Staff Picks (November): Barbarella And The Wrath Of The Minute-Eater HC

Publisher: Humanoids

I love Barbarella! There, I said it. It’s true but probably not for the reasons you imagine. Of course we can’t forget Jane Fonda as the live-action incarnation; the poster-child for the sexual revolution of the early 1970’s, but the truth about the character itself is much more than what we see on screen. In fact, we wouldn’t have the cult-classic film -- and Fonda’s legendary role -- without Jean-Claude Forest and his French comic book that jump started more than just our libidos.

If you thought the film was strange and “out-there” then the comic will offer a whole new degree of bonkers for your eyes. You’ll see some familiar faces like Pygar and some new faces you could never imagine, all while sometimes forgetting that a comic book this daring and outrageous is over forty years old!

So why do I love Barbarella? Like the movie adaptation, Jean-Claude’s original comic series came out to the public as a unique and daring project that challenged the fear of criticism and censorship of its content. Barbarella herself is an explorer, unconcerned with the boundaries of planets and space as she continues to meet new species and new cultures while she’s unafraid to reveal her own. Barbarella has never been afraid to speak her mind or apologize for her freedom of thought no matter how outrageous it may seem to others and that’s what really resonates. In our current environment, we all live among “aliens” in our own backyard with a multitude of cultures, beliefs, and preferences. On the surface, Barabella may seem like just a centerfold in a form-fitting space suit but, what she really stands for is liberty of thought and action. Challenging the censors and breaking taboos in comics aren’t all that unusual these days, but Barbarella did it first and she did it best, all while wearing next to nothing. And not all of us can pull that off.

~ Jay Spence