'' books, about an official organization dedicated to protecting time from interference, are a major influence on the series.<ref>
{{cite web
 | url = http://www.coolfrenchcomics.com/valerian.htm
 | title = Cool French Comics – Valérian
 | access-date = 1 September 2006
 | author = Lofficier, Jean-Marc and Randy
 | work = Cool French Comics }}
</ref>

Christin has also cited the [[whodunit]] genre—notably novels by [[Georges Simenon]] and [[Ed McBain]]—as an influence on ''Valérian'' since they taught him, as a writer, that all characters in a narrative must be seen to have motivations.<ref name="ABC" />

Mézières's drawings in the early albums were influenced by such "[[Franco-Belgian comics#"Comic-Dynamic" style|comic-dynamic]]" artists as [[Morris (comics)|Morris]] (''[[Lucky Luke]]''), [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou et Fantasio]]'') and [[Jack Davis (cartoonist)|Jack Davis]] ([[Mad magazine|''Mad'' magazine]]),<ref name="U#23" /> leading Jean-Pierre Andrevon to refer to ''Valérian'' as "a kind of ''Lucky Luke'' of space-time".<ref name="Andrevon_1970" /> As the series progressed, Mézières developed a more realistic style, akin to that of [[Jijé]], though in more recent albums he has returned to the more cartoonish style of the earlier stories.<ref name="U#23" />

==Legacy==

===In comics===
[[File:« Valérian et Laureline » - décoration automne-hiver 2018 de l’escalier Denis-Papin à Blois.jpg|thumb|On the occasion of the 35th edition of the BOUM comic strip festival in [[Blois]] (2018), the Denis-Papin staircase was entirely covered by a drawing of Valérian and Laureline]]
''Valérian's'' arrival on the French comics scene was contemporaneous with the debuts of other notable French science fiction strips including ''[[Luc Orient]]'' by [[Michel Regnier|Greg]] and [[Eddy Paape]] and ''[[Lone Sloane]]'' by [[Philippe Druillet]].<ref name="U#23" /><ref name="Shadowmen2">
{{cite book 
 | first = Jean-Marc and Randy
 | last = Lofficier
 | year = 2004
 | title = Shadowmen 2. Heroes and Villains of French Comics
 | publisher = Black Coat Press
 | location = Encino, California
 | isbn = 0-9740711-8-8 }}
</ref>  The success of these strips would eventually lead to the creation of ''[[Métal Hurlant]]'', the highly influential French comics magazine dedicated to science fiction.<ref>
{{cite book
 | first = Paul
 | last = Gravett
 | year = 2005
 | title = Graphic Novels. Stories to change your life
 | publisher = Aurum
 | location = London
 | isbn = 1-84513-068-5
 | page = 88
 | chapter = Of Futures and Fables }}
</ref> The influence of ''Valérian'' has been noticed in such strips as ''{{illm|Dani Futuro|es|Dani Futuro|de|Dani Futuro|it|Dani Futuro}}'' (by [[Víctor Mora (comics)|Víctor Mora]] and [[Carlos Giménez (comics)|Carlos Giménez]]) and ''Gigantik'' (by Mora and José Maria Cardona).<ref name="U#23" /> The visual style of ''Valérian'' has also influenced some American comics artists, notably [[Walt Simonson]]<ref name="U#23" /> and [[Gil Kane]].<ref name="CJ#260">{{cite journal | last = Kane | first = Gil | author-link = Gil Kane |author2=Groth, Gary  |date=May–June 2004 | title = Recognition: A Conversation with Jean-Claude Mézières | journal = The Comics Journal | issue = 260 | pages = 88–112 | publisher = Fantagraphics Books | issn = 0194-7869 }}</ref> Sometimes the impact of ''Valérian'' has gone beyond mere influence; following a complaint by Mézières, the artist [[Angus McKie]] admitted that several panels of his strip ''So Beautiful and So Dangerous'' were copied from ''Ambassador of the Shadows''.<ref name="CJ#260" />

===In other media===
Outside of comics, the ''Valérian'' series has been particularly influential on science fiction and fantasy film.

