The Forbidden Work, Vol. 0: The Horny Goof and Other Underground Stories

The Collected Fantasies of Jean Giraud #0

by Mœbius

Les histoires déjantées de Mœbius, parues pendant sa période Métal Hurlant. Cofondateur du magazine Métal Hurlant et des Humanoïdes Associés, Mœbius a profondément changé l'esthétique de la science fiction et les modes narratifs du genre en bande dessinée. Avec Arzach, Le Major Fatal et des dizaines d'histoires (La Déviation, Cauchemar Blanc...), l'œuvre de Mœbius a eu un retentissement mondial, influençant toute une génération d'auteurs en France, aux États-Unis ou au Japon. Désormais l'univers de Mœbius appartient à l'imaginaire du vingtième siècle. C'est ce que permettent de (re)découvrir ces albums, regroupant les histoires courtes et longues publiées par Moebius pendant sa période Métal Hurlant.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Comic Book, Art

72 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Jean Henri Gaston Giraud (pen-name: Mœbius) was a French artist, cartoonist, and writer, who worked in the Franco-Belgian bandes dessinées tradition.
Also published as Jean Giraud.

Reviews

[Uroš Đurković · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teško da se ovde može izbeći asocijacija na Prijapov problem, o kome sam, istini za volju, prvi put saznao nešto više u knjizi Igora Mandića posvećenoj pornografiji. Ipak, svako ko bi pomislio da je Mebijus ovde pokušao da napravi klinačku himnu prijapizmu, nije blizu istini. Ili makar ne suštini: ovo je jedna silovita, zabavna SF humoristička vožnja sa metanarativnim elementima i sa genijalnim crtežom. Bonus je i dosetljiv prevod – lebdeći kamen-mašina je nazvan kuče-kamenče, a avioni su krljošklopi! Ako hoće neko da proba da mi probije lozinku nekog naloga na društvenim mrežama, neka počne od neologizama iz stripa.

A što se samog Mebijusa tiče (jedan od najsrećnije odabranih pseudonima u istoriji umetnosti!), kao što mi je Prijap vezan za Mandića, tako mi je Mebijusova traka vezana za Ešera, za jednu knjigu koju sam listao u stanu svoje tetke, sa Ešerovim reprodukcijama. Bila je smeštena baš blizu Marsupilamija, na francuskom, pa se sećam da sam, kao mali, na pak-papir precrtavao nešto odatle. Čudo kako sećanje oživi, dobije nestašnu razigranost kao Marsupilamijev multifunkcionalni rep.

[Hosein · Rating 5 out of 5]

خیلی عجیبه، مثل اینه که کل داستان‌های روزنامه‌های زرد رو با هوی متال ترکیب کنین و بعد خوابشو ببینین. داستان اونقدر مشخص نیست چون نویسنده نمیخواد مشخص باشه، حتی طراحی ها خیلی اسکیس مانندن و سریع اجرا شدن، اما مشخصه که یک داستان کامل و باجزئیات در جریانه که ما بخش هایی ازش رو میبینیم و کشف کردن کلش (توی ذهنم) لذت بخش بود.
و یک صفحه در میون تصویر یک مرده که تغییر میکنه و... بهتره خودتون ببینین تا بفهمین. به نظرم خیلی استعاره و تصویر خوبی بود از اینکه هنرمند چه فشاری رو داشته اون موقع تحمل میکرده. فکر کنم توی مستند موبیوس هم به اون دوره اشاره شده بود، واقعا دیدن اون بخش ها خیلی منو توی فکر فرو برد به نسبت کلِ کمیک.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am told that this comic was one of the hardest Moebius works to find until recently. That information is news to me, because here in the 21st century I had no problems finding a Danish translation printed back in the 1980's in the Copenhagen Central Library. "The Horny Goof" is certainly one of the most baffling Moebius works, that is for sure, and I can understand why it's a nightmare for publishers' marketing departments!

