| The Incal (L'Incal) | |
|---|---|
 2014 hardcover trade collection of The Incal. | |
| Main characters | John Difool |
| Creative team | |
| Writers | Alejandro Jodorowsky |
| Artists | Jean Giraud, Zoran Janjetov, José Ladrönn |
| Colourists | Yves Chaland |
| Original publication | |
| Published in | Les Humanoïdes Associés |
| Date of publication | 1980–2014 |
| Language | French |
| Translation | |
| Publisher | Epic Comics, Humanoids |
| Date | 1988 |
| Chronology | |
| Followed by | Before the Incal (1988–1995) After the Incal (2000) Final Incal (2008–2014) |
The Incal (/ˈɪŋkəl/; French: L'Incal) is a French graphic novel series written by Alejandro Jodorowsky and originally illustrated by Jean Giraud (aka Mœbius). The Incal, with first pages originally released as Une aventure de John Difool ("A John Difool Adventure") in Métal hurlant and published by Les Humanoïdes Associés,[1] introduced Jodorowsky's "Jodoverse" (or "Metabarons Universe"[2]), a fictional universe in which his science fiction comics take place.[3] It is an epic space opera blending fantastical intergalactic voyage, science, technology, political intrigues, conspiracies, messianism, mysticism, poetry, debauchery, love stories, and satire.[1][4] The Incal includes and expands the concepts and artwork from the abandoned film project Dune directed by Jodorowsky and designed by Giraud from the early 1970s.[1][2][5][6][7][8]
Originally published in installments between 1980 and 1988 in the French magazine Métal Hurlant, and followed by Before the Incal (1988–1995, with Zoran Janjetov), After the Incal (2000, with Jean Giraud), and Final Incal (2008–2014, with José Ladrönn),[9][10] it has been described as a contender for "the best comic book" in the medium's history.[11] From it came spin-off series Metabarons, The Technopriests, and Megalex.
- ^ a b c Zan 2014, p. 1085.
- ^ a b Reffner 2015, p. 389.
- ^ Patrick Hess (October 17, 2014). "The Incal Is The Greatest Comic That You Probably Haven't Read". nothingbutcomics.net. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
- ^ Jon Evans. "Series Review - The Incal". Backwards Compatible. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
- ^ Neustadt 2012, p. 86.
- ^ Daniel Kalder (January 25, 2011). "Alejandro Jodorowsky's dance on the edge of meaning". The Guardian. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
- ^ Anthony Paletta (August 26, 2013). "A Change of Path: Alejandro Jodorowsky's "The Incal"". Los Angeles Review of Books. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
- ^ Daniel Kalder (September 17, 2014). "Reviews: Final Incal". The Comics Journal. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
- ^ Caleb Goellner (January 2, 2014). "Humanoids To Bring 'After the Incal' And 'Final Incal' To The US In 2014". ComicsAlliance. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
- ^ "Final Incal - An interview with Alexandro Jodorowsky". Humanoids Publishing. May 24, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
- ^ Parkin, Lance (2001). The Pocket Essential: Alan Moore. The Pocket Essentials. p. 7. ISBN 9781903047705.