Several commentators, such as [[Kim Thompson]] of ''[[The Comics Journal]]'',<ref>
{{cite book
 | first = Kim
 | last = Thompson
 | year = 2004
 | title = Valerian: The New Future Trilogy
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/valeriannewfutur0001chri/page/1
 | chapter-url-access = registration
 | chapter = Introduction
 | editor = Mézières, Jean-Claude
 | editor2 = Christin, Pierre
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/valeriannewfutur0001chri/page/1 1–2]
 | publisher = iBooks
 | location = New York
 | isbn = 0-7434-8674-9
 }}
</ref> film critic Jean-Philippe Guerand<ref>
{{cite journal
 |author      = Geurand, Jean-Phillipe
 |title       = Noirs dessins
 |journal     = Le Nouveau Cinéma
 |date        = November 1999
 |url         = http://www.noosfere.org/mezieres/pages/extras/articles/jpg01.htm
 |access-date  = 1 September 2006
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070828050309/http://www.noosfere.org/mezieres/pages/extras/articles/jpg01.htm
 |archive-date = 28 August 2007
}}
</ref> and the newspaper ''[[Libération]]'',<ref>
{{cite journal
 |author      = F.A.
 |title       = Sur les traces de Valerian et consorts
 |journal     = Liberation
 |date        = 13 October 1999
 |url         = http://www.noosfere.org/mezieres/pages/extras/articles/jpg01.htm
 |access-date  = 1 September 2006
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070828050309/http://www.noosfere.org/mezieres/pages/extras/articles/jpg01.htm
 |archive-date = 28 August 2007
}}
</ref> have noted certain similarities between the ''Valérian'' albums and the ''[[Star Wars]]'' film series. Both series are noted for the "lived-in" look given to their various settings and for the diverse alien creatures they feature. Mézières's response upon seeing ''Star Wars'' was that he was "dazzled, jealous&nbsp;... and furious!".<ref>
{{cite web
 | title = Troisième période (1980-1984) 
 | work = Tout (ou presque) sur Jean-Claude Mézières... 
 | url = http://ludogrid.free.fr/Mezieres/mezieres3.htm 
 | access-date = 17 September 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051002024428/http://ludogrid.free.fr/Mezieres/mezieres3.htm |archive-date = 2 October 2005}}
</ref> As a riposte, Mézières produced an illustration for ''Pilote'' magazine in 1983 depicting the ''Star Wars'' characters [[Luke Skywalker]] and [[Leia Organa]] meeting Valérian and Laureline in a bar surrounded by a bestiary of alien creatures typical of that seen in both series. "Fancy meeting you here!" says Leia. "Oh, we've been hanging around here for a long time!" retorts Laureline.<ref>
{{cite journal
 | author = Mézières, Jean-Claude
 |author2=Tierney, D.
  | title = Le retour du Jedi: c'est de la B.D
 | journal = [[Pilote]]
 | issue = M113
 | date = 1 October 1983
 | url = http://www.noosfere.org/mezieres/Images/cinema/expo_starwars.jpg }}
</ref> Mézières has since been informed that [[Doug Chiang]], design director on ''[[The Phantom Menace]]'', kept a set of ''Valérian'' albums in his library.<ref name="DBD" />

Mézières has also noticed similarities between some of the sets in the 1982 film ''[[Conan the Barbarian (1982 film)|Conan the Barbarian]]'' and the planet seen in ''[[Birds of the Master]]'' (''Les Oiseaux du Maître'') and between some of the production sketches for the alien fighters in the 1996 film ''[[Independence Day (1996 film)|Independence Day]]'' and Valérian and Laureline's astroship.<ref name="DBD" />

The 1999 [[Denmark|Danish]] film ''[[Mifune's Last Song]]'', directed by [[Søren Kragh-Jacobsen]], features a character, Rud, who is a fan of ''Linda and Valentin'' (as ''Valérian'' is known in Denmark) who believes the character of Liva is in fact Linda (i.e. Laureline).<ref>
{{cite video 
 | people = Kragh-Jacobsen, Søren (Director) 
 |year = 1999 
 | url = https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0164756/ 
 | title = Mifunes sidste sang (Mifune's Last Song) 
 | medium = Film 
 | location = Denmark 
 }}
</ref>

