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L'Incal
L'Incal, Tome 5: La Cinquième Essence, Première Partie: Galaxie qui songe
Rare Book
46 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1988
22 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
About the author
Alejandro Jodorowsky
616 books1,947 followersAlso credited as Alexandro Jodorowsky
Better known for his surreal films El Topo and The Holy Mountain filmed in the early 1970s, Alejandro Jodorowsky is also an accomplished writer of graphic novels and a psychotherapist. He developed Psychomagic, a combination of psychotherapy and shamanic magic. His fans have included John Lennon and Marilyn Manson.
Better known for his surreal films El Topo and The Holy Mountain filmed in the early 1970s, Alejandro Jodorowsky is also an accomplished writer of graphic novels and a psychotherapist. He developed Psychomagic, a combination of psychotherapy and shamanic magic. His fans have included John Lennon and Marilyn Manson.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 19, 2019
To dream is to live.
John Difool has had it. After that whole impregnating thing in the last volume he wants a vacation and go somewhere nice with Animah. But first he has to infiltrate theDeath Star War Star...
Red Alert! Subspace! Space Battle! I like the battle action in this a lot. Star Wars and Dune, right? Very much so. And some Eastern mysticism.
This one has really nice artwork! More homogenous than the previous ones. The layouts taking most or all of the page are really great. Still knocking off one star for unsatisfying plotting and story telling.
John Difool has had it. After that whole impregnating thing in the last volume he wants a vacation and go somewhere nice with Animah. But first he has to infiltrate the
Red Alert! Subspace! Space Battle! I like the battle action in this a lot. Star Wars and Dune, right? Very much so. And some Eastern mysticism.
This one has really nice artwork! More homogenous than the previous ones. The layouts taking most or all of the page are really great. Still knocking off one star for unsatisfying plotting and story telling.
July 22, 2025
This volume is an interesting one to me. While the chapter lengths are extended to account for more action sequences, there's still a lot happening, and at a breakneck speed it feels like. Relationships become strained as the heroes begin to realize that victory has no end state -- it must be maintained. And the Incal's path of victory has, inevitably it seems, landed them all in positions of government influence. It's honestly shocking how common that is in science fiction, and it makes me wonder what that reflects about real life. I'm too tired to think about that right now though.
A pattern begins to emerge. The forces of darkness bring some new devastation to the human empire, and John Difool is begrudgingly forced to spearhead the counterattack. Again and again this happens, and every time it's the last time for sure, and all Difool wants at this point is a beer, one more of multiple women, and that damn paradise planet he keeps begging random powerful people to give him. Difool in this volume is more relatable to me than ever; not because he's become more likable or anything (he's still a bastard), but because the world is endlessly asking so much from him, and he's just tired.
Early in the first chapter Difool snaps at Animah, asking her why he's even still needed when the Incal's power is at her full disposal. It's a very valid question, and it doesn't get answered, at least not now. Why must Difool specifically be thrust to the forefront of these deadly missions? After everything that's occurred, the only answer that makes sense to me is that the Incal sees him as expendable. This is corroborated when Difool is under attack later in the chapter. Solune, channeling the Incal's will, tells Animah that they must not intervene until the very last second, "even if it means the death of John Difool!" This leads to what is I think one of the more powerful moments in the series, where Animah berates her son as "Inhuman!" (the name of the chapter) for prioritizing the Incal's strategy over his father's life. This is the first time I've felt some real conflict between Animah and Solune, and about Solune's position as the Incal's avatar. More importantly, it's also the first real critique of the Incal's plan; waiting to the last second as instructed nearly cost the entire crew their lives.
The running theme throughout the series has been our heroes dismissing their concerns and just blindly trusting the Incal, as everything falls neatly into place around them. To me, this one scene re-frames a divinely ordained will as, in fact, just an intelligent being performing utilitarian calculus. This is a very interesting development that I do not expect will be elaborated on at all.
One story thread that's been running in the background is that of Greyfield, one of the Emperoress's advisors. Greyfield's motivations are very simple, but in parallel with the main events of the series, have lead to some unique developments. The payoff to his arc in this volume was a shock, and it's made him one of my favorite characters next to the Metabaron.
As Solune's arc continues, I continue to see traces of Jodo's failed Dune project. After miraculously killing the Emperoress, who was possessed by dark forces, Solune was unquestionably accepted as the new "Perfect Androgyne" and made the new leader of the human empire. The only requirement for the role seems to be that you have powers and show androgynous traits. This instantly rang a bell in my head, as Dune's own Kwisatz Haderach was designed to be someone who could see as both a man and a woman, and carve a new path as ruler of the known universe. Solune uses his newfound authority to enact the Incal's next plan. The question is, will everything go as intended...?
