Humanoids

Humanoids (Comics Collection)

Comic Books Library
by Comic Books Library August 03, 2025
Humanoids (Comics Collection)


Humanoids (Comics Collection)

📚 Genre

Science Fiction, Cyberpunk, Fantasy, Dystopian, Psychological Thriller, Mythology-Based Fiction

The Humanoids Comics Collection dives deep into cerebral and philosophical territories, blending futuristic settings with mature, layered storytelling. It's a powerhouse of European sci-fi and fantasy comics, often laced with social critique, cosmic horror, and metaphysical drama.

🧍 Main Characters

While each title within the Humanoids collection varies, several iconic characters emerge across its vast universe:

  • John Difool – An anti-hero and central figure in The Incal series

  • Alef-Thau – A disabled boy on a metaphysical journey toward self-realization

  • Meta-Baron – A ruthless yet tragic interstellar warrior from the Metabarons saga

  • Arzach – A silent, sky-riding wanderer exploring dreamlike landscapes

  • Nameless Girl – A mysterious psychic figure central to the Technopriests

  • Technopope – A symbol of religious-techno tyranny and narrative control

✍️ Writer(s)

  • Alejandro Jodorowsky – Known for his visionary, spiritual, and surreal storytelling

  • Jean "Moebius" Giraud – Co-creator and master of graphic surrealism

  • Jerry Frissen – Continued the Metabarons legacy with deep character expansion

  • Luc Brunschwig, Valérie Mangin, Alexandro Nesme – Contributors to various modern entries

🎨 Artist(s)

  • Moebius (Jean Giraud) – Unmatched in crafting ethereal, cosmic landscapes

  • Juan Giménez – Known for highly detailed, almost biomechanical art in Metabarons

  • Zoran Janjetov – Artist behind The Technopriests' visually dynamic storytelling

  • Georges Bess, Travis Charest, Niko Henrichon – Contributors to spin-offs and prequels

📝 Editor Details

  • Editor-in-Chief: Fabrice Giger

  • Associate Editors: Les Humanoïdes Associés Team (Paris)
    Giger’s vision helped bring European comics to international readers by restructuring Humanoids Publishing’s presence in the US.

🏢 Publisher and Brand

  • Publisher: Humanoids Publishing

  • Brand: Les Humanoïdes Associés
    Originally founded in France in 1974, the brand is closely tied to the magazine Métal Hurlant (the French precursor to Heavy Metal magazine). The company later expanded to the U.S. under Humanoids Publishing.

📅 Release Year

  • The original Humanoids stories date back to the mid-1970s with The Incal launching in 1981, and continued through multiple decades with modern installments arriving as recently as 2023.

📖 Brief Plot Summary

The Humanoids Comics Collection isn't a singular narrative but a shared tapestry of mythological sci-fi tales. At the core of the universe is The Incal—a story about John Difool, a lowly private investigator who accidentally becomes the holder of a cosmic artifact. This leads to his entanglement with interdimensional forces, rebels, techno-priests, and existential threats.

The Metabarons traces the bloodline of a warrior dynasty obsessed with perfection, blending cybernetics and tragedy. Meanwhile, The Technopriests explores religious hierarchies in a techno-theocracy where creativity battles authoritarianism.

Each story is tied thematically by questions of identity, destiny, power, and spirituality in a crumbling futuristic society.

🔥 Notable Arcs or Storylines

  • The Incal (1981–1988) – The cornerstone of the universe, filled with alchemical symbolism and political satire

  • Before The Incal – Prequel series exploring John Difool’s troubled youth

  • The Metabarons – A Shakespearean tale of violence, legacy, and transformation

  • The Technopriests – A prequel expanding the philosophical stakes of creativity vs. control

  • Weapons of the Metabaron – Explores the technological evolution behind the galaxy’s greatest warrior

  • Final Incal – Jodorowsky's definitive closure to the saga

🧠 Fan Theories or Interpretations

  • The Incal as a Spiritual Journey – Many interpret John Difool's quest as an allegory for enlightenment, inspired by Tarot and Jungian psychology.

  • Meta-Baron = Nietzsche’s Übermensch? – Fans draw parallels between the evolution of the Metabarons and Nietzschean ideals of self-overcoming and perfection.

  • Technopriests as Satire on Religion & Media – Seen by readers as a scathing commentary on organized religion's control over art and information.

  • Shared Universe Symbolism – Frequent use of recurring colors, motifs (the Incal light/darkness), and spirals suggest a hidden sacred geometry throughout the stories.

⭐ Review Summary

The Humanoids Comics Collection is widely praised for its mind-bending narratives, philosophical undercurrents, and breathtaking artwork. 🌌✒️ Moebius’s linework remains timeless, while Juan Giménez’s intricate panels make every page a masterpiece. Writers like Jodorowsky deliver stories that challenge conventional sci-fi tropes and demand introspection.

Character development leans toward archetypal rather than emotional realism, but this works in favor of the mythic tone. If you’re a fan of Dune, 2001: A Space Odyssey, or avant-garde graphic novels, the Humanoids universe is essential reading.

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

🛸 “In the far corners of space lie the mysteries of our soul. Humanoids reminds us that every future begins with an idea.”


Comic Resource / Read Online (External Source)

Humanoids (Comics Collection)
Language : English