Jean-Claude Mézières himself has worked as a concept artist on a number of science fiction film projects. The first of these was in 1984 for director [[Jeremy Kagan]] who was attempting to adapt [[René Barjavel]]'s novel ''[[La Nuit des temps]]'' (''The Ice People''). The film was never made. This was followed, in 1985, by a proposed adaptation of [[Arkady and Boris Strugatsky]]'s novel ''[[Hard to Be a God]]'' for director [[Peter Fleischmann]]. This film was eventually finished in 1989 though Mézières's concepts for the film were barely used. The art Mézières produced for both projects was later published in ''Mézières Extras''.<ref name="DBD" /><ref name="Extras#1" />

In 1991 Mézières began work producing concept art for the director [[Luc Besson]] for his film ''[[The Fifth Element]]''. When the project stalled and Besson moved on to work on the film ''[[Léon (film)|Léon]]'' in 1994, Mézières returned to ''Valérian'' for the album ''[[The Circles of Power]]'' (''Les Cercles du Pouvoir''). This featured a character, S'Traks, who drove a flying taxi around a great metropolis on the planet Rubanis.<ref>
{{cite book |last               = Mézières
 |first              = Jean-Claude
 |author2            = Christin, Pierre
 |others             = Trans. Timothy Ryan Smith
 |title              = Valerian: The New Future Trilogy
 |chapter-url        = https://archive.org/details/valeriannewfutur0001chri
 |chapter-url-access = registration
 |series             = Valérian: Spatio-Temporal Agent
 |year               = 2004
 |publisher          = iBooks
 |location           = New York
 |chapter            = The Circles of Power
 |isbn               = 0-7434-8674-9
 |url-access         = registration
 |url                = https://archive.org/details/valeriannewfutur0001chri
}}
</ref> Mézières sent a copy of the album to Besson who was inspired to change the background of Korben Dallas, the lead character of ''The Fifth Element'', from a worker in a rocketship factory to that of a taxi driver who flies his cab around a Rubanis-inspired futuristic [[New York City]].<ref>
{{cite book
 | first = Jean-Claude 
 | last = Mézières 
 | year = 2004 
 | title = Valerian: The New Future Trilogy 
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/valeriannewfutur0001chri
 | chapter-url-access = registration
 | chapter = Afterword 
 | editor = Mézières, Jean-Claude |editor2=Christin, Pierre 
 | page = [https://archive.org/details/valeriannewfutur0001chri/page/65 65]
 | publisher = iBooks 
 | location = New York 
 | isbn = 0-7434-8674-9 }}
</ref> Mézières produced further concept drawings for Besson, including flying taxi cabs. He also re-used certain aspects of the design of the space liner seen in the 1988 ''Valérian'' album ''On the Frontiers'' for the Fhloston Paradise liner seen in second half of the film.<ref name="Extras#2">
{{cite book
 | first = Jean-Claude
 | last = Mézières 
 | year = 1998 
 | title = Les Extras de Mézières No. 2. Mon Cinquieme Element. Decors pour la film de Luc Besson 
 | publisher = Dargaud 
 | location = Paris 
 | language = fr
 | isbn= 2-205-04751-5 }}
</ref> ''The Fifth Element'' was finally completed and released in 1997. The importance of the four [[Classical Element|classical elements]] to the film is similar to the significance the elements have in the two-part ''Valérian'' story ''Métro Châtelet, Direction Cassiopeia'' and ''Brooklyn Station, Terminus Cosmos''. However, Besson has claimed that he first came up with the idea for the film at the age of 16 which would pre-date the publication of these two albums.<ref>Sleap, Simon (Director) (2003), "Discovering the Fifth Element", in ''The Fifth Element'' (DVD), Disc 2, Pathé.</ref>

[[Gary Numan]] used the name ''Valerian'' early in his career.

