The Incal Review: Jodorowsky and Moebius’ Sci-Fi Landmark
A full review of The Incal, the mind-bending sci-fi epic by Jodorowsky and Moebius that quietly shaped modern science fiction.
By Web Admin
If you have ever watched The Fifth Element, Blade Runner, or half the science fiction released since 1980 and felt a strange familiarity, there is a decent chance the source was The Incal. Written by the Chilean-French filmmaker and mystic Alejandro Jodorowsky and drawn by the incomparable Moebius (Jean Giraud), this French series ran from 1980 to 1988 and is published in English by Humanoids. It is regularly called one of the greatest graphic novels ever made, and its fingerprints are all over the visual language of modern sci-fi.
It is also genuinely strange. This review is an honest look at The Incal: the story, the astonishing art, which edition to buy, and whether a wild 1980s cosmic epic still rewards a new reader today.
A foundational work of science fiction comics, drawn by one of the medium's greatest artists. Weird, wondrous, and…
Check price on Amazon$131.95as of Nov 14, 2026 12:14 am UTCOur verdict (4.7/5): A foundational work of science fiction comics, drawn by one of the medium's greatest artists. Weird, wondrous, and hugely influential. The Humanoids collected edition is the one to own.
What is The Incal?
The Incal is a six-part science fiction epic in the European album tradition, written by Alejandro Jodorowsky and illustrated by Moebius, published in the United States by Humanoids. It began life in 1980, partly out of concepts Jodorowsky and Moebius had developed for an unrealized film adaptation of Dune. The complete story is collected in a single hardcover of roughly 300 pages.
The plot follows John Difool, a cowardly, low-rent private detective in a decaying future megacity, who stumbles into possession of the Incal, a crystalline artifact of immense power. From there Difool is dragged across the galaxy through a cosmic conflict involving corrupt governments, a fanatical religion, mutants, aliens, and forces that are frankly metaphysical. It is a hero's journey told to a man who is emphatically not a hero.
The story: a spiritual epic disguised as space opera
Do not come to The Incal expecting a tidy plot. Jodorowsky writes in the mode of myth and dream. The narrative careens from satire to tragedy to full-blown cosmic mysticism, and Difool is swept along more than he drives events. Underneath the chaos is a spiritual allegory about ego, enlightenment, and the tension between the material and the divine, delivered with Jodorowsky's characteristic mix of profundity and provocation.
For some readers that is exhilarating. For others the sheer density and the tonal whiplash take adjustment. Our advice is to stop trying to track every faction and let the book wash over you the first time, the way you might a surreal film. It rewards that surrender.
It helps to know a little about who made it. Jodorowsky is a filmmaker, tarot scholar, and provocateur whose famously unmade adaptation of Frank Herbert's Dune assembled much of the talent, Moebius included, that would go on to define science fiction cinema. That unrealized film is the direct ancestor of The Incal, and you can feel its scale and mysticism on every page. The book is not trying to be a clean genre thriller. It is trying to be a piece of pop scripture, and it commits to that ambition without apology.
The art: Moebius at his peak
Whatever you make of the story, the art is beyond argument. Moebius is one of the most influential illustrators in the history of the medium, and The Incal is among his finest work. His clean, precise line, his impossible cityscapes, and his effortless sense of scale created a vision of the future that filmmakers, from Ridley Scott to the makers of The Fifth Element, have been borrowing ever since.
Every page is packed with invention: alien architecture, teeming crowds, strange technology rendered with a draftsman's confidence. If you care at all about the craft of comics illustration, The Incal is required viewing. This is another title where a large, well-printed edition genuinely matters.
Meet the cast
- John Difool — the hapless private detective at the center of it all.
- Deepo — his sardonic concrete seagull companion.
- The Metabaron — a legendary warrior who later got his own celebrated spin-off.
- Animah and Tanatah — sisters embodying light and dark aspects of the Incal.
- The Emperoress — a grotesque dual-bodied ruler of a corrupt empire.
