What do you think?
Rate this book
L'Incal
The Incal, Vol. 1: The Black Incal
The Sci-Fi masterpiece by Moebius and Jodorowsky about the tribulations of the shabby detective John Difool as he searches for the precious and coveted Incal. John Difool, a low-class detective in a degenerate dystopian world, finds his life turned upside down when he discovers an ancient, mystical artifact called The Incal. Difool's adventures will bring him into conflict with the galaxy's greatest warrior, the Metabaron, and will pit him against the awesome powers of the Technopope. These encounters and many more make up a tale of comic and cosmic proportions that has Difool fighting for not only his very survival, but also the survival of the entire universe
48 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1981
About the author
Alejandro Jodorowsky
661 books1,849 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
May 26, 2017
I put off reading this one after seeing a clip a while back from Alejandro Jodorowsky’s movie The Holy Mountain where a screaming naked old geezer wearing cheetah breasts squirts milk into the face of a kneeling man (for your trauma/amusement, here’s that scene), thinking that his comics were gonna be equally inaccessible, utterly incomprehensible and way too fartschool-y. And I was wrong - or at least half wrong - when it came to the first Incal book!
Set in a futuristic universe full of the usual talking aliens and flying cars, a lowly private investigator called John Difool stumbles across a mysterious glowing object - The Incal - not realising its immense power. But others do know and John must stay one step ahead from the various forces arrayed against him!
Given Jodorowsky’s arthouse background, the story is surprisingly fast-paced, coherent and full of action: from the opening scene, John is thrown off a Judge Dredd-esque Mega-City One high rise and has to outrun cops and thugs with blasters, and aliens and whatnot are getting murked left and right! Coupled with Moebius’ striking art, the book looks and reads a lot like the excellent late ‘90s movie The Fifth Element - not surprising though given that Moebius was a storyboard artist on that film, along with other sci-fi classics like Alien and Tron.
Everything people say about Moebius’ art is right. He’s got an incredible sense of perspective, a keen eye for action and great vision for strange new worlds. If the sci-fi visuals seem overly familiar it’s because he was one of the original architects for these kind of modern space stories. Also, unlike a lot of ‘80s comics, The Incal has aged really well and doesn’t look its 35+ years - it still looks very contemporary.
(Total aside: I wonder if Grant Morrison is a Jodorowsky fan? Probably - they both write trippy, out-there comics - maybe Jodorowsky was an influence? It’s funny seeing the character of The Metabaron here because he looks exactly like Morrison does today! Maybe Morrison is a Jodorowsky creation come to life…? Alright, I’ll stop there - I’m just kidding but still I’d bet Morrison was heavily influenced by Jodorowsky.)
Besides The Metabaron, the various adversaries chasing John are kinda rushed being setup and I felt a bit overwhelmed at so many characters being thrown at me in one go. Also, the constant chasing - John being captured, escaping, reacting to one bizarre situation from the next, repeat - gets a bit tired after a while.
Things get fairly convoluted once The Incal starts showing John its powers - dividing him up into quarters, each somehow sentient. It’s not really clear either why everyone wants The Incal given that all it seems to do is fuck with you, but then this is just the introductory book so I don’t expect everything to be explained right off the bat. For now it’s like the Infinity Stones in the Marvel movies: a powerful cosmic MacGuffin driving the plot.
I didn’t love The Incal, Volume 1: The Black Incal but I didn’t dislike it like I thought I would. I might continue with the series, though I’m in no rush to. That said, if you’re after an intelligent and pretty decent, if abstract, space opera, The Incal might be for you.
Set in a futuristic universe full of the usual talking aliens and flying cars, a lowly private investigator called John Difool stumbles across a mysterious glowing object - The Incal - not realising its immense power. But others do know and John must stay one step ahead from the various forces arrayed against him!