===Awards===
''Valérian'' and its creators have also received recognition through a number of prestigious awards. Most notably, in 1984, Jean-Claude Mézières was honoured with the [[Grand Prix de la ville d'Angoulême]] for his comics work, including ''Valérian''.<ref>
{{cite web
 |title       = List of Grand Prix award winners
 |work        = Official Website of the Angoulême International Comics Festival
 |url         = http://www.bdangouleme.com/histoire/index.ideal
 |access-date  = 17 September 2006
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20061116043548/http://www.bdangouleme.com/histoire/index.ideal
 |archive-date = 16 November 2006
}}
</ref>  Mézières and Christin also received a [[European Science Fiction Society]] award for ''Valérian'' in 1987<ref>
{{cite web
 | title = ESFS Awards 1987-89
 | work = Official Website of the European Science Fiction Society
 | url = http://homepage.tinet.ie/~goudriaan/esfs-awards-1987.html 
 | access-date = 17 September 2006 }}
</ref> and the album ''[[Hostages of the Ultralum]]'' (''Otages de l'Ultralum'') won a Tournesal award, given to the comic that best reflects the ideals of the [[Europe Ecology – The Greens|Green Party]], at the 1997 [[Angoulême International Comics Festival]].<ref>
{{cite web
 |title=Bandes dessinées et Prix Tournesol 
 |work=Les Verts (Official Website of the French Green Party) 
 |url=http://lesverts.fr/article.php3?id_article=1875 
 |access-date=17 September 2006 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060819193325/http://www.lesverts.fr/article.php3?id_article=1875 
 |archive-date=19 August 2006 
 |url-status=dead 
}}
</ref> The [[encyclopedia]] of the alien creatures found in the ''Valérian'' universe ''Les Habitants du Ciel: Atlas Cosmique de Valérian et Laureline'' (''The Inhabitants of the Sky: The Cosmic Atlas of Valerian and Laureline'') received a special mention by the jury at the 1992 [[Angoulême International Comics Festival]] in the [[Angoulême International Comics Festival Prix Jeunesse 9–12 ans|Prix Jeunesse 9–12 ans (Youth Prize 9–12 years)]] category.<ref name="toutenBD-awards92">{{cite web | url =http://www.toutenbd.com/article.php3?id_article=834 | title =Le Palmarès 1992 | work =ToutEnBD | access-date =8 April 2007 | language =fr | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070625041517/http://www.toutenbd.com/article.php3?id_article=834 | archive-date =25 June 2007 }}</ref>

''Valérian'' has also been nominated for a [[Haxtur Award]] in 1995 for ''The Circles of Power''<ref>
{{cite web
 |title       = Haxtur Award Nominees 1995
 |work        = Official Website of the Haxtur Awards
 |url         = http://www.elwendigo.com/haxt1995.htm
 |access-date  = 29 September 2006
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20060510221825/http://www.elwendigo.com/haxt1995.htm
 |archive-date = 10 May 2006
}}
</ref> and for a [[Harvey Award]] in 2005 for ''The New Future Trilogy'', an English-language compilation of three of the albums.<ref>
{{cite web
 |title=Harvey Award Nominees 2005 
 |work=Official Website of the Harvey Awards 
 |url=http://www.harveyawards.org/awards_2005nom.html 
 |access-date=29 September 2006 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227173233/http://www.harveyawards.org/awards_2005nom.html 
 |archive-date=27 February 2012 
}}
</ref>
{{anchor|Collected editions}}

==Publication history==
{{See also|List of Valérian and Laureline books}}

===Original publication===
''Valérian'' first appeared on 9 November 1967 in issue #420 of the [[Franco-Belgian comics]] magazine ''[[Pilote]]'',<ref name="BDO-pilote67">{{cite web | url =http://bdoubliees.com/journalpilote/annees/1967.htm | title =Le journal Pilote en 1967 | work =BDoubliées | access-date =22 March 2007 | language = fr }}</ref> and every ''Valérian'' story from ''Bad Dreams'' to ''The Wrath of Hypsis'' was initially serialised in ''Pilote''. The second ''Valérian'' story, ''[[The City of Shifting Waters]]'' (''La Cité des Eaux Mouvantes''), was the first to be collected in [[graphic novel]] album format by [[Dargaud]]. Since ''On the Frontiers'', every ''Valérian'' story has debuted in album format. Seven short stories were also published in the [[digest-sized]] ''Super Pocket Pilote'' in 1969 and 1970 and later collected in ''[[Across the Pathways of Space]]'' (''Par Les Chemins De l’Espace'') in 1997. The series was originally published under the title ''Valérian: Spatio-Temporal Agent''. However, with the publication of ''[[The Order of the Stones]]'' in 2007, the series now goes under the title ''Valérian and Laureline''.

