Jean-Claude Mézières

With the Valérian series, Mézières and Christin introduced a concept to France that was relatively new and rarely explored in comic art at the time: science fiction. Whereas existing works focused primarily on technology and space exploration, the Valérian series broke new ground by prioritizing political, ecological, and social issues that had not yet been fully explored. Issue after issue, the duo developed a coherent universe, populated by hundreds of alien species, original civilizations, and planets with highly distinct visual identities, all presented with a remarkable sense of visual storytelling. Finally, its heroine, Laureline, is one of the few characters who is as intelligent, independent, and determined as her partner. All these elements have helped to redefine the conventions of European science fiction, turning Valérian into a cult series for generations of readers and artists. 

As an iconic figure in the world of comic art, Mézières’ original artwork frequently exceeds auction estimates and sets impressive records. For example, an original page from Le pays sans étoile (The Land Without Stars, Volume 3 of the Valérian series) sold for €24,120 at a Daniel Maghen auction in 2023. 

To preserve your works on paper, we recommend that you never expose them to direct light, as UV rays can damage the mediums used. Paintings made with pastel or charcoal require special care to avoid rubbing.
We advise you to display them away from windows, and to use frames made from pH-neutral conservation materials and “Museum” glass with anti-UV and anti-reflective treatment. If you prefer to keep your works unframed, we recommend storing them flat, in drawing cartons, with sheets of pH-neutral permanent paper in between. Keep them away from light and humidity.

Jean-Claude Mézières was born in Paris in 1938. In 1944, he met Pierre Christin, with whom he formed a deep friendship. The two boys discovered a shared passion for science fiction and comic books. After completing his military service, undertaking a brief stint in the United States, and completing several professional assignments in France, Mézières illustrated a new story written by Christin (their third collaboration) in September 1966 titled Le chemin de l'enfer est pavé de bonnes intentions (The Road to Hell Is Paved with Good Intentions), as well as a script by Fred, the creator of Philémon. He then proposed to Pierre Christin that they co-create an ongoing, long-term series. On November 9, 1967, Valérian et Laureline, space-time agents from Galaxity, made their debut in Pilote with a 30-page adventure, Les mauvais rêves (Valérian Against the Bad Dreams). The series was a massive success, eventually expanding to 25 albums translated into some twenty languages, and was adapted for the big screen in 2017 by Luc Besson. Complete biography.