Given Jodorowsky’s arthouse background, the story is surprisingly fast-paced, coherent and full of action: from the opening scene, John is thrown off a Judge Dredd-esque Mega-City One high rise and has to outrun cops and thugs with blasters, and aliens and whatnot are getting murked left and right! Coupled with Moebius’ striking art, the book looks and reads a lot like the excellent late ‘90s movie The Fifth Element - not surprising though given that Moebius was a storyboard artist on that film, along with other sci-fi classics like Alien and Tron.
Everything people say about Moebius’ art is right. He’s got an incredible sense of perspective, a keen eye for action and great vision for strange new worlds. If the sci-fi visuals seem overly familiar it’s because he was one of the original architects for these kind of modern space stories. Also, unlike a lot of ‘80s comics, The Incal has aged really well and doesn’t look its 35+ years - it still looks very contemporary.
(Total aside: I wonder if Grant Morrison is a Jodorowsky fan? Probably - they both write trippy, out-there comics - maybe Jodorowsky was an influence? It’s funny seeing the character of The Metabaron here because he looks exactly like Morrison does today! Maybe Morrison is a Jodorowsky creation come to life…? Alright, I’ll stop there - I’m just kidding but still I’d bet Morrison was heavily influenced by Jodorowsky.)
Besides The Metabaron, the various adversaries chasing John are kinda rushed being setup and I felt a bit overwhelmed at so many characters being thrown at me in one go. Also, the constant chasing - John being captured, escaping, reacting to one bizarre situation from the next, repeat - gets a bit tired after a while.
Things get fairly convoluted once The Incal starts showing John its powers - dividing him up into quarters, each somehow sentient. It’s not really clear either why everyone wants The Incal given that all it seems to do is fuck with you, but then this is just the introductory book so I don’t expect everything to be explained right off the bat. For now it’s like the Infinity Stones in the Marvel movies: a powerful cosmic MacGuffin driving the plot.
I didn’t love The Incal, Volume 1: The Black Incal but I didn’t dislike it like I thought I would. I might continue with the series, though I’m in no rush to. That said, if you’re after an intelligent and pretty decent, if abstract, space opera, The Incal might be for you.
September 11, 2017
There are few series as iconic in the sci-fi geek comic genre as Incal. This series is just as beautifully drawn with absurd and funny storylines as any you can find.
March 15, 2019
Although I grew up hearing about Moebius, I never actually read any of his works. Well, I did read a couple of Giraud’s XIII and Blueberry... I was therefore very pleased to finally put my hands on this edition.
This first volume starts a wild ride, where many powerful characters are doing their utmost to catch the lowly private investigator Difool (yep) and more importantly The Incal.
This universe reminded me a little of Valerian and Mezieres’s art, which I’m much more familiar with. It’s different but related somehow. After all, Moebius/Giraud and Mezieres are the same age, influenced each other, and both collaborated on creating the look of the Fifth Element. However the feel and the tone veer here toward the absurd. Well, that’s my take on it. Naturally I want to see where it all goes.
Next book next month :0)
This first volume starts a wild ride, where many powerful characters are doing their utmost to catch the lowly private investigator Difool (yep) and more importantly The Incal.
This universe reminded me a little of Valerian and Mezieres’s art, which I’m much more familiar with. It’s different but related somehow. After all, Moebius/Giraud and Mezieres are the same age, influenced each other, and both collaborated on creating the look of the Fifth Element. However the feel and the tone veer here toward the absurd. Well, that’s my take on it. Naturally I want to see where it all goes.
Next book next month :0)
March 17, 2019
„Who is the real John Difool?“
My second re-read and my first buddy read for all six volumes of the main story of this classic comic series.
The colouring is wild and unusual, despite this comic being over 30 years old. Excellently done, how the colour sweeps across the page and the whole layout is arranged across the page. Very smart.
Looking forward to the next volumes.
+*+*+*+
Review of first re-read at the end of 2017, around 30 years after reading it for the first time...
First published in 1981. I probably read it shortly thereafter, as a teenager, branching out from Tintin, wanting something more artistic and with a deeper storyline. I could still kick myself that I didn't keep those early editions.
I like everything about it, the story, the humour, the line art, the colouring. A lot of running, shooting, blowing stuff up, sci fi geek madness, The Fifth Element absurdness and it is as good as I remember.
