Valérian and Laureline, a Pilote Serial

Abstract This article argues that numerous characteristics of Valérian et Laureline derive from its original context of publication in Pilote and the ways in which Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézière negotiated the norms and constraints of the magazine. By examining the other recurring comics published at the same time as Valérian in Pilote, it seeks to show that the series was conceived as an original way to fill an identified gap in the magazine's generic system, yet opted for stylistic and narrative choices fully compatible with the tacit assumptions regarding Pilote content. The article further highlights the magazine's fascination with technology, and the space race in particular. It argues that Valérian benefited from this enthusiasm, but was also one of the first sites in the magazine to articulate a critical discourse about it.