Barbarella (comics)

{{short description|French science fiction comic book series}} {{For|the 1968 film|Barbarella (film)}} {{More citations needed|date=April 2010}} {{Infobox comics meta series  |character = y |character_name = Barbarella |image = Barbarella le Semble-Lune.jpg |imagesize = |caption = ''Barbarella: Le Semble-Lune'' (1977) published by Pierre Horay; cover art by [[Jean-Claude Forest]] |alt = |debutmo = Spring |debutyr =1962 |alter_ego = |species =  |homeworld =  |alliances =  |partners =  |aliases =  |powers = |schedule = |format = |limited = |anthology = ''V Magazine'', ''[[Evergreen Review]]'' and ''[[Heavy Metal (magazine)|Heavy Metal]]'' |graphicnovel = y |1shot = |individual = |titles = ''V Magazine'' ''[[Evergreen Review]]'' #37-39 ''[[Heavy Metal (magazine)|Heavy Metal]]'' (vol. 1) #11 (vol. 2) #3 |lang = |Erotic = first |SciFi = y |multigenre = y |Adaptation = |Adapt_link = |publisher =* [[Dynamite Entertainment]] (2017–present) |startmo =  |startyr =1962 |endmo =  |endyr =1978 |issues =* '''(Dynamite – vol. 1)''': 13 * '''(Dynamite – vol. 2)''': 10 |main_char_team = |writers = [[Jean-Claude Forest]] [[Mike Carey (writer)|Mike Carey]] [[Sarah Hoyt]] |artists = [[Jean-Claude Forest]] [[Kenan Yarar]] [[Madibek Musabekov]] |pencillers = |inkers = |letterers = |colorists = |editors = |creative_team_month = |creative_team_year = |creators = [[Jean-Claude Forest]] |nonUS = |reprint = |relang = en |TPB = |ISBN = |subcat = French comics |charcat = nul |altcat = |alttop = |sort = Barbarella |charsort =  |addpubcat# = }} '''Barbarella''' is a fictional heroine in a [[French language|French]] [[science fiction]] [[comic book]] created by [[Jean-Claude Forest]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=FRENCH CARTOONIST JEAN-CLAUDE FOREST DIES |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1999/01/02/french-cartoonist-jean-claude-forest-dies/ba017a72-1f73-4c24-87d8-f9fa301124ec/ |access-date=2023-02-02 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

==History== Jean-Claude Forest created the character of Barbarella for [[Serial (literature)|serialization]] in the French ''V Magazine'' in spring 1962.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.liberation.fr/culture/1998/12/31/rappelle-toi-barbarellamort-du-pere-de-la-blonde-heroine-sf-jean-claude-forest_254689/|title=Rappelle-toi Barbarella.Mort du père de la blonde héroïne SF, Jean-Claude Forest. – Libération|date=September 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911145928/https://www.liberation.fr/culture/1998/12/31/rappelle-toi-barbarellamort-du-pere-de-la-blonde-heroine-sf-jean-claude-forest_254689/ |archive-date=2021-09-11 }}</ref> In 1964 [[Éric Losfeld]] published these strips as a stand-alone book titled ''Barbarella''. The book caused a scandal and became known as the first "adult" (erotic) comic book, though American pornographic comic books known as "[[Tijuana bible]]s" had long predated it. For her creator, the character embodied the modern, emancipated woman in the era of sexual liberation, and as a result, this literary work has come to be associated with the mid-20th century [[sexual revolution]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=jbindeck2015 |date=2017-09-19 |title=Barbarella Returns to Comics After 35 Years |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/comics/barbarella-returns-to-comics-after-35-years/ |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=Den of Geek |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-11-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118051340/https://www.denofgeek.com/comics/barbarella-returns-to-comics-after-35-years/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The comic would stop publishing in 1978.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |last=White |first=Brett |date=2016-10-04 |title=Barbarella Returns To Comics In 2017 |url=https://www.cbr.com/barbarella-returns-to-comics-in-2017/ |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=CBR |language=en-US}}</ref>

Barbarella was relaunched as an [[ongoing series]] by the American publisher [[Dynamite Entertainment]] in December 2017. The creative team included writer Mike Carey and artist Kenan Yarar. The comic would be supervised by Jean-Marc Lofficier, who worked with the original creator.<ref name="auto1"/> It ran for 12 issues with a holiday special.

Another relaunch was announced in May 2021, with writer Sarah Hoyt and artist Madibek Musabekov.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Collinson |first=Gary |date=2021-05-06 |title=Barbarella returns for all-new adventures with Dynamite Entertainment |url=https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2021/05/barbarella-returns-for-all-new-adventures-with-dynamite-entertainment/ |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=Flickering Myth |language=en-US}}</ref> This run continued for 10 issues.

After the announcement of a movie remake, Dynamite announced in November 2022 it would relaunch the comic with the title ''Barbarella: The Center Cannot Hold''. Sarah Hoyt would return as writer, this time joined by artist Riccardo Bogani''.''<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=2022-11-17 |title=Sarah A. Hoyt & Riccardo Bogani Bring Back Barbarella For 2023 |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/sarah-a-hoyt-riccardo-bogani-bring-back-barbarella-for-2023/ |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors |language=en}}</ref> In July 2024, a new series was announced with writer Blake Northcott and artist Anna Morozova. This iteration of the comic will return more closely to Jean-Claude Forest's concept for the original comic series.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fang |first=Sam |date=2024-07-19 |title=First Look: New Barbarella Series Announced Ahead of Sydney Sweeney Film |url=https://www.cbr.com/dynamite-barbarella-comic-series/ |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref>

==Characters== * '''Barbarella''': a young woman who travels from planet to planet and has numerous adventures, often involving [[Sexual intercourse|sex]]. The aliens she meets often seduce her, and she also experiments with a "machine excessive" or "orgasmatron". * '''Professor Ping''': a one-eyed old man who helps Barbarella. * '''Pygar''': a blind 'angel' guided by Barbarella, he is the last of the ornithanthropes (bird-men). * '''La Reine noire''' (The Black Queen): a villainess who reigns in the maze-surrounded town of Sogo on the planet Lythion. * '''Lio''': a brown-haired teenage girl saved by Barbarella; she must save the town governed by her father in ''Les Colères du mange-minutes''. * '''Mado''': a [[fembot]] [[sex worker]] whose "breakdown" Barbarella repairs. * '''Narval''': an aiguiote (aquatic man) who comes from Citerne IV to complete his scientific research in ''Les Colères du mange-minutes''. * '''L'artiste''': a [[self-insertion|self-insert]] of [[Jean-Claude Forest]]. Named Browningwell in ''Le Semble-Lune'', he and Barbarella have a child together.

==Bibliography==

* ''Barbarella'' (originally serialized in ''V Magazine'', 1962; book by [[Éric Losfeld]], 1964) * ''Les Colères du Mange-Minutes'' [''The Wrath of the Minute Eater''] (Kesselring, 1974) * ''Le Semble-Lune'' [''The False Moon''] (Horay, 1977, {{ISBN|2-7058-0045-X}}) * ''Le Miroir aux Tempêtes'' [''The Storm Mirror''] (Albin Michel, 1982, art by Daniel Billon, {{ISBN|2-226-01441-1}})<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bedetheque.com/serie-6049-BD-Barbarella.html|title=Barbarella - BD, informations, cotes|first=Philippe|last=MAGNERON|website=www.bedetheque.com}}</ref>

The stories have been reprinted by [[Dargaud]] and [[Les Humanoïdes Associés]].

Barbarella also guest-stars in ''Mystérieuse, Matin, Midi et Soir'' [''Mysterious, Morning, Noon And Evening''] (originally serialized in ''Pif'', 1971; book edition by Serg, 1972)

Barbarella was translated into English by [[Richard Seaver]] and published in ''[[Evergreen Review]]'' #37-39 (1965–1966) and ''[[Heavy Metal (magazine)|Heavy Metal]]'' (vol. 1) #11 through (vol. 2) #3 (1978), as well as the [[Trade paperback (comics)|trade paperback]] ''Barbarella: The Moon Child'' ([[HM Communications, Inc.]], 1978).

An updated adaptation of Book 1 was released by [[Humanoids Publishing]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.humanoids.com/y_catalog/book?id=562|title=Barbarella - Coffee Table Book (Limited)|website=www.humanoids.com}}</ref> on September 24, 2020; this new adaptation was done by [[Kelly Sue DeConnick]]. Book 2 saw its first English adaptation in January 2015 by DeConnick from Humanoids as well. {| class="wikitable" !PUBLICATION !PUBLISHER !WRITER !ARTIST !COLLECTED EDITION

==Adaptations== * A [[Barbarella (film)|''Barbarella'' film adaptation]] was made in 1968, directed by [[Roger Vadim]] and starring [[Jane Fonda]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://comicsalliance.com/tribute-barbarella-jean-claude-forest/|title=Celebrating Jean-Claude Forest And 'Barbarella'|first=Elle|last=Collins|website=ComicsAlliance|date=12 September 2016 }}</ref> Several remakes were considered with [[Bridget Fonda]], [[Drew Barrymore]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/exclusives/3713124/drew-barrymore-barbarella-movie-phantom-limbs/|title=Drew Barrymore as Barbarella? Writer John August Details the Unmade Movie [Phantom Limbs]|first=Jason|last=Jenkins|date=April 29, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/barbarella-remake-planned-with-drew-barrymore-in-the-title-role-638171.html|title='Barbarella' remake planned with Drew Barrymore in the title role|date=October 1, 2000|website=The Independent}}</ref> [[Sherilyn Fenn]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/jane-fondas-1968-barbarella-movie-to-become-tv-remake-20140122-317lv.html|title=Jane Fonda's 1968 Barbarella movie to become TV remake|first=Michael|last=Idato|date=January 21, 2014|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> and [[Rose McGowan]], the most recent of which was abandoned in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/tegqca/exclusive-robert-rodriguezs-barbarella-adaptation-is-dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809020051/https://www.mtv.com/news/tegqca/exclusive-robert-rodriguezs-barbarella-adaptation-is-dead|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 9, 2022|title=EXCLUSIVE: Robert Rodriguez's 'Barbarella' Adaptation Is Dead|website=MTV}}</ref> * A [[Barbarella (musical)|''Barbarella'' musical]] based on the film was produced in 2004. * A ''Barbarella'' TV series was in development with writers [[Neal Purvis and Robert Wade]], filmmaker [[Nicolas Winding Refn]], and Martha De Laurentiis, widow of the film's producer [[Dino De Laurentiis]], all involved.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deadline.com/2013/01/james-bond-writers-neal-purvis-and-robert-wade-to-pen-gaumonts-barbarella-series/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131175014/http://www.deadline.com/2013/01/james-bond-writers-neal-purvis-and-robert-wade-to-pen-gaumonts-barbarella-series/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 31, 2013|title=James Bond Writers Neal Purvis And Robert Wade To Pen Gaumont's 'Barbarella' Series|last=Andreeva|first=Niellie|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=29 January 2013|accessdate=18 April 2014}}</ref> In May 2013, Refn said to ''Vulture'' that they are still writing and are going back to the original comics. As of May 2013, no one has been cast for the series yet.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/m/2013/05/only-god-forgives-nicolas-winding-refn-cannes-booed.html|title=Only God Forgives Director Nicolas Winding Refn on Getting Booed at Cannes|last=Yuan|first=Jada|work=[[Vulture.com]]|date=24 May 2014|accessdate=18 April 2014}}</ref> * In 2017, [[Dynamite Entertainment]] announced they had acquired the license to create new comics based on Barbarella.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://smashpages.net/2017/07/17/dynamite-picks-up-elvira-barbarella-licenses/|title=Dynamite picks up Elvira, Barbarella licenses|date=17 July 2017}}</ref> A twelve issue series written by [[Mike Carey (writer)|Mike Carey]] with art by Kenan Yarar was published by Dynamite during 2017 and 2018, in conjunction with Barbarella's 55th anniversary. [[Jean-Marc Lofficier]], longtime custodian of the Barbarella character, joined Carey as supervisor on the project.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dynamite® Barbarella #1 |url=https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C72513026335301011 |website=www.dynamite.com |accessdate=1 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=NYCC: DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT TO PRODUCE NEW COMICS STARRING SCIENCE FICTION'S ORIGINAL HEROINE, BARBARELLA! |url=https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/news.html?showNews=DFN10041643644 |website=www.dynamite.com |accessdate=1 April 2019 |date=October 4, 2016}}</ref> The single-shot ''Barbarella Holiday Special'' was published in December 2018, written by Locifier with art by José Louis Ruiz Pérez.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comixology.com/Barbarella-Holiday-Special/digital-comic/726764?ref=c2VyaWVzL3ZpZXcvZGVza3RvcC9ncmlkTGlzdC9jb21peG9sb2d5VW5saW1pdGVk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908143221/https://www.comixology.com/Barbarella-Holiday-Special/digital-comic/726764?ref=c2VyaWVzL3ZpZXcvZGVza3RvcC9ncmlkTGlzdC9jb21peG9sb2d5VW5saW1pdGVk |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 8, 2021 |title=Barbarella Holiday Special}}</ref> ''Barbarella/Dejah Thoris'' was a four issue series published in 2019, uniting Barbarella with [[Edgar Rice Burroughs]]' [[Dejah Thoris|Princess of Barsoom]]. It was written by Leah Williams with art by Germán Garcia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comixology.com/Barbarella-Dejah-Thoris-1/digital-comic/733903?ref=c2VyaWVzL3ZpZXcvZGVza3RvcC9ncmlkTGlzdC9jb21peG9sb2d5VW5saW1pdGVk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918084452/https://www.comixology.com/Barbarella-Dejah-Thoris-1/digital-comic/733903?ref=c2VyaWVzL3ZpZXcvZGVza3RvcC9ncmlkTGlzdC9jb21peG9sb2d5VW5saW1pdGVk |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 18, 2021 |title=Barbarella/Dejah Thoris #1}}</ref> In July 2021, Dynamite launched a new ongoing series written by [[Sarah A. Hoyt]] with art by Madibek Musabekov.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.space.com/barbarella-space-comics-dynamite-series |title=Barbarella will launch on wild space adventures in new Dynamite comic series |last=Spry |first=Jeff |website=[[Space.com]] |date=26 June 2021 }}</ref> * On October 11, 2022, Deadline reported that a film is planned, with [[Sydney Sweeney]] set to star as the titular character and serve as executive producer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=2022-10-11 |title=Sydney Sweeney To Star and Exec Produce New 'Barbarella' Movie For Sony Pictures |url=https://deadline.com/2022/10/sydney-sweeney-barbarella-remake-sony-pictures-1235141900/ |access-date=2022-10-12 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}}</ref> Due to this, a new comic series will be released in 2023.<ref name="auto" />