-=-
A side note that I didn't get the chance to mention previously, I love how (almost) everyone refers to the Emperoress with he/she pronouns. I thought maybe it was just a formality they did for the Perfect Androgyne rulers, but nobody did that for Solune, who's still using his preferred he/him. I guess the Emperoress just rolls like that lol. The one character who misgenders him/her is Horlog, which I at first thought might have been a translation thing, but I guess it's just Horlog being an asshole.
There are only so many words you can say about Moebius's art before you just run out of words. I will say he knocked it out of the park once again, especially with how action-focused this volume is. There's a palpable motion in his inks.
We've got another changing of the guard in the colorist department, as Zoran Janjetov has replaced Isabelle Beaumenay-Joannet for the remainder of this series. I really like his coloring as a whole, however there is one small issue: Raīmo lost his melanin! Under Beaumenay-Joannet his skin was closer to bronze, but Janjetov colors him just as white as the main cast, so he looks sickly pale in comparison to his previous appearances. That one thing aside I think he did a fantastic job.
The next review, being the end of the series, might also turn into my retrospective on the series as a whole, depending on how many thoughts I have.
A pattern begins to emerge. The forces of darkness bring some new devastation to the human empire, and John Difool is begrudgingly forced to spearhead the counterattack. Again and again this happens, and every time it's the last time for sure, and all Difool wants at this point is a beer, one more of multiple women, and that damn paradise planet he keeps begging random powerful people to give him. Difool in this volume is more relatable to me than ever; not because he's become more likable or anything (he's still a bastard), but because the world is endlessly asking so much from him, and he's just tired.
Early in the first chapter Difool snaps at Animah, asking her why he's even still needed when the Incal's power is at her full disposal. It's a very valid question, and it doesn't get answered, at least not now. Why must Difool specifically be thrust to the forefront of these deadly missions? After everything that's occurred, the only answer that makes sense to me is that the Incal sees him as expendable. This is corroborated when Difool is under attack later in the chapter. Solune, channeling the Incal's will, tells Animah that they must not intervene until the very last second, "even if it means the death of John Difool!" This leads to what is I think one of the more powerful moments in the series, where Animah berates her son as "Inhuman!" (the name of the chapter) for prioritizing the Incal's strategy over his father's life. This is the first time I've felt some real conflict between Animah and Solune, and about Solune's position as the Incal's avatar. More importantly, it's also the first real critique of the Incal's plan; waiting to the last second as instructed nearly cost the entire crew their lives.
The running theme throughout the series has been our heroes dismissing their concerns and just blindly trusting the Incal, as everything falls neatly into place around them. To me, this one scene re-frames a divinely ordained will as, in fact, just an intelligent being performing utilitarian calculus. This is a very interesting development that I do not expect will be elaborated on at all.
One story thread that's been running in the background is that of Greyfield, one of the Emperoress's advisors. Greyfield's motivations are very simple, but in parallel with the main events of the series, have lead to some unique developments. The payoff to his arc in this volume was a shock, and it's made him one of my favorite characters next to the Metabaron.
As Solune's arc continues, I continue to see traces of Jodo's failed Dune project. After miraculously killing the Emperoress, who was possessed by dark forces, Solune was unquestionably accepted as the new "Perfect Androgyne" and made the new leader of the human empire. The only requirement for the role seems to be that you have powers and show androgynous traits. This instantly rang a bell in my head, as Dune's own Kwisatz Haderach was designed to be someone who could see as both a man and a woman, and carve a new path as ruler of the known universe. Solune uses his newfound authority to enact the Incal's next plan. The question is, will everything go as intended...?
-=-
A side note that I didn't get the chance to mention previously, I love how (almost) everyone refers to the Emperoress with he/she pronouns. I thought maybe it was just a formality they did for the Perfect Androgyne rulers, but nobody did that for Solune, who's still using his preferred he/him. I guess the Emperoress just rolls like that lol. The one character who misgenders him/her is Horlog, which I at first thought might have been a translation thing, but I guess it's just Horlog being an asshole.
There are only so many words you can say about Moebius's art before you just run out of words. I will say he knocked it out of the park once again, especially with how action-focused this volume is. There's a palpable motion in his inks.
We've got another changing of the guard in the colorist department, as Zoran Janjetov has replaced Isabelle Beaumenay-Joannet for the remainder of this series. I really like his coloring as a whole, however there is one small issue: Raīmo lost his melanin! Under Beaumenay-Joannet his skin was closer to bronze, but Janjetov colors him just as white as the main cast, so he looks sickly pale in comparison to his previous appearances. That one thing aside I think he did a fantastic job.
The next review, being the end of the series, might also turn into my retrospective on the series as a whole, depending on how many thoughts I have.
