View source for Arzach

{{Short description|Comic book collection by Jean Giraud}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{No plot|date=June 2020}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2020}}
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{{Infobox comics meta series <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|theme               =
<!-- |title               = Arzach -->
|image               = Arzach.jpg
|imagesize           =
|caption             = The opening panel of Arzach
|alt                 =

<!-- If "character" is set -->
|debut               = ''[[Métal Hurlant]]''
|debutmo             =
|debutyr             = 1975
|alter_ego           =
|full_name           =
|species             = <!-- optional -->
|homeworld           = <!-- optional -->
|alliances           = <!-- optional -->
|partners            = <!-- optional -->
|aliases             = <!-- optional -->
|powers              =
|schedule            =
|format              =
|limited             =
|anthology           = ''[[Métal Hurlant]]''
|graphicnovel        =
|1shot               =
|individual          =
|titles              =
|lang                = fr
|Fantasy             = y
|Adaptation          = 
|Adapt_link          =
|publisher           = [[Les Humanoïdes Associés]]
|date                =
|startmo             = <!-- optional in lieu of date-->
|startyr             = 1975
|endmo               = <!-- optional in lieu of date-->
|endyr               = <!-- optional in lieu of date-->
|issues              =
|main_char_team      =
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|creators            =
|nonUS               =
|reprint             = ''[[Heavy Metal (magazine)|Heavy Metal]]''
|relang              = en
|TPB                 =
|ISBN                =
|subcat              = French comics
|charcat             = Nul
|altcat              =
|alttop              =
|sort                = Arzach
|charsort            = Arzach
}}
'''''Arzach''''' ({{IPA|fr|aʁzak|lang}}) is a comic book collection of four wordless short stories by artist/author [[Jean Giraud|Jean 'Moebius' Giraud]], which were originally published in the [[France|French]] [[sci-fi]]/[[fantasy]] comics magazine ''[[Métal Hurlant]]''. The stories follow Arzach, a silent warrior who rides a [[pterodactyl]]-like creature through a strange, desolate landscape.<ref name="lambiek1"/>  The imagery and situations in ''Arzach'' are often compared to [[dream]]s or the [[Unconscious mind|subconscious]]. These stories had an enormous impact on the [[Franco-Belgian comics|French comics]] industry, and the Arzach character is still among Moebius' most famous creations. It can be defined as a [[pantomime comics|pantomime comic]], [[fantasy comics]] or an experimental comic.

The spelling of the title, originally Arzach, was changed in each of the original short stories.

Moebius later revisited the character with a story called ''The Legend of Arzach''. This later story contains dialogue, and it ties the Arzach stories into a [[Retcon|previously unrelated]] Moebius story called ''The Detour''.

Moebius' 2010 book ''Arzak: L'Arpenteur'' (''Arzak: The Surveyor'') was the first of a planned trilogy to explore the origin of the character. However, with the death of Jean Giraud in March 2012, this vision was never realised.<ref name="lambiek1"/>

==Legacy==
''Arzach'' is credited as the inspiration for the final sequence, "Taarna", of the [[animated film]] ''[[Heavy Metal (film)|Heavy Metal]]'' (1981).

''Moebius' Arzach'' is a novel by Jean-Marc and Randy Lofficier, published by iBOOKS in August 2000. The book features a cover and inside illustrations by Moebius, and a map by [[José Ladrönn|J.O. Ladronn]]. The first half of the book is a novelisation of several Arzach stories. The second half recursively introduces John Gerard (a thinly disguised Jean Giraud) and family into the world of ''Arzach''. A brief essay on the publishing history of ''Arzach'' concludes the book.

''Arzach'' was one of ''[[Panzer Dragoon]]'''s major artistic influences. [[Jean Giraud]] even contributed in the creative process of [[Team Andromeda]]'s game with original artwork.

''Arzach'' inspired [[Hayao Miyazaki]] and he said in an interview that he directed [[Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (film)|''Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind'']] under Moebius' influence.<ref name="nausicaa1"/>

==Notes==
<references>

<ref name="lambiek1">{{cite web
|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/g/giraud.htm
|title=Jean Giraud (Moebius, Gir)
|author=Bas Schuddeboom
|work=Lambiek Comiclopedia
|language=en
|access-date=2021-01-21
|url-status=live
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212005205/https://www.lambiek.net/artists/g/giraud.htm
|archive-date=2021-02-12
}}</ref>

<ref name="nausicaa1">{{cite web
|url=http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/interviews/miyazaki_moebious.html
|title=A talk between Hayao Miyazaki and Moebius
|translator=Achille Autran
|work=GhibliWiki (Nausicaa.net)
|publisher=Original copyright 2004 by Point du jour and Laurent Cotillon (Ciné Live n°86, January 2005)
<!-- PUBLISHER is given this way because the translation and the original are two different things, and all I have is the text given by the web page in question.  I am not sure enough of the details to parameterize it. -->
|access-date=2024-10-07
|url-status=live
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511035501/http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/interviews/miyazaki_moebious.html
|archive-date=2024-05-11
}}</ref>

</references>

==References==
* {{cite web
|url=http://www.dvdanime.net/critiqueview.php?id_critique=1477
|title=Critique DVD de Arzak Rhapsody
|language=fr
|trans-title=Arzak Rhapsody DVD Review
|author=Ben Becker
|date=2005-01-25
|work=DVDaniime.net
|accessdate=2024-10-07
|url-status=live
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060905120205/http://www.dvdanime.net/critiqueview.php?id_critique=1477
|archivedate=2006-09-05
}}

==External links==
* {{cite web
|url=http://www.lofficier.com/arzach.htm
|url-status=live
|title=Legends of Arzach
|work=Website of Jean-Marc & Randy Lofficier
|date=2011-03-26
|accessdate=2024-10-06
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607082426/https://www.lofficier.com/arzach.htm|archivedate=2011-06-07
}}
* {{cite web
|url=http://www.comicvine.com/arzach/4005-16697/
|url-status=live
|title=Arzach (Character)
|work=Comic Vine
|accessdate=2024-10-06
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617072432/https://comicvine.gamespot.com/arzach/4005-16697/
|archivedate=2024-06-17
}}

{{Jean Giraud}}

[[Category:French comic strips]]
[[Category:1975 comics debuts]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1975]]
[[Category:2010 comics endings]]
[[Category:Fantasy comics]]
[[Category:Fantasy graphic novels]]
[[Category:Male characters in comics]]
[[Category:Pantomime comics]]
[[Category:Comics by Jean Giraud]]
[[Category:Comics adapted into novels]]
[[Category:Comics adapted into animated series]]
[[Category:Comics adapted into television series]]