''Aquablue'' is a French science fiction
graphic novel
A graphic novel is a long-form, fictional work of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comic scholars and industry ...
by writer
Thierry Cailleteau with several artists,
Olivier Vatine
Olivier is the French form of the given name Oliver (given name), Oliver. It may refer to:
* Olivier (given name), a list of people and fictional characters
* Olivier (surname), a list of people
* Château Olivier, a Bordeaux winery
*Olivier, Loui ...
(first volumes) and
Ciro Tota Ciro may refer to:
*Ciro (given name), a list of the people who share the Italian and Spanish given name
*Ćiro (given name), a list of the people who share the Croatian given name
*Ciro (opera), 1654 opera by Francesco Cavalli
*Cyrus Cuneo (1879-1 ...
(middle volumes) and
Stéphane Brangier ('Siro', latest volumes). An adventure and military-based series, it also features
ecological
Ecology () is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment. Ecology considers organisms at the individual, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere level. Ecology overlaps wi ...
themes and criticism of
colonial
Colonial or The Colonial may refer to:
* Colonial, of, relating to, or characteristic of a colony or colony (biology)
Architecture
* American colonial architecture
* French Colonial
* Spanish Colonial architecture
Automobiles
* Colonial (1920 au ...
exploitation
Exploitation may refer to:
*Exploitation of natural resources
*Exploitation of labour
** Forced labour
*Exploitation colonialism
*Slavery
** Sexual slavery and other forms
*Oppression
*Psychological manipulation
In arts and entertainment
*Exploi ...
. Much of the series has been translated into German and parts into English.
Plot
''Aquablue'' centers around the adventures of Wilfried Morgenstern, also known as Nao, is young
Human
Humans (''Homo sapiens'') are the most abundant and widespread species of primate, characterized by bipedalism and exceptional cognitive skills due to a large and complex brain. This has enabled the development of advanced tools, culture, ...
orphan and one of the sole survivors of the ''White Star'' cruise spaceliner wreck. Growing up on a space lifeboat with only Cybot (a simple but sentient and caring robotic nurse) to care for him, he eventually arrives on Aquablue, a planet almost totally covered by water. Arriving on the surface, Uruk-Uru - a gigantic
manta ray
Manta rays are large rays belonging to the genus ''Mobula'' (formerly its own genus ''Manta''). The larger species, '' M. birostris'', reaches in width, while the smaller, '' M. alfredi'', reaches . Both have triangular Pectoral fin#AnchPect ...
-shaped whale - takes an interest in him before disappearing back into the depths of the sea.
Taken in by the indigenous blue-skinned humanoid natives on the planet who see in him a messenger of their gods due to the visitation of Uruk-Uru, he grows up one of their own. Eventually he becomes a strong young man, skilled at swimming, diving and fishing to non-human levels, even though he doesn't have gills nor other water-adaptions the locals possess. His abilities, strength, ingenuity, creativity, modularity - as well as the trusted friends he makes during his adventures - help him overcome the issues he faces during the series.
Volumes
''Aquablue'' - Volumes 1-5
Eventually, Nao's idyll is shattered shortly after his coming-of-age, when a
Terran company,
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
Energy Consortium AKA 'Texec', supported by new colonial policies back on
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's surfa ...
, decides to use Aquablue as a location for special power plants feeding on the ocean's warmth. If they aren't stopped, they would eventually cause the planet to
glaciate
A glacier (; ) is a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight. A glacier forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. It acquires distinguishing features, such as ...
, as well as destroy the native life and culture.
With the help of his native friends, a repaired Cybot and some Humans disillusioned by the ruthless colonial expansion, he decides to fight back at the intruders. However, they are guarded by
private military contractors from a powerful
mercenary
A mercenary, sometimes also known as a soldier of fortune or hired gun, is a private individual, particularly a soldier, that joins a military conflict for personal profit, is otherwise an outsider to the conflict, and is not a member of any o ...
private army
A private army (or private military) is a military or paramilitary force consisting of armed combatants who owe their allegiance to a private person, group, or organization, rather than a nation or state.
History
Private armies may form when l ...
- 'Morgenstern
Brigades', owned and led by Nao's aunt, Ulla Morgenstern, who inherited billions from Nao's parents when they died on the ''White Star''.
The original series chronicles the fight against the invaders, on Aquablue, in space and in the courtrooms of Earth, where Nao tries to regain his inheritance. Numerous setbacks occur, with Nao and the natives losing several major battles, but always eventually being rescued by new allies or their own skill and ingenuity.
The first four volumes were drawn by Vatine, before Tota took over in the last volume.
''Aquablue'' II - Volumes 6-7
This short series, set after the conclusion of the fight for Aquablue (and not actually on the planet itself) chronicles the adventures of Nao and his friends as they discover the secret of why the ''White Star'' crashed in an asteroid field. Introducing a number of new settings in the Aquablue universe (which was previously mostly restricted to Earth and Aquablue), it also features a number of new
point-of-view characters.
Aquablue Foundation - Volumes 8-(11)
After the original storyline is wrapped up by volume 7, Nao uses his inherited fortune to create the Aquablue Foundation, with the goal of stellar exploration and the protection of native societies and lifeforms. In one of the first volumes, he works to secure specimens of indigenous lifeforms before a stellar catastrophe destroys a remote planet. However, rich big-game hunters who've come to shoot trophies on the doomed planet soon cause problems.
Visual style
The series is drawn in the
ligne claire
''Ligne claire'' ( French for "clear line", ; nl, klare lijn) is a style of drawing created and pioneered by Hergé, the Belgian cartoonist and creator of ''The Adventures of Tintin''. It uses clear strong lines sometimes of varied width and n ...
style, though there are obvious changes with the different artists the series has had, with Tota's style being slightly more
manga
Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...
-inspired than the more realistic drawing of Vatine. Siro's style in the latest volumes is more reminiscent of Tota than of Vatine.
Awards
''Aquablue'' received the
Prix Jeunesse 9-12 ans (Youth Prize, 9-12 age category) at the
Angoulême International Comics Festival
The Angoulême International Comics Festival (french: Festival international de la bande dessinée d'Angoulême) is the second largest comics festival in Europe after the Lucca Comics & Games in Italy, and the third biggest in the world after Lu ...
in 1989.
In video games
In 2004, it was announced that game studio
Kylotonn
Kylotonn Société à responsabilité limitée, SARL is a French video game development studio founded in 2006 in Paris. They are best known for their racing games, and are the official developer of the ''World Rally Championship (video game se ...
was developing an action-adventure video game for PC based on the comic. Entitled ''Aquablue: The Game'', it was to be released 31 December 2004.
Apparently, no finished game was ever produced, and the developer does not list it on its website (2007).
Avatar
The 2009 James Cameron movie
''Avatar'' from the
Avatar (franchise)
''Avatar'' is an American media franchise created by James Cameron, which consists of a planned series of epic science fiction films produced by Lightstorm Entertainment and distributed by 20th Century Studios, as well as associated merchandi ...
bears a striking resemblance to many of the themes, ideas, character designs and overall look and feel of the ''Aquablue'' series.
References
{{Reflist
External links
''Aquablue''(series entry (in
French) on
Dargaud
Société Dargaud, doing business as Les Éditions Dargaud, is a publisher of Franco-Belgian comics series, headquartered in the 18th arrondissement of Paris. It was founded in 1936 by Georges Dargaud (), publishing its first comics in 1943.
...
website)
French comic strips
1988 comics debuts
2006 comics endings
Science fiction comics
Fictional planets
Fictional locations in comics
Comics adapted into video games