"the Horny Goof" is the first entry into the Major Grubert series, Moebius' contribution to the British fantasy author Michael Moorcock's "Eternal Champion" mythos - though in Continental Europe Moebius is much better known than Moorcock: Many of the key characters and locations that Moebius uses in "The Airtight Garage" and "The Man From Ciguri" appear here first. However, they do so in the context of exactly what the title promises - a goofy lowbrow sex comedy set in space. This being the mid-1970's, as the story unfolds Moebius throws in oodles of advanced metaphysical philosophising obviously thought up under the influence of entheogens where the sex comedy plot devices end up being tied into key metaphysical concepts. (the sacred feminine etc)

To be honest I'm not sure exactly what to make of either this or the third volume in the Major Grubert cycle, but the art is gorgeous as always. This might be the earliest appearance of Moebius' signature take on the "used future re-interpretation of the Old West meets traditional North Africa" aesthetic that Star Wars swiped wholesale for Tatooine, which is depicted in glorious detail here and Moebius takes a lot of opportunities to introduce this atmosphere to the reader. The fact that the story isn't meant to be serious or respectable at all allows Moebius to go wild with crazy visuals - eg with lightweight aircraft modelled upon Disney's Dumbo complete with the elephant's ears functioning as wings.

In other words, even Moebius' second rate stories are still worth reading for the exceptional artwork and there's a reason why he's still after his death a hero to almost every single science-fiction/fantasy artist anyone takes seriously.

[Maja Shinigami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know, boobs distracted me from the plot.

[Eternauta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Κορυφαίο album, από τα πρώτα που κυκλοφόρησε ο Jean Giraud ως Moebius.
100% παρανοϊκή, πανσεξουαλική και ανατρεπτική η ομώνυμη ιστορία αποτελεί από μόνη της απόδειξη ότι τα κόμικς είναι ξεχωριστό και αυτόνομο είδος τέχνης και όχι απλά μια αφηγηματική τεχνική. Σε ένα μελλοντικό κόσμο όπου η σεξουαλικότητα είναι ελεγχόμενη, περιοδική και εμπορεύσιμη ένας ξεσάλωτος επιβήτορας με μη ελεγχόμενη στύση αποτελεί δημόσιο κίνδυνο για τις αρχές αλλά και περιζήτητο κελεπούρι για όσους εξερευνούν τις μη-αναπαραγωγικές πτυχές της γενετήσιας πράξης!
Απο τις ψυχεδελικές και κωμικές ασπρόμαυρες σελίδες παρελαύνουν ο Τζάμπο το ελεφαντάκι, οι γνωστοί γκαντέμηδες πειρατές του Asterix αλλά και φιγούρες που θα επανέλθουν αργότερα στις πιο γνωστές ιστορίες του Moebius.
Οι υπόλοιπες τρεις βινιέτες μακράν του να αποτελούν fillers αναδεικνύουν την μεγαλοφυΐα του Moebius ο οποίος σε τρεις - τέσσερις σιωπηλές σελίδες μπορούσε να δημιουργήσει ένταση, να διατυπώσει αινίγματα και εν τέλει να εξαναγκάσει τον αναγνώστη να παραδοθεί στη νομοτέλεια της αστείρευτης φαντασίας του.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

French cartoonists be horny

[Gerardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

In un altro mondo, esiste una razza aliena in cui i maschi sono dotati di un poderoso fallo il quale va in erezione in determinati periodi, nei quali i maschi si accoppiano con la femmina, di enormi e disgustose dimensioni. A causa del potere matriarcale di questa società, i maschi sono costretti a molte restrizioni sessuali.

Anche se molto buffi, questi alieni sono ricercati per via delle dimensioni del loro pene. Questa è la storia di uno di loro, che va in erezione in un periodo anomalo e per questo viene chiamato 'fallico folle'.

La storia è un fantasioso racconto di un fuga affinché una donna possa godere delle meraviglie di questa specie.

Il racconto, molto divertente, è la rappresentazione delle mille fughe e mille lotte che siamo costretti a compiere per combattere contro i tabù sessuali, che 'castrano' le nostre 'doti' per via di un certo pregiudizio bigotto contro il piacere.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume contains some of Jean Giraud's early free-form work, heavily inspired by the American underground comics movement of late 1960's and early 1970's. In between the works themselves are several commentaries from the artist recalling the circumstances in which he originally wrote the pieces.