My second re-read and my first buddy read for all six volumes of the main story of this classic comic series.
The colouring is wild and unusual, despite this comic being over 30 years old. Excellently done, how the colour sweeps across the page and the whole layout is arranged across the page. Very smart.
Looking forward to the next volumes.
+*+*+*+
Review of first re-read at the end of 2017, around 30 years after reading it for the first time...
First published in 1981. I probably read it shortly thereafter, as a teenager, branching out from Tintin, wanting something more artistic and with a deeper storyline. I could still kick myself that I didn't keep those early editions.
I like everything about it, the story, the humour, the line art, the colouring. A lot of running, shooting, blowing stuff up, sci fi geek madness, The Fifth Element absurdness and it is as good as I remember.
May 21, 2018
Action movie dialog meets intricate futurism sci-fi and world building, with artwork of incredible detail. Intriguing.
June 28, 2020
The art by Mœbius is amazing as expected, but the story is a bit boring. A guy gets a MacGuffin and everyone chases him to get it. To spice things up, it throws in some gratuitous sex and violence instead of character development, so by the end of the story you get the sense that it is happening in a crazy world, but you don't really learn anything about the main character or have any reason to empathize with him.
Read
December 7, 2023Too dank for my tastes.
May 15, 2022
I'd heard good things about this, and I was in the mood for a graphic novel. What I encountered was different than what I expected. First of all, this graphic novel is not for kids. There are themes and scenes that are quite adult. Second, we are thrown into a sci fi dystopia that engages in not only political tyranny but graphic biological and genetic experiments on its population.
The story focuses on lowly John DiFool who comes into possession of an item called the Incal, which everyone seems to want, causing him to be on the run. The incal at first seems to be magical, but winds up being a super high tech form of live intelligence.
I enjoyed this first edition to continue with the series.
The story focuses on lowly John DiFool who comes into possession of an item called the Incal, which everyone seems to want, causing him to be on the run. The incal at first seems to be magical, but winds up being a super high tech form of live intelligence.
I enjoyed this first edition to continue with the series.
Read
December 1, 2021Jodorowsky é muito louco. Ver sua loucura aplicada à ficção científica em HQ é interessante. Impossível esperar uma forma tradicional de narrativa -- se o Jodo já fez isso em algum filme, nunca vi. Aqui, tudo é ação e simbolismo. Ou você aprende a aceitar o modo como ele te joga cena atrás de cena sem se apegar a coerência ou coesão ou vai preferir ler qualquer outra coisa.
December 15, 2016
The work of Moebius is always amazing. It was the plot I couldn't get into but I'm interested in reading more.
September 22, 2020
I was able to get a copy of this on Prime Reading. I have always wanted to read more Mobius, his art is amazing. I have a few copies of graphic novels of his, but I never read the Incal series. It is an interesting look at life in the future. I really can't describe it too well plot wise. But the art is top notch. If you know Mobius' style, you know what I mean. Now I have to find the next book in the series.
November 27, 2021
Kindle Unlimited
I enjoyed the story however it is always difficult reading these on a black & white Kindle (Paperwhite 7th Gen) screen. Black writing on a grey background in parts was hard to decipher. Maybe this would have been more enjoyable as an actual graphic novel or on a more modern Kindle.
I enjoyed the story however it is always difficult reading these on a black & white Kindle (Paperwhite 7th Gen) screen. Black writing on a grey background in parts was hard to decipher. Maybe this would have been more enjoyable as an actual graphic novel or on a more modern Kindle.
December 7, 2021
Non so cosa si siano calati jodo e Moebius, ma ne voglio un po'
February 21, 2022
Headline required
Interesting world-building that I appreciate is more of a playground than a chore to explore. Story was fine but is really only there to facilitate the art, which is the truly engaging piece of the book.
Moebius is the goat
Interesting world-building that I appreciate is more of a playground than a chore to explore. Story was fine but is really only there to facilitate the art, which is the truly engaging piece of the book.