On 22 January 2010, the last album, ''[[L'OuvreTemps]]'' (''The Time Opener''), was published. With this album the authors concluded the entire comic series with the intention to prevent the series from becoming weak, or staggering behind newer comics. However, Christin has written a 270-page Valérian and Laureline novel, ''Valérian et Laureline: Lininil a disparu'' (''Valérian and Laureline: Lininil Has Disappeared''), and indicated that Valérian and Laureline will continue to live on in a yet unspecified form.<ref name="matin">{{cite web | url=http://www.lematin.ch/loisirs/culture/pierre-christin-«jai-écrit-ce-roman-parce-que-valérian-sarrête»-11091 | title=Pierre Christin: "J'ai écrit ce roman parce que Valérian s'arrête" | publisher=Le Matin | date=17 October 2009 | access-date=28 October 2011 | author=Destraz, Camille}}</ref>

===English translations===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Valerian New Future Trilogy.jpg|150px|thumb|right|Cover of ''Valerian: The New Future Trilogy''.]] -->
The first ''Valérian'' album to be translated into English was ''Ambassador of the Shadows'' which was serialised across four issues of the magazine ''[[Heavy Metal (magazine)|Heavy Metal]]'' in 1981 (Volume 4, Number 10 (January 1981) to Volume 5, Number 1 (April 1981)).<ref name="Amazing#160">
{{cite journal
 |author      = Unknown
 |title       = Ambassador of the Shadows
 |journal     = [[Amazing Heroes]]
 |date        = March 1989
 |issue       = 160
 |url         = http://www.noosfere.org/mezieres/pages/extras/articles/amazing01.htm
 |access-date  = 1 September 2006
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20030927080750/http://www.noosfere.org/mezieres/pages/extras/articles/amazing01.htm
 |archive-date = 27 September 2003
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
 | title = Heavy Metal Magazine List – 1981
 | work = Heavy Metal Magazine Fan Page
 | url = http://www.heavymetalmagazinefanpage.com/hmlist81.html
 | access-date = 16 September 2006 }}
</ref>

''Ambassador of the Shadows'' was later republished in English in album format as were ''World Without Stars'', ''Welcome to Alflolol'' and ''Heroes of the Equinox'' by the short-lived Dargaud-USA and Dargaud-Canada between 1981 and 1984 and in the United Kingdom by Hodder-Dargaud in 1984 and 1985.<ref name="Amazing#160" />

In 1989 it was announced that [[NBM Publishing]] were going to reissue the four English language albums published by Dargaud-USA and also release a translation of ''Empire of a Thousand Planets'' but nothing seems to have come of this.<ref name="Amazing#160" />

''Heroes of the Equinox'' was republished in July 1996 in black and white by ''Fantasy Flight Publishing'' (an offshoot of ''[[Fantasy Flight Games]]'') in two issues as standard American sized [[comic-book]]s as part of an unsuccessful attempt to translate and print several European comic book series including ''[[Spirou et Fantasio]]'' and ''Lucky Luke''.<ref>
{{cite web
 |title       = Fantasy Flight Games - Company History
 |work        = Fantasy Flight Games
 |url         = http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/history.html
 |access-date  = 1 September 2006
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20060830224558/http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/history.html
 |archive-date = 30 August 2006
}}
</ref>

In November 2004, [[Byron Preiss|iBooks]] published ''Valérian: The New Future Trilogy'', collecting the albums ''On the Frontiers'', ''The Living Weapons'' and ''The Circles of Power'' in one volume reduced to standard American graphic novel size. These were the only ''Valérian'' stories ''iBooks'' published and the company has since declared bankruptcy.<ref>{{cite news
 | title = Agonizing and Arduous. iBooks Bankrupt
 | url = http://www.comicworldnews.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?column=headlines&page=1121
 | work = Comic World News
 | date = 13 March 2006
 | access-date = 12 November 2006
 | archive-date = 7 August 2017
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170807232414/http://www.comicworldnews.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?column=headlines&page=1121
 | url-status = dead
 }}</ref>

