The very prestigious saga of the Meta-Baron returns to bookstores with a seventh volume and changes authors but also characters. Can this sequel be as faithful to a codified universe as to the spirit of freedom of the first comics?
The arrival of a new generation
Moebius and Jodorowsky invented the concept of the Meta-Baron: in a futuristic world, a child becomes the ultimate Warrior of the universe. He has to face humans but also an empire of machines, techno-techno. Still published by Les Humanoïdes Associés, this seventh volume, Adal the Bastard, is the first of a new cycle devoted to the descendants of the warrior.
The series resumes with a new artistic team and the scenario is also that of a handover. In the last cycle, the Meta-Baron saved the universe. Several decades later, Adal, his illegitimate son, leaves to look for his father to respect the tradition of his caste. The new writer is Jerry Frissen. Born in Belgium but living in Los Angeles for twenty years, Frissen straddles both continents. The cartoonist and colorist is also new: Pete Woods became known with Deadpool at Marvel and knows the universe well because he drew Kill Tête-de-Chien, an adventure on a character of the Incal.
The arrival of new themes
Adal lives on the arboreal planet, Algoma. This new planetary framework of the series creates a new theme. Ecology is much more emphasized. The Meta-Baron was raised by the ruler of a caste of Amazons. This matriarchal society is responsible for ensuring respect for the sacred site of epyphite. Further in the volume, we arrive on the planet Larmola. A kingdom refuses to give its pyphite to serve as fuel because its disappearance almost caused the end of the world. Oil comes to mind today because this world has surpassed technology by the scarcity of fuel. Science is often dangerous. This very topical theme is joined by a plural vision of humanity. The opponent who seems to assert himself is the product of miscegenation. It is contaminated by a squid. It keeps growing by devouring ships and becomes a planet ship. One can read in it a critique of productivism and capitalism.
These different themes are beautifully illustrated by Pete Woods. At first glance, the digital style may seem smooth but the very successful fight scenes and repulsive aggressive mutants show that with Woods blood is spurting.
An ungrateful child
However, this fourth diptych also fully respects the teeming universe of the Meta-Barons. We can first see it superficially by the resumption of the design of the ships with the Meta-Nave leading into the Meta-Bunker.
This seventh volume also takes up the initiatory structure of the previous volumes. Adal gradually enters the destiny of the Meta-Baron. This can be seen physically as an increasing part of its limbs is replaced by mechanical elements. To inherit his father's title, he had to pass tests. These rites involve the use of drugs. The epyphite, evokes the spice of Dune by the mystical vision of psychotropic drugs: the epyphite allows to have visions and to guess who is lying.
Adal also undergoes a strange Freudian concept. Bastard excluded from his clan, he is raised by his mother but mostly alone. He was trained without love by his mother to kill his father. He wants to follow the plan not for the clan but to replace his father. Intimate relationships are complex. He dreams of perfect love but is deceived. In a mixture of spirit of vengeance and thirst for recognition, Adal suffers the curse transmitted from father to son.
In this very dark and virilist atmosphere, the Tonto robot brings a touch of humor. Well known by the previous volumes, the Meta-Baron has erased most of his memory and he is left on the planet Marmola. It has aged because it has oil leaks and therefore fears becoming incontinent.
Legendary series about a legendary warrior, the Meta-Barons remains an excellent science fiction series even if the authors have abandoned their creation. Their replacements know how to balance the respect of a remarkable universe and the introduction of new themes fully contemporary. The character of Adal is largely at the height of his father and the last twist of this first volume announces an even more beautiful sequel.
You can find other releases of the Associated Humanoids with Carthago and Sapiens Imperium.
