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In Pictures: Valerian creators Pierre Christin and Jean Claude Mezieres in London

By John Freeman on October 13, 2017

Paul Gravett, Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières. Photo: Dean Simons

Last month, Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières were in London, at the Institut Francais, for an event titled Valerian & Laureline Disclosed. Chaired by comics expert Paul Gravett, the Valerian creators were full of life and were happy to rib each other in a way that some longstanding collaborators often aren’t!

The event was of course in part prompted by the recent debut of director Luc Besson’s Valerian on the big screen, which many of the attendees also saw as part of the event, at the Lumiere. This was only the third time the creators had seen the big-screen version of their creation – the first time, we’re told, was rather nerve-wracking as it was just them and Luc Besson in the audience!

The event proved a good mix of “usual” comics fans plus a number of French language “locals” made up the audience. Thanks to Cinebook, publishers of Valerian in English, downthetubes Richard Sheaf was at the event and took a few snaps – as well as getting one of his Valerian books signed, of course!

• For those of you who missed this rare event, you can listen to proceedings here and here as podcasts thanks to Institut Francais

• You can buy the Valerian books from all good bookshops and online retailers, including amazon.co.uk (using this link helps support downthetubes)

Paul Gravett, Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières on stage at the Institut Francais Photo: Richard Sheaf

Jean-Claude Mézières’ stamp designs. Photo: Richard Sheaf

While Valerian was also turned into an anime series, the creators told the audience they weren’t fans. Photo: Richard Sheaf

After event signing. Photo: Richard Sheaf

Photo: Richard Sheaf

The Institut Francais Graphic Novel Library. And you thought you had a lot of comics…. Photo: Richard Sheaf

About the Author
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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.