September 25, 2020
Well, this one certainly goes full-on Star Wars: it even has a fully operational WarStar, no joke. But, that's a pretty inevitable result of the story thus far, which has taken us up to the level of intergalactic warfare and politics. The first three quarters of this is a nice conclusion of the story to date, but the last quarter feels like the author suddenly realized that he had more pages to fill. It's a little wonky, but settles in by the end of the book into what hopes to be a solid, character-driven final volume.
March 14, 2024
We're not difooling
Good color artwork from the people at heavy metal. There's no difool like an old difool. Chapter five in the never ending battle between good and evil. Deepo the stone pterodactyl lacks relevance and was added to many stories as a gimmick?
Good color artwork from the people at heavy metal. There's no difool like an old difool. Chapter five in the never ending battle between good and evil. Deepo the stone pterodactyl lacks relevance and was added to many stories as a gimmick?
October 26, 2019
Si va verso la conclusione di una storia abbastanza sconclusionata da tenere incollato il lettore fino alla fine!
October 7, 2020
I have found the fifth episode of the series as a Kindle edition from the US branch of Les Humanoides Associes. It’s in English, but the dialogue would have been just as corny in French. Jodorowsky’s mystical claptrap goes into overdrive here, and Moebius replies with spectacular graphic whirling chaos that contains as much cynicism as possible. The protagonist, John Difool, goes back to being the venal loser he was at the start of the series, and just about every whacky plot line actually ties together. Bonkers as this episode is, and self-parodying with no holds barred, there’s some serious storytelling skill underpinning it all. It’s the first part of a two-parter supposedly, but that’s hardly relevant.
September 8, 2018
Such an imaginative universe, from this mind.
June 27, 2018
Genius
Probably one of the most visionary graphic novel series ever created, an absolute must read.Jodorowsky and Moebius are known visionaries and this work has influenced countless other works including films, books and music
Probably one of the most visionary graphic novel series ever created, an absolute must read.Jodorowsky and Moebius are known visionaries and this work has influenced countless other works including films, books and music
October 1, 2022
Neste 5° livro John Difool vai dizendo sempre que não a Animah mas ela suavemente vai convencendo-o a fazer o que é preciso para salvar a galáxia . É uma faceta deliciosa a relação dos 2.
Para salvarem o universo das trevas percebem pelo Incal que têm de descobrir a estrela de guerra, o local onde o império fabrica as suas armas e a guarda púrpura e destruir o tecnocentrador que é totalmente controlado pela treva. Nessa batalha eles têm de esperar que o Raimo chegue com a frota impedirial depois de ter explicado no planeta de ouro aos políticos o que se passa (os cretinos nem o ouviram ) e o incal dentro do corpo de JDF só se pode revelar quando tiver chegado a frota de Raimo. Mas entretanto JDF está a ser controlado pela treva e Changri está a pedir que salvem a sua filha cristal , mas aí acaba tudo tragicamente quer para Cristal , para Changri e para o Iman e Stirlog.
Dentro de JDF o Incal sai no último segundo por um cabelo
, o único local não contaminado do seu corpo e começa um combate épico .
Solune vai combater o tecnocentrador enquanto os outros chegam ao computador central para a vitória . Mas na batalha de Solune com o tecnocentrador e a treva ele abre as portas à treva deixando o universo às portas da morte .
No meio do caos político em que todos querem o poder aparece a imperoratriz contaminada pela treva e apenas Solune no estado andrógino metamorfoseado e desdobrado em luz e sombra / feminino e masculino no equilíbrio perfeito consegue destruir a imperoratriz negra. Mas as portas ficam abertas na matéria e têm 22 dias para salvar o universo antes que a treva os engula a todos . Solune é aceite como salvador do universo e torna-se a autoridade galáctica “Patmah”. Aí informa que a única salvação é todos os humanos entrarem em estase sómnica, o sono teta. Parece impossível mas no momento de JDF querer ir para um planeta paraíso e não ajudar mais no processo atira com a cabeça robot do pres que diz que consegue fazer a ligação telecom com toda a galáxia . Mas quando parece estar tudo a correr bem com o Diavaloo como o apresentador galáctico (que cobria as guerras civis) e os guardas Arhats, ainda falta conseguir colocar em 2 dias em sono teta toda a civilização Berg. E claro que só a Animah para convencer o JDF a ir converter em 48 horas 78 bilhões de cretinos.