Moebius is the goat
February 13, 2022
Weird, new age-style sci-fi with psychedelic elements.
The art is superb, flavored in the classic surreal sci-fi look from the 70s. Moebius has a unique sense of wicked character and creature designs, and the way he controls perspective in the panels is majestic and dynamic.
The story however is messy and lacks storytelling basics. Character motivations are unclear and goals do not exist. The main character is a foolish amateur detective who stumbles upon a magical MacGuffin called "The Incal" which he infuses with. After the life changing event, various groups want to hunt the Incal-infused detective for whatever reasons.
The comic album is also dissected into short stories that are loosely connected, which fractures the storyline. Jodorowsky is a weird and wicked storyteller, and I love, LOVE, his Meta-Baron series, so maybe I'll have to read "The Incal" #2 and #3 to warm up to it.
We'll see.
The art is superb, flavored in the classic surreal sci-fi look from the 70s. Moebius has a unique sense of wicked character and creature designs, and the way he controls perspective in the panels is majestic and dynamic.
The story however is messy and lacks storytelling basics. Character motivations are unclear and goals do not exist. The main character is a foolish amateur detective who stumbles upon a magical MacGuffin called "The Incal" which he infuses with. After the life changing event, various groups want to hunt the Incal-infused detective for whatever reasons.
The comic album is also dissected into short stories that are loosely connected, which fractures the storyline. Jodorowsky is a weird and wicked storyteller, and I love, LOVE, his Meta-Baron series, so maybe I'll have to read "The Incal" #2 and #3 to warm up to it.
We'll see.
January 25, 2014
One of the great classic of french bandes dessinees, drawn by the master Moebius ( Jean Giraud).
I highly recommend this.
This book started a universe of over 30 books but the core is really the 6 books that make the Incal story.
I highly recommend this.
This book started a universe of over 30 books but the core is really the 6 books that make the Incal story.
November 21, 2016
Feels a bit like The Fifth Element and Heavy Metal. Quite campy and weird. But it's Jodorowski, so that's be be expected. Pretty cool to read this right after reading Akira: Otomo and Moebius have a lot in common.
June 18, 2023
Quel chef-d'œuvre!
Read
August 16, 2020I read a couple of volumes of the Metabarons spin-off back when I was on the Warren Ellis Forum – it was one of the books widely extolled there as an alternative to what, with crushing irony revealed by hindsight, the regulars used to call 'pervert suit comics'. I found it every bit as ludicrous as superheroes, just in a European way, which people raised on the American version can easily take for sophistication. Never read the Incal itself, though, and I now own much (maybe all?) of it through the magic of Humble Bundles, so I thought I might as well give it a try. Alas, if Metabarons - the saga of the galaxy's greatest warriors - had a tendency toward the po-faced, then Incal - the story of a lowly PI who finds the galaxy's greatest Macguffin - is even more so, as will tend to happen when you get a self-important writer trying to do a knockabout romp. But dear heavens it's pretty. Its dystopian future world may thus far be a retread of Mega-City One which is somehow both slightly less interesting and much less coherent, but Moebius' depiction of it is very nearly up there with the best Dredd artists.
August 14, 2018
A fun, surreal SF head-trip that doesn't make a lick of sense.
Moebius is a legend in comics, but I've always thought he was better at design than character work, and nothing here made me rethink that. This is not his best work by any stretch.
Jodo is also a legend, and ridiculously prolific, but coherence has never been his first priority. It sure as hell isn't here. He's known, in his films, for putting image and symbol before story, and this work follows that pattern. Sadly, as I've said, the visuals here don't merit that emphasis. Still, there is some inspired silliness and the action is well executed.
In the end, this collaboration between two masters just doesn't live up to it's promise. Neither artist is at his best, and the whole thing is a mess. But it's a glorious mess, and can be quite fun. Still, not enough that I care to continue the series.
Moebius is a legend in comics, but I've always thought he was better at design than character work, and nothing here made me rethink that. This is not his best work by any stretch.
Jodo is also a legend, and ridiculously prolific, but coherence has never been his first priority. It sure as hell isn't here. He's known, in his films, for putting image and symbol before story, and this work follows that pattern. Sadly, as I've said, the visuals here don't merit that emphasis. Still, there is some inspired silliness and the action is well executed.
In the end, this collaboration between two masters just doesn't live up to it's promise. Neither artist is at his best, and the whole thing is a mess. But it's a glorious mess, and can be quite fun. Still, not enough that I care to continue the series.
January 6, 2022
A distinctly Euro-style comic featuring a ragtag detective Difool’s adventures (or maybe more like stumbles) in a post-apocalyptic world following a discovery of an ancient artifact with mysterious powers. A sort of surreal read comparing to all the American comics I’ve been going through – the people don’t quite look right, the creatures look funky, the world seems strange, but then again, it’s meant to, the color combinations are different as is the storytelling itself – there’s a distinctly foreign thing going on here. Which is nice for diversity of reading, though not sure overall this book was quite right for me. It was amusing and just different enough to be worth a read. Not sure if I’d read more, but not necessarily opposed to it either. So, something like a middle of the road read, I suppose. And a very quick one.
September 16, 2019
The story was interesting enough, you do kind of dive into the deep end with no idea about the mechanics of the world but it's an easy learning curve
I wasn't a massive fan of the art in here, just not my thing. It didn't lower my enjoyment, but it didn't add to it either
This is about this guy who gets his hands on 'the Incal' , not knowing what it is it what it does, but apparently it's so important that everyone wants it! I'm sure it makes more sense as the story progresses
I wasn't a massive fan of the art in here, just not my thing. It didn't lower my enjoyment, but it didn't add to it either
This is about this guy who gets his hands on 'the Incal' , not knowing what it is it what it does, but apparently it's so important that everyone wants it! I'm sure it makes more sense as the story progresses
September 23, 2020
I read this because it was free with Amazon Prime Reading and I'd heard about Moebius in the comics world for a long time. I won't be reading the rest. It's just so very... dude, and gross in that way. The actions all center on dudes, women are sex objects, it's old and creepy. The art is fine, but the characters, world-building, and plot aren't. It's what comics shouldn't be, and luckily there are newer and better choices now.
July 11, 2019
He empezado a leer El Incal esperando encontrarme todo un nuevo universo que explorar... ¡Y aquí está!
Una lectura que me emociona, aún siendo el formato que es (lo cual es extraño en mí), es siempre un maravilloso hallazgo.
Una lectura que me emociona, aún siendo el formato que es (lo cual es extraño en mí), es siempre un maravilloso hallazgo.
October 15, 2019
Un misto di fantascienza e commedia, mi ha ricordato molto Guida Galattica per autostoppisti (anche se poi non c'entra nulla). Questo primo capitolo non serve per conoscere il protagonista, la storia inizia ed è già tutto ingarbugliato. Chissà dove andrà a parare!
Read
June 30, 2023They had me Moebius and Jodorowski
February 2, 2021
Difool is digital now.
A pleasure to re-read after some years. Not at all dated. The grotesque future envisioned by Jodorowski and Mobius has chilling echoes in the present, and the visual art has rarely been equalled.
A pleasure to re-read after some years. Not at all dated. The grotesque future envisioned by Jodorowski and Mobius has chilling echoes in the present, and the visual art has rarely been equalled.
October 8, 2021
The Incal #1
The drawings/graphics are pure old skool!
I missed that...
The story seems to be about light and dark, rich and poor.
The drawings/graphics are pure old skool!
I missed that...
The story seems to be about light and dark, rich and poor.
October 18, 2021
Very capturing. This is my first sci-fi graphic novel and I loved it. Can’t wait to read more.
January 1, 2022
Amazing art! The full panels are easy on the eyes due to clean, clear, expressive lines.
The story is a weird adventure. Many elements are introduced which suggest a complete futuristic world is open for exploring. I'm not convinced enough to want to explore soon.
The story is a weird adventure. Many elements are introduced which suggest a complete futuristic world is open for exploring. I'm not convinced enough to want to explore soon.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews