Jean-Claude Mézières, cult comic book author, especially SF, died at the age of 83, on the night of January 22 to 23.
“It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of Jean-Claude Mézières”, commented the Dargaud editions.
Jean-Claude Mézières (1938-2022), rest in peace, dear Jean-Claude… pic.twitter.com/xJlzRmcHR0
—Thomas Ragon (@ThomasRagon) January 23, 2022
Born in 1938 in Paris, Jean-Claude Mézières is considered a figure of Franco-Belgian comics. He is mainly known for the adventures of Valerian and Laureline, two space-time agents. He worked on these characters alongside screenwriter Pierre Christin, his childhood friend.
Available in 25 albums and translated into twenty languages, “Valérian et Laureline” has become a science fiction classic. He also inspired George Lucas for certain scenes of “Star Wars”. In 2017, Luc Besson gave the series its own adaptation, directing “Valérian and the city of a thousand planets”.
Jean-Claude Mézières has also worked in photography, television and cinema. He even led a cowboy existence in the 1960s in the United States. “His requirement, his strong personality, his benevolence, his simplicity, his joie de vivre, his curiosity made him a precious and deeply endearing being”, greet the Dargaud editions.