==In popular culture== * 1980s British pop band [[Duran Duran]] takes its name from a character in the 1968 film ''Barbarella'': Barbarella's mission in the film is to find a scientist named Durand Durand (pronounced "Duran Duran").<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/barbarella-the-queen-of-cult-scifi-is-reborn-for-the-21st-century-26292813.html|title=Barbarella, the queen of cult sci-fi, is reborn for the 21st century|last=Akbar|first=Arifa|work=[[Irish Independent]]|date=2 December 2012|accessdate=17 April 2014}}</ref> In addition, the band's first single from 1997's ''[[Medazzaland]]'' is entitled "[[Electric Barbarella]]". * Belgian pop singer and actress [[Lio (singer)|Lio]] took this stage name from a character in the Barbarella comic books. * American rock band [[Clutch (band)|Clutch]] details a meet-up between the singer and Barbarella in which a [[Motel 6]] is destroyed, among other exploits, in their song "In Walks Barbarella". * [[Scott Weiland]]'s only single from his debut album ''[[12 Bar Blues (album)|12 Bar Blues]]'' is titled "[[Barbarella (song)|Barbarella]]" as an homage to the iconic character. *Commander Cody's song "Dreams of Barbarella", from his 1978 album ''Flying Dreams'', details a man's descent into a fantasy world where he lives with Barbarella, in a magic ship out by the Milky Way.

==Reception==

Barbarella has been criticized for being dated and sexist.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/oct/05/new-barbarella-comic-original-film|title=Fire up the orgasmatron: why we can't let Barbarella go|date=October 5, 2016|website=the Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium/culture/barbarella-jane-fonda-sydney-sweeney-euphoria-roger-vadim-b2206003.html|title=Why on earth do we want a remake of Barbarella?|date=October 21, 2022|website=The Independent}}</ref> Barbarella has also been described as a sex symbol.<ref name="auto2"/><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MdWkEAAAQBAJ&dq=barbarella+sex+symbol&pg=PA20|title=Ninth Art. Bande dessinée, Books and the Gentrification of Mass Culture, 1964-1975|first=Sylvain|last=Lesage|date=January 1, 2023|publisher=Springer Nature|isbn=9783031170010 |via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o9A7EAAAQBAJ&dq=barbarella+sex+symbol&pg=PT85|title=Invisible Presence: The Representation of Women in French-Language Comics|first=Catriona|last=MacLeod|date=August 5, 2021|publisher=Intellect Books|isbn=9781789383928 |via=Google Books}}</ref>

==References ==

==Sources== * Favari, Pietro (1996), [https://books.google.com/books?id=uU0Md8WT33kC ''Le nuvole parlanti: un secolo di fumetti tra arte e mass media''].

==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.hollywoodcomics.com/forest.html}} * {{gcdb|type=character|search=Barbarella|title=Barbarella}} * {{comicbookdb|type=character|id=42672|title=Barbarella}} * [http://www.bedetheque.com/serie-6049-BD-Barbarella.html ''Barbarella''] at Bedetheque {{in lang|fr}} * [http://www.bedetheque.com/serie-10679-BD-Barbarella-16-22.html ''Barbarella'' (Dargaud)] at Bedetheque {{in lang|fr}}

[[Category:Adult comic strips]] [[Category:French comic strips]] [[Category:Science fiction erotica]] [[Category:Literature related to the sexual revolution]] [[Category:Fictional French people]] [[Category:French comics characters]] [[Category:Erotic comics]] [[Category:Science fiction comics]] [[Category:1962 comics debuts]] [[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1962]] [[Category:1964 comics debuts]] [[Category:Comics about women]] [[Category:Female characters in comics]] [[Category:French comics adapted into films]] [[Category:Comics adapted into plays]] [[Category:Comics set on fictional planets]]