Emoção , humor, amor, ação , mística . Tem tudo e encanta
Para salvarem o universo das trevas percebem pelo Incal que têm de descobrir a estrela de guerra, o local onde o império fabrica as suas armas e a guarda púrpura e destruir o tecnocentrador que é totalmente controlado pela treva. Nessa batalha eles têm de esperar que o Raimo chegue com a frota impedirial depois de ter explicado no planeta de ouro aos políticos o que se passa (os cretinos nem o ouviram ) e o incal dentro do corpo de JDF só se pode revelar quando tiver chegado a frota de Raimo. Mas entretanto JDF está a ser controlado pela treva e Changri está a pedir que salvem a sua filha cristal , mas aí acaba tudo tragicamente quer para Cristal , para Changri e para o Iman e Stirlog.
Dentro de JDF o Incal sai no último segundo por um cabelo
, o único local não contaminado do seu corpo e começa um combate épico .
Solune vai combater o tecnocentrador enquanto os outros chegam ao computador central para a vitória . Mas na batalha de Solune com o tecnocentrador e a treva ele abre as portas à treva deixando o universo às portas da morte .
No meio do caos político em que todos querem o poder aparece a imperoratriz contaminada pela treva e apenas Solune no estado andrógino metamorfoseado e desdobrado em luz e sombra / feminino e masculino no equilíbrio perfeito consegue destruir a imperoratriz negra. Mas as portas ficam abertas na matéria e têm 22 dias para salvar o universo antes que a treva os engula a todos . Solune é aceite como salvador do universo e torna-se a autoridade galáctica “Patmah”. Aí informa que a única salvação é todos os humanos entrarem em estase sómnica, o sono teta. Parece impossível mas no momento de JDF querer ir para um planeta paraíso e não ajudar mais no processo atira com a cabeça robot do pres que diz que consegue fazer a ligação telecom com toda a galáxia . Mas quando parece estar tudo a correr bem com o Diavaloo como o apresentador galáctico (que cobria as guerras civis) e os guardas Arhats, ainda falta conseguir colocar em 2 dias em sono teta toda a civilização Berg. E claro que só a Animah para convencer o JDF a ir converter em 48 horas 78 bilhões de cretinos.
Emoção , humor, amor, ação , mística . Tem tudo e encanta
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2024
The closer I am to the end of the tale, the more it loses its appeal.
Having said that, the plot seemed tighter than in many of the parts before this second last volume. We get a few more funny dialogues, big battles, and the ultimate fight between good and evil enabled by a collective dream.
Like before, I enjoyed some of the visuals and the colours. But, in terms of the panels and the mechanics of storytelling, there are no fireworks.
Perhaps the key to fully enjoying the Incal is not to take it seriously. Or it is just on me that I did not get pretty much any of the supposed symbolism and depth.
Having said that, the plot seemed tighter than in many of the parts before this second last volume. We get a few more funny dialogues, big battles, and the ultimate fight between good and evil enabled by a collective dream.
Like before, I enjoyed some of the visuals and the colours. But, in terms of the panels and the mechanics of storytelling, there are no fireworks.
Perhaps the key to fully enjoying the Incal is not to take it seriously. Or it is just on me that I did not get pretty much any of the supposed symbolism and depth.
August 23, 2020
Este capítulo cuenta con muchos eventos repentinos. Parece que toda la trama gira alrededor de los personajes en vez de que los personajes se adapten a ella. Se ve que va a una moraleja, pero todo se mueve tan rapido que ver la reacción de cada personaje, con quienes no tuve un tiempo de soledad para entablar una coneccion.
April 9, 2020
On continue de suivre avec une certaine jouissance les aventures du héro malgré lui...un dessin très beau, une scène de science-fiction de référence, et une trame unique...
July 30, 2020
So good!
This is really, really good! If you haven't read it yet, what are you waiting for? ;) Join to Incal adventures!
This is really, really good! If you haven't read it yet, what are you waiting for? ;) Join to Incal adventures!
November 26, 2020
all encompassing sci fi
August 15, 2021
If you're in the mood for nonsensical overstimulation
Read
June 20, 2022"rêver c'est survivre"
December 9, 2022
Voir tome 6
February 8, 2023
These four stars are for Moebius' illustrations as I would only give one star for Jodorwsky's story.
May 10, 2023
Love the art style and the storyline is fun and crazy.
June 14, 2022
Au diable les problèmes! Allons par là! Là ou il y a de la lumière. Qu'est-ce que ç'est ce truc qui crame, mon bon Deepo?
April 6, 2012
Me encanta la evolución del trazo de Moebius en el 5o tomo...
October 15, 2017
Rezension: siehe Band 6
October 21, 2014
Booktube-a-thon
Start (and finish) a series challenge
Start (and finish) a series challenge
August 19, 2014
Hasta ahora, mi episodio favorito. Por un lado por la entretenida perorata oniricopsíquica de Jodorowsky y por otro por las delicias visuales de Mœbius.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews