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Sci-Fi/Fantasy Artist Jean 'Moebius' Giraud Dies At 73
Dr Herbert West writes:
"According to io9, 'Today is an incredibly sad day for fans of comic books, concept art, and downright anything science fiction. Artist Jean 'Moebius' Giraud, who provided some of the most stunning scifi and fantasy art ever to grace a page, has succumbed to illness at the age of 73.' It's pretty hard to overstate the impact he had on film, comic books, and illustration in general. You can name most any fantasy or science fiction related piece of culture from the last 30 or 40 years, and chances are he provided concept art for it or was involved in some way. Alien, Dune, Heavy Metal, Tron (original AND the new one), The Abyss, Masters of the Universe, The Fifth Element, Willow... the list goes on. With the recent passing of Ralph McQuarrie, it's been a tough week for scifi and fantasy artists."
Regardless, it is pretty clear that many culture and social icons are entering their later years. There isnt two weeks that go by that someone of some significance has passed in the last half year I think.
"Sur l'etoile" was a sci-fi comic book he wrote for Citroen in 1983, but more than just a branding operation and a little gift meant for Citroen employees, it was a very beautiful and poetic piece of work.
Wasn't there also supposed to be a Dune movie with his participation and Jodorowsky's?
He was also famous for Lieutenant Blueberry, his western series he signed under his real name, Jean Giraud.
"In our tactical decisions, we are operating contrary to our strategic interest."
Moebius helped make Heavy Metal, his stuff was so great. I used to wish I could draw like that guy while reading the mag in the early 80's.
Python: 'And then suddenly you have a language which says "we're all stuck with whatever the whiniest coder wants".'
Ever since the late 70's when I first saw a copy of "Metal Hurlant" SciFi comic book art has been one of my passions and the name "Moebious" was one of the first I learnt and whose fabulously expressive work I obsessed over. The incredible number of artists he inspired across the world is amazing, from comic/manga artists like Shir Masamune to film makers such as Ridley Scott to authors such as William Gibson. Some years ago I looked across my book cases, upper shelves crammed with works of modern science fiction spanning various genres, lower shelves stacked with western and asian comic art books, and even a couple of shelves of DVDs and I realised a great many of these works are either directly, or with only one degree of separation, influenced by Moebious's work.
His "Airtight Garage" was the basis for the fantastic architecture of the San Francisco Sony Metreon's original game arcade. (Unfortunately, after years of deterioration and changes in ownership, the Metreon has been torn out and replaced with a Target store.)
The reference is incorrect. He did not have involvement with the produced Dune films. Credit where it's due, he did a lot of great stuff. Just not Dune.
he did work for _A_ Dune film. Sadly just not one that ever got shot.
the drawing referred to above is this one:
http://www.bigredandshiny.com/cgi-bin/ourdailyred.cgi?f=2008-11-17-190227-01378882
Don't worry, he also heckles the Gettysburg Address to point out that four score and seven years ago was in fact more like 11 score and 16 years ago.
This is not the funny you're looking for.
People like Dresden Codak are following his footsteps so not all is lost.
Jean Giraud was a major reason I stayed with science fiction through my teen years, instead of sacrificing it to peer pressure. The french scifi artists (Moebius, Forrest, Druillet et al) raised so many more posibilities - an alternative view of science fiction. It kept me going when all I was finding was mundane empowerment fare (let's face it - Heinlein was recreating Lot's lot at the time with Lazarus Long).
Then the elder brother of a mate showed me this magazine called 'Heavy Metal'... Oh dear... Through Arzarch and The Incal and the Gardens of Aedena, falling off a horse with Lieutenant Blueberry and of course travelling on a train with Jerry Cornelius, he has delighted me with his simplified style. I applaud him and express gratitude at his effort! Merci beaucoup monsieur Gir. I expect this to be a Bakelite trick.
Given the comic that's displayed on the front of his website, I'd dare to say that he is not *directly* in Moebius's footsteps.
Write boring code, not shiny code!
Who's Forrest? Do you mean Jean-Claude Forest? Now that's a hidden treasure. I always had the impression he was completely forgotton apart from Barbarella - which again was known only because of the movie.
Moebius was also very much responsible for the look and atmosphere of the original ALIEN film. Of course, everybody remembers H.R. Geiger's contribution of the Alien and it's discovery. But the whole human world was Moebius and Ron Cobb. Cobb is a genius in his own right, but it's clear how much O'Bannon plied him with work Giraud had done for the pre-production of the geat, unmade DUNE.
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."