At the Edge of the Great Void

Valérian and Laureline #19

by Pierre Christin

Somewhere at the edge of known space is the Great Void. That inscrutable, shapeless, ever-changing place is where the expanding universe springs forth, where new planets and new life forms are created. It's also, according to the gods of Hypsis, the place where Galaxity's Earth was sent and is being kept prisoner. Valerian and Laureline begin a discreet investigation, but it doesn't take long before they start finding obstacles in their path, placed by the rulers of Rubanis - and their mysterious master...

Genres: Comics, Science Fiction, Bande Dessinée, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Adventure, France

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Pierre Christin was a French comics creator and writer.

Reviews

[Aaro Salosensaari · Rating 4 out of 5]

See comments on the direct sequel, L'Ordre des Pierres / Kivien järjestys.

[Niklas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christinin ja Mezieresin suursarjan päättävä trilogia Suuren tyhjyyden reunalla - Kivien järjestys - Aika-avaaja kuroo umpeen Valerian sarjakuvan kymmenet erilaiset juonenkäänteet. Meininki on edelleen luettavaa, mutta kokonaisuus tuntuu silti vähän pakotetulta ja osittain väkinäiseltä vanhoihin hahmoihin paluulta. Olen nyt lukenut ehkäpä puolet suomennetuista Valerian-albumeista, ja suurimman vaikutuksen on tehnyt Pariisista Kassiopeiaan -sarja ja yksittäinen albumi Isännän linnut.

[Tapani Aulu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loppurytinä? alkaa Suuren tyhjyyden reunalla. Ainakin tämän kirjan perusteella vaikuttaa siltä, että maapallo ja Galaxity voisivat vielä löytyä - ehkä suuresta tyhjyydestä, josta ei tiedetä oikein mitään. Onko se antimateriaa vai jotain täysin muuta? Tyyli on jollakin tavalla vanhaa, mutta kirja selkeästi modernimpi kuin sarjan alkupään albumit.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The protagonists search for Earth and Galaxity into the great void. In the meantime they get in trouble with local law enforcement. Fun volume that is the start of multipart story about the mystery of the lost human race.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The void

This was a fun story that peaked my interest as I started reading. I am looking forward to reading more of these adventures. Just good sci-fi.

[Dbgirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, just didn't like it.

[Pascale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Une suite pour les prochains albums. Un petit clin d'oeil avec l'officier scientifique docteur Chal' Darouine et le lieutenant Molto Cortes habillé a la Corto Maltese :D

[Frans Kempe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Valerian and Laureline is on a quest to find the missing Earth and poses as merchants.

[Ari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tämähän olikin aika ok. Jatkoa lukemaan sitten seuraavaksi.

[Simon Chadwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Valerian and Laureline attempt to carve a living on the edge of the Great Void, we must prepare ourselves for a similar experience as this Mézières and Christin tale sets up the final story arc for the few volumes that remain of their run. To prepare us for that we have to first accompany Valerian and Laureline where they’ve set themselves up as traders while seeking information, and a possible destination, of missing Earth. We’re also introduced to a new character Ky-Gai, who slots in perfectly to the small ensemble cast.

Valerian and Laureline are keeping a low profile so not to draw attention to themselves, stowing their distinctive spaceship and taking on a trading vehicle where they can park up, barter and sell incognito, gathering pieces of information as they travel around the rim of the Great Void. Unfortunately, there are still those who wish them ill will, and it soon becomes clear Valerian and Laureline’s profile isn’t as low as they’d hoped.

Creatures, technology, alien cultures and cosmic destinations are a rich playground for Mézières and Christin’s imaginations, and the true test of such an opportunity is to tread new paths and explore new possibilities, something this series demonstrates time and time again, and not least here with creatures such as the Spiglic and the knife-tongued Klamip. But it’s the entire premise of this current storyline that really flexes the potential of the series and has us buckled in for the journey.

Quite how everything gets resolved, if indeed it does get resolved, is a tale soon to be told and it’s one I look forward to, expertly set up here by two masters of the medium.

[Gijs Grob · Rating 1 out of 5]

De Ravianstrip was na 'De Banvloek van Hypsis' feitelijk voorgoed de weg kwijt. Christin wist simpelweg niet wat hij met zijn helden aanmoest nadat hij hun bestaansbasis onder hun voeten had weggetrokken en Mézières werd na deze prachtig getekende verhalen steeds slordiger in zijn tekenwerk. 'Aan de rand van het grote niets' is duidelijk een poging om een en ander weer recht te breien, maar laat vooral de tekortkomingen van de strip zien: zonder de maatschappijkritische onderlaag die de Ravianstrips van de jaren zeventig en tachtig extra lading gaf, blijven er alleen kolderieke personages in een nogal warrig en onschadelijk avontuur over. En Mézières' tekenwerk is zo lelijk dat zelfs Laureline slecht uit de verf komt. Gek genoeg schildert Mézières één bladzijde. Dit levert een zoveel aansprekender resultaat op dat hij dit wel meer had mogen doen.