Since July 2010, UK publisher [[Cinebook]] has been publishing English language editions of Valérian. These began at a rate of one volume every six months. However, as the cinematic release of [[Luc Besson]]'s film'' [[Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets]] ''approached, the rate increased to one every three months.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cinebook.co.uk/index.php?cPath=184 |title=Cinebook catalogue - Valerian |access-date=24 March 2011 |work=Cinebook }}</ref> Twenty-two volumes had been published by the end of 2017. Pursuant the individual softcover title releases, the publisher announced in December 2016 a complete hardcover book series, ''aka'' "[[Franco-Belgian comics#Intégrales|Intégrales]]", of Valérian, slated to launch in 2017 as ''[[List of Valérian and Laureline books#Hardcover collection|Valerian - The Complete Collection]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/12/23/cinebook-to-publish-the-complete-valerian-starting-in-2017/|work=Bleeding Cool|title=Cinebook To Publish The Complete Valerian, Starting In 2017|author=Rich Johnston|date=23 December 2016|access-date =16 September 2018}}</ref> Completed in 2018, each outing in the seven-volume series collects 3-4 titles of the original individual book releases. An international effort, Cinebook's release was, save for the language, identical to the ones concurrently released in French, Dutch, Portuguese (Brazil only), and Standard Chinese.<ref name="stripinfo">{{cite web|url=https://www.stripinfo.be/reeks/index/220_Ravian|work=Stripinfo.be|title=Ravian|language=nl|access-date=16 June 2019}}; Also lists international editions.</ref>

===In other languages===
Many of the ''Valérian'' stories have, be it in part or in whole as a series, been translated from their original French into several other languages besides English, including [[German language|German]] (as ''Valerian und Veronique''), [[Dutch language|Dutch]] (as ''Ravian: Tijd/ruimte-agent''), the [[North Germanic languages|Scandinavian languages]] ([[Danish language|Danish]], [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]], [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] and [[Swedish language|Swedish]]) (as ''Linda og/och Valentin''), [[Finnish language|Finnish]] (as ''Valerian ja Laureline'' and previously as ''Avaruusagentti Valerianin seikkailuja''), [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] (as ''Valérian, agente espácio-temporal''), [[Serbian language|Serbian]] (as ''Valerijan''), [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Turkish language|Turkish]], [[Polish language|Polish]], [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]] and [[Standard Chinese]].<ref name="Languages" /> "Intégrale' editions have been published in several of these languages as well, of which the later, aforementioned Cinebook version and those of its international companions incidentally, were merely slightly updated editions, only enhanced with a long interview with the two creators and film director Luc Besson, spread over the individual volumes of the collection.<ref name="stripinfo"/>

==Adaptations to other media==

===Animated television series===
{{main|Time Jam: Valerian & Laureline}}
The notion of making an animated adaptation of ''Valérian'' dates back to at least 1976.<ref name="DBD" /> In 1982, Mézières produced concept art for an episode titled ''The Asteroids of Shimballil'' (''Les Astéroïdes de Shimballil'') which was later published in 2000 as an appendix to the album release of ''Bad Dreams''. In 1991, ''Dargaud Films'' financed the production of a three-minute pilot, directed by Bernard Deyriès and animated by ''Studio 32'' in [[Paris]] and [[Luxembourg]], but nothing came of this venture. Several stills from this pilot episode were published in ''Mézières Extras''.<ref name="Extras#1" /> Another pilot, directed by Florient Ferrier, was made by the French animation studio 2 Minutes in 2001. Nothing came of this attempt either.<ref>
{{cite web
 | last = Ferrier
 | first = Florient (Director)
 | title = Valerian & Laureline – pilot
 | work = 2 Minutes
 | url =   http://www.catsuka.com/player.php?fichier=http://www.2minutes.fr/valerian.swf&largeur=320&hauteur=240&type=swf
 | format = Flash Animation
 | access-date = 1 September 2006 }}
</ref>