The Jodoverse: what to read next
The Incal spawned an entire shared universe, sometimes called the Jodoverse. The prequel Before the Incal and the sprawling space-opera saga The Metabarons (drawn by Juan Gimenez) and The Technopriests all expand the world. The good news is that the original Incal stands complete on its own, so you can enjoy it fully without committing to the rest, then follow the threads if it grabs you.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Some of the finest science fiction art ever drawn
- Wildly imaginative and genuinely influential
- Self-contained complete story in one volume
- Unlike anything mainstream American comics produce
Cons
- Deliberately strange, dreamlike plotting
- Jodorowsky's provocations are not for everyone
- Not a good first comic for a nervous beginner
How The Incal compares to other sci-fi comics
If you are building a science fiction shelf, here is where The Incal sits relative to the other titles we recommend most.
| Book | Style | Length | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Incal | Surreal cosmic epic | ~300 pp | Visionary sci-fi |
| Akira | Cyberpunk manga | Six volumes | Dystopian scale |
| Saga | Space-opera drama | ~160 pp/vol | Character and heart |
For the full picture, browse our guides to the best sci-fi graphic novels and the best space-opera comics. Manga readers chasing a similar sense of scale should read our Akira review next.
Which edition should you buy?
The choice is refreshingly simple.
| Edition | Format | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| The Incal (collected) | Softcover or hardcover | Almost everyone |
| Deluxe or oversized editions | Large hardcover | Appreciating Moebius' art |
| Before the Incal / Final Incal | Companion volumes | Fans wanting more |
Start with the single collected edition. If it lands, the oversized printings are a stunning upgrade for the artwork.
Get The Incal (Humanoids hardcover) on Amazon
The verdict
The Incal is not a comfortable read, and that is rather the point. It is a bold, mystical, visually overwhelming work that helped define what science fiction could look like, and Moebius' art remains breathtaking decades on. It earns its place on our best graphic novels list and near the top of any European comics conversation. Come with an open mind and let it carry you. Because the story resolves in one volume, it is also a fine pick from our best standalone graphic novels.
Frequently asked questions
Is The Incal a complete story?
Yes. The core six-part story has a definite ending and is collected in a single volume. Prequels and spin-offs exist, but the original stands entirely on its own.
Do I need to read The Incal before The Metabaron?
Not necessarily, but it helps. The Metabaron appears in The Incal and later got a celebrated spin-off saga; reading The Incal first gives that character useful context.
Is The Incal hard to follow?
It can be. Jodorowsky writes in a dreamlike, mythic mode, so the plot moves by association rather than tidy logic. We suggest letting the first read wash over you.
Why is The Incal so influential?
Moebius' visual design shaped decades of film and comics science fiction, and the pair had earlier developed ideas for an unmade Dune film. You can trace its influence through much of modern sci-fi. See our best European comics guide for its peers.
Who is John DiFool in The Incal?
John DiFool is the hero of The Incal, a down-on-his-luck, low-class private detective in a vast, decaying future city. He is cowardly, selfish and constantly out of his depth, which makes him a funny and surprisingly relatable centre for a cosmic epic. When he stumbles onto the mysterious Incal, he is dragged into a galactic battle between good and evil, and his growth is the heart of the story.
Is The Incal connected to Jodorowsky's Dune?
The Incal is closely linked to Jodorowsky's Dune in spirit. After Alejandro Jodorowsky's ambitious film adaptation of Dune collapsed in the 1970s, many of its ideas and much of its visual ambition flowed into his comics, including The Incal with Moebius, who had worked on the Dune project. You do not need to know anything about Dune to enjoy The Incal, but it is a fascinating piece of the backstory.
Is The Incal suitable for teenagers?
The Incal is better suited to older teens and adults. It contains nudity, sexual content, violence and some disturbing imagery, all treated in a strange, surreal way typical of 1980s European comics. Mature teens who enjoy weird science fiction will likely love it, but it is not a book for younger readers. Parents may want to flip through it first, as the content is more open than in most American comics.
Should I read Before the Incal?
Before the Incal is a prequel that follows John DiFool's earlier life, written by Alejandro Jodorowsky and drawn by Zoran Janjetov rather than Moebius. It is optional, and most readers should start with The Incal itself, which needs no setup. If you love the original and want more of the Jodoverse, Before the Incal is a decent extra, though the art is not at Moebius's level.
What should I read after The Incal?
If you enjoyed The Incal, try more European science fiction comics. The Metabaron continues Jodorowsky's universe with a darker, more violent saga, while Moebius's own Arzach and The Airtight Garage show his art at its most dreamlike. For a wider tour of French and Belgian comics, our best European comics guide is a good starting point.
