Valerian and Laureline v23: “The Future Is Waiting”

No, really, this time it’s the end of the line for Christin and Meziere’s “Valerian” series. I thought the last book was it, only to find out months later that this one was still on its way.

This book, then, is the end of “Valerian and Laureline.”

It’s so much the end that they’re changing the end that they ended with a couple books ago.

Credits Out Of Time

The Shorts

Much of this book is about following up with characters from previous volumes, and then one longer story that picks up where “The Time Opener” left off.

Much like in the previous volume, this album begins with three “missing” tales that take place between or after earlier volumes. It feels like a few good excuses to bring back fan favorite characters, but Christin works to make sure the stories are real and not just Greatest Hits assemblies.

Knowing his politics (socialist), you can read some of his leanings into events such as the rich power brokers raising an army that will vastly outmatch the government’s measly resources

These tales wind up being more like stories that tell the fates of fan-favorite characters who never got their proper endings. It’s an interesting exercise, and completely fan oriented. Nothing wrong with that.

I should point out here, first, that it will help you greatly if you’ve read the last ten volumes or so of the series recently. I hadn’t, and my memory was already fading. With one exception, Christin isn’t here to provide the background to these stories. He’s thinking that if you’re reading them, you’re already a Valerian fan and you’ll know who’s who. I think that’s a safe bet. I remembered the characters and storylines as the stories moved along pretty easily since they’re so distinctive, so I wasn’t ever completely lost.

Two of the three stories are strong entries in the saga, while the third is a little too light, and spends a weird amount of time recapping things.

In the first story, Valerian and Laureline get involved in a bit of space diplomacy, splitting up to try to keep both sides happy with a wily plan behind all their actions. Valerian heads down into the guts of the Point Central to enlist the aid of the hellish characters who live there. Laureline handles the more delicate diplomacy of dealing with the Rubanis. She’ll appeal to their leader’s sense of greed to get the job done.

Mezieres hasn’t lost a step with this book. His inventive aliens and backgrounds steal every scene. The introductory double page spreads for the stories are great. While his human face work does lag behind that a little bit in comparison, it’s OK. That’s not really what you came for, and they work well enough.

In the second story, we see a Schniarf doing what Schniarfs do — Schniarfing things up. (Wait, blue skinned alien creatures who refer to themselves in the third person and use their species name as a verb? Are these supposed to be Smurfs?!?)

This one is only a five page short story and half of it is recapping everything the Schniarf had done up to that point. OK, so this one might be a little self-indulgent, but it ends well with another return character and a direction for the character to go next.

In the third short, Laureline returns to the world of the Caliphon, the boy she and Valerian were protecting in the awesome 16th and 17th volumes, “Hostages of Ultralum” and “Orphan of the Stars“. His father still rules his world with an iron fist while the boy isn’t quite getting the education he needs nor the clear line of succession plan he deserves. Valerian and Laureline intervene to try to create positive change. It backfires, and so they split up to try to save the world.

It’s a cute story with the return of some characters and places that will make you smile. It ends a little abruptly, but there also wasn’t much more story there to tell, so I guess it makes sense.

If you’re looking for three act structures and happy endings with this book, you’ve come to the wrong place. These stories are satisfying, but in a completely different way. It’s more like a look at a slice of these favorite characters’ lives. They’re not meant to be episodes of personal journeys.

The Main Event

It’s not that much longer than the other stories, but the last one runs 17 pages, though I suppose technically it’s split into two short stories. And it also provides a new insight on the previous stories in the book in a way I can’t describe without spoiling anything….

We return to earth, where Valerian and Laureline now live as children under the care of Uncle Albert.

The kids are on their way to Scotland for their first ever trip, where they feel oddly comfortable in an airplane and riding horses. While they’ve been reverted to children, they haven’t completely forgotten everything, it seems. Those feelings of experience still remain, even if the details and specific memories are gone.

Remember the Trinity of Hypsis, from “The Wrath of Hypsis“? They’re back, Dad is not happy, and he wants to threaten the children.

The spiteful god does his best to annoy the children, but doesn’t get anywhere and gives up. There’s not much of a story there. It’s just fun to see the kids in action and, if you’re predisposed to those characters, you’ll like seeing the Trinity in action again.

It’s the second half of the story where “big things” happen. You’ll see it coming and it won’t be surprising, but it is a game changer for the book again. You can see Christin clearing the decks to allow for the series to continue without him, quite honestly.

It also puts a lie to some of the things I said previously in this review. I’m not going to say what, because — you know, spoilers.

I like the change, though. I know the events of the first ending of the series two books ago — turning the leads into kids — were very controversial, but I didn’t mind it. I thought it was a good way for Christin to make an ending for the series with a definitive statement.

Now, Christin provides a new ending. Such is life.

I only hope it leads to new adventures with this crazy group of sci-fi characters from other creators, much like the excellent “Shingouzlooz, Inc.” book that Lupano and Lauffray did.

End of an Era

In 2017, when this site started to focus on European comics, I chose Valerian as a series I wanted to cover from start to finish. Yes, that was largely in the hopes of cashing in on the impending summer blockbuster movie.

Welp, that didn’t quite work out as planned.

Nevertheless, I fell in love with the series and reviewed all of the books available that year. I followed that up with The Asterix Agenda the following year.

Today, at last, I’m done with reviewing the Christin/Mezieres Valerian series. No, I mean it this time. Really.

This is the last book Christin and Mezieres will theoretically ever do together. It was done at the time to help capitalize on the interest from the movie, I’m sure. I don’t blame them for that at all.

With the mission completed, I’m also publishing the latest Pipeline Portal devoted to the series. Go to PipelineComics.com/valerian today and get the complete rundown of every book review, plus links to all the movie-related content I wrote (and put on YouTube) in the summer of 2017.

Recommended?

Yes, if you’re a Valerian and Laureline fan already. There’s no reason not to read this book. It’s not ground-breaking work by any means, but it is an enjoyable romp through a familiar universe.

Think of it as a victory lap at the end of a successful campaign that lasted nearly 50 years. There’s some fun nostalgia in it, the fun chance to see more of Mezieres’ art, and Christin’s chance to provide commentary on the world around him through a thin science fiction filter.

The final page, I’m guessing, might be a little controversial for some readers. Of course, the original ending to the series was controversial for much the same reason. There’s just no pleasing everybody. I’m happy to let Christin decide to do what he wants to do, no matter the reason.

— 2020.001 —

Buy It Now

The print edition of the book from Cinebook is due in February 2020, but it’s available from all the usual suspects digitally today: