Screenwriter Pierre Christin, co-creator of “Valérian and Laureline”, died at 86

His “little Mickeys” have not finished shedding tears: the comic book scriptwriter Pierre Christin, who had worked with many big names in the 9th Art, died Thursday October 3, 2024 at the age of 86, announced the Dargaud editions.

“He was a comic book scriptwriter – undoubtedly one of the greatest –, writer, academic and professor,” recalled the publishing house in a press release. But despite his nearly 100 titles published between the 1960s and 2020, his name remains mainly attached to the character of Valerian.

Inseparable from Valerian

Doctor of letters, the native of Saint-Mandé, near Paris, was, with René Goscinny, one of those who truly “created” the profession of comic book scriptwriter. The Goscinny Prize was also awarded to him at the 2019 Angoulême International Comics Festival for all of his work.

Valerianiconic sci-fi hero, was born from his collaboration with his childhood friend, the designer Jean-Claude Mézières (himself deceased on January 23, 2022). The saga dedicated to this character and his companion in adventure, Laurelinehad made Pierre Christin “a pillar” of the Pilot magazinerecalls Dargaud.

A multidisciplinary artist… and progressive

But the screenwriter also wrote for comic book legends like Jacques Tardi, François Boucq and Enki Bilal… He also founded theBordeaux journalism school (IJBA), wrote novels and produced plays.

“Pierre Christin is not only considered a major screenwriter in the history of comics, both by the richness of his work which is not limited to the series Valerianbut also by his desire to address social issues, underlined Dargaud. Progressive, he is one of the first to dare to highlight a female character (Laureline) like a strong heroine.”

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The publishing house praised “a great traveler, an assiduous observer of our world, a cultured, curious man who loves to debate”.

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