“You drive.”
The Children of Light. Jean Pleyers. New York Review Comics. 2026. 112pp. $29.95.
Here is a sci-fi comic so out there that even Moebius thought it was strange, albeit a “reasonable madness.” In fact, he was a fan of this blast from the past, originally published in the French version of Heavy Metal in the early 1980s. This odd and quirky tale of intergalactic misadventure, if we are to believe Jean Pleyers, the creator of this comic, is far more than science fiction, but bona fide fact. According to Pleyers, in the Afterword to this new edition of The Children of the Light, he was contacted by aliens and they dictated their story to him telepathically and he went on to turn that into a comic book. Okay. We have to suspend all sorts of disbelief to say the least. So, beings from some other world chose a cartoonist to confide in. Alright. I pick up the comic and start reading it up to the point when one alien, running late on an important errand, looks at his colleague joining him for a ride in the company car and says, “You drive.” Oh, really? I think we’ve just crossed an important line. We’re dealing with a highly advanced civilization and all the cars aren’t autonomous? Now, that’s a hard pill to swallow. Ah, I jest.
Overall, this is a hoot of a comic. It’s one of those full-blast rollicking stories fueled by everything from Buck Rogers to Star Wars. The end is near but the inhabitants of Zor have a plan. They’ve somehow managed to hollow out their moon and turn it into a massive spaceship which will transport all two billion Zors to a better world! Think of it, a cast of billions! And it feels like it too as it’s difficult, at times, to see the forest for the trees in this vintage curiosity as it runs at a true epic saga level. But that could be your cup of tea. There’s definitely a niche audience for this made up of diehard sci-fi fans and scholars of the genre. It brings to mind my recently being in Los Angeles and popping over to see another vintage curiosity, an early film by Akira Kurosawa. All the cinephiles were besides themselves as they admired what was, if we’re being honest, a very dry, outdated and stilted film. They pointed out such things as a favorite actor who took on various roles in Kurosawa’s films. And everyone happily compared notes after the showing. To some extent, this comic is the equivalent experience.
I’m a champion of all manner of vintage content. Part of being a vintage enthusiast is making a case for your latest crush. I can marvel over the delicate fine line artwork in this comic and all the details. It definitely has the look and feel of an architect’s meticulous vision. And the colors are eye-popping. And true believers will readily call up the name, Jack Kirby, whether or not it’s a true fit. But, seriously, this is seriously gorgeous work! And that’s one of the primary reasons for investing as much time as we do with science fiction comics.
But, seriously, this is seriously gorgeous work!
Just to say this is vintage Jean Pleyers is more than enough as his art is top notch. Known more for working in historical fiction, this sci-fi romp is really not to be missed. No doubt, this comic has its moments, some of which are rather spectacular. So, you will find some visual treats. And you get rewarded along the way with some wonderful extended scenes as when the Zor spaceship must momentarily make a side trip to Earth and interact with a few humans. A young couple, fresh out of bed and in each other’s arms, is teleported on board. An exploration of the couple’s thoughts, including their past lives, reveals a series of human calamities involving nuclear war. So much for the humans!
The actual narrative is, as I suggest, rather dry. Of course, if we are to believe Jean Pleyers, we can place the blame on the aliens for passing on to humanity a less than thrilling, and more methodical, story. I think Pleyers claiming to have been contacted by aliens and telepathically being handed the story for his comic book is priceless and actually ties the whole thing together. I’ll throw in another vintage curiosity, Barbarella, the pioneering French science fiction and erotica comic created by Jean-Claude Forest in 1962. This is another example of the actual content being less than ideal and yet having its own set of charms. As a kid, I stumbled upon a copy of Barbarella in my father’s secret stash. And, even as a boy, I could see this was a little clunky and primitive while also very intriguing. The Children of Light is not Barbarella but it’s sort of in the same cosmic ballpark. By all means, it’s a fun and weird ride and you’ll enjoy it.