In general, these selections don't rank anywhere close to Giraud's best work, but he was such a talented artist that even his early and minor work holds interest, especially as a reflection to compare against the more mature work that would flow form his pen in later years.

[Damon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This took forever for me to track down, but luckily, when I finally did, I'd read almost everything in it before. (A consistent problem with Moebius stuff, but what can you do?) It's a nice presentation, though, with some "commentary" about the stories and a few pieces I hadn't seen that I'm unlikely to come across elsewhere...

[Adnan Mahmutovic · Rating 3 out of 5]

This old story, funny, and sweet, but not brilliant. The drawings, however are 6-star.

[StrictlySequential · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spanish Norma Edition

The narrative is too asinine- even a grownboy like me couldn't see it silly enough for any chuckle-up. Especially because there was a constant state of confusion -certainly intentionally- perpetrated and it works too well. I understood very little and endured frustration. Maybe it was significantly lost in translation but I doubt it.

Every left side of the whole story's span of open pages is this man->blob animation that's dumb and gross. Disgust would normally be whatever but here it pervaded the entirety of the right side -for the most part- as well!

The composition of his bizzarities -man, place and thing- is glorious and expertly rendered but I rarely knew what I was looking at or why so it resultantly dulled in charm.

[Zioluc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una madeleine. Da bambino avevo a casa una copia di questa storia in lingua originale (francese), arrivata da chissà dove. Non avevo l'età per capire bene né il francese né la storia piena di riferimenti sessuali, ma la rilessi decine di volte trovandola sia epica che (ovviamente) pruriginosa.
Ritrovata oggi è per me ingiudicabile dato il carico di ricordi che si porta appresso, ma se il segno magistrale di Moebius resta ovviamente uno dei punti di forza, posso ora apprezzare anche la sua ironia, finalmente senza più misteri: i quali però conferivano alla storia molto più interesse e fascino.

[João · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title's story full of its Freudian symbolism and irreverent gags is pretty crazy (in the good sense), but the other works are very peripheral within Moebius' universe... despite the (mostly consistent) great art, of course.

[Fugo Feedback · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me gustó más la historia de las páginas impares pero la narrativa de las pares, aunque el final par palidece y se vuelve algo obvio si lo comparamos con el final impar.

[Rick Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very early, and much less refined Moebius work, but interesting stuff nonetheless. There were five stories collected in here: "The Horny Goof", "Deima", "You're The Object Of This And That", "Harzack" and "The Invaders". The last two are almost too brief to meaningfully discuss, but it is worth noting how varied Giraud's artstyle was early on.

The bulk of this volume contains the rather nonsensical story "The Horny Goof", which features a man with a rather large member going about his day. It's a rather confusing story and feels very stream of consciousness in its storytelling approach. There is a lot of lowbrow sexual humor throughout, but most of "The Horny Goof" exists to craft atmosphere and have Giraud draw cool stuff. It reads like a sex comedy taking place in a Star Wars or Dune like setting, allowing Giraud to really flex his artistic chops without having to think too hard on how the narrative comes together.

"Deima" and "You're The Object Of This And That" are similarly high concept metaphysical sci-fi/fantasy tales, but feature some rather disparate plot beats that also seem a bit stream of consciousness to me. They are similarly unrefined artistically, though still striking to look at nonetheless.

This won't be anyone's favorite Moebius pieces, but even a legend's early works can be informative of the trajectory of their career and the talent was clearly apparent in spades here. Had a good time with this.

[Clodjee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Le Bandard Fou est la toute première histoire de SF de Moebius (avant Arzach, Le Garage hermétique et même avant la création de Métal Hurlant). Elle introduit et annonce fort bien ce que sera son style drôle et très imaginatif (déjanté comme ils disent). Son dessin noir et blanc utilise un trait simple mais qui offre tout de même des illustrations détaillées et très texturées — qui sont toutefois d’une qualité variable d’une planche à l’autre. On y retrouve des caméo de l’éléphant Dumbo, des pirates de Astérix, des citations célèbres comme “Merde alors, mon conditionnement fout le camp!”, les premières apparitions de dame Kowalsky et de Fleur (le premier niveau du Garage Hermétique — avec la mention des “générateurs à effet Gruber”). C’est donc une oeuvre séminale de Moebius car on y voit déjà la genèse du Garage Hermétique et même des Aventures de John Difool (L’Incal). Une très bonne lecture, surtout pour les amateurs de Moebius.

