Moebius Library: Inside Moebius Part 3

Inside Mœbius #3

by Mœbius

Working closely with Moebius Production in France, Dark Horse presents the final part of Moebius's Inside Moebius series.

In this third and most surreal volume, Jean "Moebius" Giraud exists in an expansive, magical desert locale within his subconscious. He not only meets and talks with several of his own creations--like Stel, Blueberry, Major Grubert, and Arzak--but he encounters versions of himself from multiple decades and argues with them about art and creativity. This final volume also features the last interview segment about this strange series between the artist and Isabelle Giraud. Translation by World of Edena translator Diana Schutz.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Art, France

280 pages, Hardcover

First published March 15, 2007

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

[Bogi Takács]

Probably the best volume of the three. (Maybe more later)

Source of the book: Lawrence Public LIbrary

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some very interesting perspective pieces. The rest of the book was very surreal and directionless but that was probably the point of it all.

[David Schwan]

Moebius finishes his tour of his psyche in this last volume of the series. Wonderful graphics.

[aLejandRø · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este ultimo tomo se enfoca en el propio Giraud y sus yos pasados, especialmente en el contrapunto llevado adelante entre Gir y Moebius (joven/viejo). Introduce el concepto de figuración narrativa, todo esto de dibujar sin boceto previo, pero confiesa que ha desistido y ha dibujado con tableta gráfica.

El arte mantiene las características del tomo anterior, llegando a niveles notables, cuando el autor se lo propone. El Libro 3 de este tomo es básicamente una serie de ilustraciones donde se puede apreciar fácilmente la maestría y la imaginación ilimitada del francés. El color es también algo maravilloso a lo largo de los 3 tomos.

Durante esta serie han realizado homenajes a otros autores, Disney, Hergé por citar alguno, pero me entusiasma especialmente la de este último, del que creo que Moebius es deudor estilístico y narrativo (y no sé si alguna vez reconoció esto).

En síntesis, una reflexión introspectiva (egocéntrica) de Giraud y su trabajo, a través de sus personajes mas notables, que apunta especialmente a conocedores de la obra del francés.

[Oliver Hodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just complete virtuoso artwork. There is the mood of reflection across this whole series, and while Moeb zooms in and out on reflections of creativity, his life, personality and creations, what I get is a sense that he has an uncertainty with some words and feelings, but is able to tap into clear, blue expression in his drawing.

I love the way he explores himself through time with iterations of himself as a boy, an arrogant 20 something, a bodacious 40 something, and the 'main' self, this 70 year old something. He also explores with his own dimensions and abilities, and when he swims against the tide of the infinite other selves it is hilarious.

This volume seems to include gebtle self reproaches for not being funny enough, but there is plenty of gentle humour here, as well as some extremely funny moments.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh yeah, now this is what I was waiting for! The Inside Moebius series achieves its full force in this epic final volume, which rapidly picks up pace and delivers the reader home on whole new level, soaring above the first two volumes and whipping through and around them, up, down, sideways, it's just all kinds of awesome. Moebius's characters are relegated more to the background as the story hones in on the author and what he can understand about himself through dreams. And we're treated to tens of full page drawings in the concluding dream sequence, in which Moebius breaks away from the simple, playful, whimsical style that dominates this series and allows the reader to enjoy some the more memorable drawings in his oeuvre. The first two volumes were great for what they were, but this one really blew me away on a whole other level.

[Michael Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not much to say, unfortunately. The art is very good, amazing at times (it's Moebius, after all), but the story is not following any kind of structure and does not lead to a real conclusion (it's Moebius, after all). What really put me off is the attempt to go without a story, in a post-modrrnist attempt in which the character representing the author discusses how boring it is to go without a story, followed by all the other (otherwise endearing) characters. It's a bit too much nonsense, and for me not of the entertaining kind.

[Clint · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Continues the playful and somewhat meandering introspection of Moebius’s personal and professional lives, and his relationship with his creative output and his readers. It’s not especially vital or compelling reading, but it is pleasant and humorously self aware.

“...to steer clear of all contrivance, I propose we not show an image of the...thing! Agreed?” “Agreed! then...back to business!”

“The author has disappeared. He must be looking for an ending! I think we’re close to page 90! And we still don’t know what’s happening!”

[Niklas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inside Mobius 3 liikkuu hieman eri vesissä kuin kaksi edeltäjäänsä. Tällä kertaa mukana on entistä enemmän huumoria, tai pikemminkin kömpelöitä pyrkimyksiä kohti huumorin perimmäistä luonnetta, ikään kuin kohti sen arkkityyppiä. Jälkipuoliskolla meininki muuttuu avoimen ja alleviivatun surrealistiseksi, niin että Moebius tuntuu vain toistavan aikaisemmista sarjakuvistaan tuttuja maneereitaan. Silti kokonaisuus jää kiinnostavaksi katsaukseksi tekijänsä mieleen.

[Woody Hayday · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite in the series so far; here Moeb spins the abstract dial up a few clicks and we really start to explore the man and his psyche. Will reread many times.


Woody Hayday

[Edward Correa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Los personajes viajan sin guión mientras el autor sigue preguntándose todo lo relacionado con sí mismo, su obra y sus inseguridades. Aunque la primera parte es algo lenta y estática, la segunda parte de este tomo cierra de una forma magistral.

[Kyle Burley · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I wasn't sure what to make of this strange semi-autobiographical, head-trip but, by the end, I was completely on board.
It was nothing less than a privilege to spend some time inside the head of one of the great artists of our time.

[James S Gilchrist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Difficult to put to words but enigmatic and sublime are the two most easily applicable.

Will likely read again and will be rewarded each time. I’ve been a long time fan and always will be.

[John Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, introverted series, would probably give it a 4 overall.

[Kevin Corcoran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just let Moebius flow over you.
4/5

[Ian Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found these books to be such a treat. Simple but clever, surprisingly inventive, warm, fun work. Perfect quarantine reading.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, as interesting as the first 2 volumes, worth the time. Don’t skip the translator’s notes!

[Stephen Mahoney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like surreal dream stream of consciousness type comics where the author is selves wandering lost in his subconscious here desert b....

[Yvette · Rating 4 out of 5]

适合一边听着lucy in the sky with diamonds 一边看这最后一册的section 2.. So, Moebius 真的quitted weeds了还是给自己升级了? Hahaha

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some subtle nuances or context may get lost in translation, good for translator notes towards the end:

Ref: désherbé to desert B
(Weeded out, weed free) to wasteland (wasted)

“…désherbé is pronounced exactly the same (in French) as Désert B: it's an ingenious bit of wordplay on Mobius's part and informs this entire work. There's just no way to get across the same double meaning in English, so I've opted instead for wasteland, which is somewhat synonymous with desert happily, it
also connotes a plant- and therefore weed-free area, while hinting at the stoner terminology (wasted) intended by Moebius.”