An animated series entitled ''Time Jam: Valerian and Laureline'' made its debut on [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal+]] Family in France on 20 October 2007. In total, forty 26-minute episodes have been made.<ref name="Mediatoon">
{{cite web
 |url         = http://mid.mediatoon.com/fiche.php?id=317
 |title       = Time Jam: Valerian and Laureline
 |access-date  = 22 October 2006
 |work        = Mediatoon International Distribution
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070626120503/http://mid.mediatoon.com/fiche.php?id=317
 |archive-date = 26 June 2007
}}
</ref> The series is a Franco–Japanese co-production, directed by Philippe Vidal.<ref name="TimeJamBlog">
{{cite web
 |url         = http://blog.dargaud.com/valerian/index.php?2006/01/23/22-le-partage-des-taches
 |title       = Le partage des tâches
 |access-date  = 1 September 2006
 |last        = Vidal
 |first       = Phillipe
 |work        = Blog by Time Jam director Phillipe Vidal
 |publisher   = Dargaud
 |language    = fr
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20071026225157/http://blog.dargaud.com/valerian/index.php?2006%2F01%2F23%2F22-le-partage-des-taches
 |archive-date = 26 October 2007
}}
</ref><ref name="DargaudDistribution">
{{cite web
 |url = http://www.tvfrance-intl.com/tvfi/1_programme/fs_show_prog2.php?cmd=search&id_prog=33386 
 |title = Dargaud Distribution Listing for Time Jam
 |access-date = 1 September 2006
 |publisher = TV France International |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928045622/http://www.tvfrance-intl.com/tvfi/1_programme/fs_show_prog2.php?cmd=search&id_prog=33386 |archive-date = 28 September 2007}}
</ref>

The scripts were written by a French team under the supervision of Peter Berts; while Charles Vaucelles was responsible for the realisation of the characters and Vincent Momméja was responsible for the design of the locations and spacecraft.<ref name="TimeJamBlog" /> Music is by Alexandre Azzaria.<ref name="TimeJamBlog" /> In the French dub of the series Valérian is voiced by Gwendal Anglade and Laureline by Mélodie Orru.<ref>
{{cite web
 |url         = http://blog.dargaud.com/valerian/index.php?2007/02/08/25-bon-anniversaire-mr-v
 |title       = Bon anniversaire Mr V!
 |access-date  = 15 September 2007
 |last        = Vidal
 |first       = Phillipe
 |work        = Blog by Time Jam director Phillipe Vidal
 |publisher   = Dargaud
 |language    = fr
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://archive.today/20070519195507/http://blog.dargaud.com/valerian/index.php?2007/02/08/25-bon-anniversaire-mr-v
 |archive-date = 19 May 2007
}}
</ref> Three trailers were released to promote the series: the first on 24 April 2006,<ref>
{{cite web
 |title       = Time Jam: Valerian & Laureline - First Trailer
 |publisher   = Dargaud
 |url         = http://blog.dargaud.com/valerian/indexa.php
 |access-date  = 1 September 2006
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20060614101607/http://blog.dargaud.com/valerian/indexa.php
 |archive-date = 14 June 2006
}}
</ref> the second on 10 October 2006<ref>
{{cite web
 |title=Time Jam: Valerian & Laureline - Second Trailer 
 |publisher=Dargaud 
 |url=http://blog.dargaud.com/valerian/index.php?2006/10/10/18-le-teaser-nouveau-est-arrive 
 |access-date=12 November 2006 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315060746/http://blog.dargaud.com/valerian/index.php?2006%2F10%2F10%2F18-le-teaser-nouveau-est-arrive 
 |archive-date=15 March 2007 
}}
</ref> and the third on 30 August 2007.<ref name="Blog/3rdTrailer">
{{cite web
 |title       = Time Jam: Valerian & Laureline - Third Trailer
 |publisher   = Dargaud
 |url         = http://blog.dargaud.com/valerian/index.php?2007/08/30/31-les-nouvelles-bandes-annonces
 |access-date  = 15 September 2007
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://archive.today/20071026230842/http://blog.dargaud.com/valerian/index.php?2007/08/30/31-les-nouvelles-bandes-annonces
 |archive-date = 26 October 2007
}}
</ref>

The series differs from the original comics in that Valerian comes from the year 2417, instead of 2720, and meets Laureline in the year 912 instead of 1000. Whereas in the comics Valerian takes Laureline back to the 28th century without any trouble, in the animated series this results in Earth disappearing from the [[Solar System]].