Voir mon commentaire complet sur https://clodjee-blog.com/2019/04/19/l...

[Durval Menezes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Early stories from the legendary Metal Hurlant / Heavy Metal author, Jean Giraud aka Moebius. The main story is very well drawn, albeit the argument/plot is crazy and difficult to follow. The other stories, in my opinion, are not so good.

I found it interesting that, in the "story notes" between the main and other stories, the author mentions (as inspiration for one of the latter) book writer Philip José Farmer and specially his Riverworld series as one of his favorite author. I've been reading PJF forever, and never seen the connection (which I still don't see, but oh well...)

[Kevin MacDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moebius’ very early work is enjoyable and lays groundwork for the type of Euro sci-fi he’d become largely known for. His style speaks volumes even in smaller stories. Despite comparisons to American underpins comics of the 70s, these stories (especially the titular Horny Goof) are very much the work of a French comic artist and the beginning of a beautiful career. I enjoyed reading Moebius’ own thoughts on these stories and how he relates themes of sex and violence to both the writer and the reader.

[Tristan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am surprised to find this work of Moebius on kindle unlimited! Where else but in 1970s France would one find a space opera emerging from a running gag about priapism? This is as anarchic and taboo busting as it gets. It’s been decades since I last read this, but multiple readings bring a four star score even though this is not one of Moebius’s best. This story is notable as setting down the recurring elements that will be developed in Le Garage Hermetique.

[Elvis Cosovic]

A collection of slightly amusing tales packaged into random, juvenile and self-conscious story telling quirks. I've only read a couple of stories by Moebius, but it seems to me that the only good thing about his stuff is the art and some story telling mechanics ( I hope I am wrong!); we'll see how he fares when I finish some of his other collections.

[Oneirosophos · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ό,τι χειρότερο μπορεί να διαβάσει κανείς από το εκπληκτικό μολύβι του Moebius.

[Filip Mladenovic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uvrnuto i zabavno.

[Seven Pesos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boner. Penis. Big Johnson. Homo Erectus. Much better in color than in B&W. I really liked it.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild, awesome art; same goes for the stories. I will review in more detail when I reread it.

[Luke Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Penispenispenispenisdickdickdickdickballsballsballspussy

[Daniel Tol · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 rounded up to 4 stars.

Wildly imaginative and incredibly horny. I liked it!

[Yvette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moebius 所有故事开始的地方

[Alexander Lisovsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Horny Goof, незапланированный приквел к "Герметическому гаражу" - удивительная в своей откровенности, и даже пошлости, но вместе с тем очаровательная, с типично Мёбиусовской ловкостью и безумием рассказанная история.

В послесловии сам автор пишет, что многие рассматривают The Detour (1973) началом творчества Мёбиуса, но та новелла была подписана "Gir" и представляла собой скорее манифест свободному, ничем и никем не скованному творчеству. The Horny Goof (1974) же является как раз первым продуктом этого манифеста, предтечей "Арзака" и "гаража" (будучи замысловатой смесью фантастики, юмора и намеренно таинственных сюжетных ходов), а также первой историей Мёбиуса "для взрослых". Далее автор красиво рассуждает, что такое "для взрослых", не берусь пересказывать, смотрите сами (а конкретно про секс и насилие - на другой странице).

После унылой попытки переложить "гараж" в русло супергеройской периодики (другим автором) особенно остро чувствуется прелесть сюрреалистичного повествования Мёбиуса, где все силы бросаются на то, чтобы вызвать у читателя в первую очередь определённые эмоции и образы, а уж сюжетная канва лишь удерживает страницы вместе, чтобы не рассыпались.

Ну и великолепный арт!

(fullsize)

[Michael Scott · Rating 1 out of 5]

TODO:
+ art
- loose or no plot
- gratuitously obscene