According to [[Animation World Network]], "''Time Jam - Valerian & Laureline'' sets out to answer the question: Where on Earth has Earth gone? Valerian and Laureline, our two young heroes, seem to be the only representatives of the human race in the unsafe galaxy where the nightmarish Vlagos are conspiring to control the world. Sent out on an assignment by the head of STS (the Spatial-Temporal Service), Valerian and Laureline discover the existence of a time-portal, a mysterious phenomenon, which may hold the key to the recovery of Earth. The series from Dargaud Marina mixes 2D and CGI animation with an [[anime]] touch".<ref>{{cite journal
 |author      = Animation World Network
 |date        = 5 October 2006
 |title       = Dargaud Distribution's Spirou & Fantasio Jets Into Cannes
 |journal     = Animation Flash
 |issue       = MIPCOM 2006 Special Edition No. 3
 |page        = 7
 |url         = http://www.awn.com/flash/clicks.php?type=mipcom06&v=3&src=hp&file=AWN-Flash-MIPCOM2006_hr3.pdf
 |access-date  = 12 November 2006
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20101229005315/http://www.awn.com/flash/clicks.php?type=mipcom06&v=3&src=hp&file=AWN-Flash-MIPCOM2006_hr3.pdf
 |archive-date = 29 December 2010
}}</ref> The series has also been sold to Belgium, Spain, Israel and [[Morocco]].<ref name="Mediatoon" />

===Feature film===
{{main|Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets}}
In 2012, it was announced that Luc Besson planned to make a movie for the big screen of Valérian and Laureline.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://geektyrant.com/news/2012/6/29/luc-besson-adapting-sci-fi-comic-valerian-for-the-big-screen.html|title=Luc Besson Adapting Sci-Fi Comic VALERIAN for the Big Screen|work=GeekTyrant|date=29 June 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.movies.com/movie-news/luc-besson-valerian/8528|title=Luc Besson's Next Sci-Fi Project Sounds a Little Familiar|work=Movies.com}}</ref> The film was shot in January 2016 and stars [[Dane DeHaan]] and [[Cara Delevingne]]. It was released on 21 July 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/LucBessonOfficial/posts/974699665908124 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/972003916177699/974699665908124 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=Luc Besson - Hello everyone – As you probably noticed I'm... - Facebook|website=[[Facebook]] }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/lucbesson/status/598140891048488960|title=Luc Besson on Twitter|work=Twitter}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/luc-besson-s-sci-fi-796578|title=Luc Besson's Sci-Fi Epic 'Valerian' Gets Release Date|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|last=Vlessing|first=Etan|date=18 May 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Franco-Belgian comics]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
{{refbegin}}
* [http://bdoubliees.com/journalpilote/series6/valerian.htm ''Valérian'' publications in ''Pilote''] at BDoubliées {{in lang|fr}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* [http://www.noosfere.org/mezieres/ Jean-Claude Mézières official website] {{in lang|fr}}
* [http://www.coolfrenchcomics.com/valerian.htm Valérian entry] on Cool French Comics
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071010010046/http://dugueta.club.fr/index.htm Valérian et Laureline] fan site {{in lang|fr|en}}
* [http://www.ubcfumetti.com/valerian/ Valerian@uBC] at Fumetti.com {{in lang|it}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060614101607/http://blog.dargaud.com/valerian/indexa.php Time Jam: Valerian & Laureline official series blog] {{in lang|fr}}
* [http://www.valerian-et-laureline.com/ Valérian et Laureline animated series official site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071101041953/http://www.valerian-et-laureline.com/ |date=1 November 2007 }} {{in lang|fr}}
* Valerian & Laureline Series [http://www.mediatoon-distribution.com/en/catalog/94/valerian-laureline/ official website] {{in lang|en}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyzXrNrtPhLzFJmBcWSTO3A/ Valerian & Laureline episodes] on VALERIAN & LAURELINE ENGLISH OFFICIAL {{in lang|en}}
* [http://sequart.org/magazine/28602/valerian-spaceships-simulacra-and-star-wars/ Valérian:  Spaceships, Simulacra and Star Wars]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110724080703/http://spigolature.net/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=578%3Avalerian-storie-di-un-futuro-amico&catid=273%3Achristin-p-mezieres-j-c-valerian&Itemid=315%2F Valerian. Storie di un futuro amico] at "Spigoli&Culture spigol@ture" {{in lang|it}}

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