FR EN
1 / 3
cartoon of a man with a robot on his head holding a signcartoon drawing of a man and a woman with a robot on their headsa drawing of a man holding a surfboard on the beach
Premium FauveParis

95 - Jean-Claude Mézières (1938–2022) Darth Vader? Never heard of…
See original version (French)

Estimate €1,000 - €1,500
Sale commission
Description
Jean-Claude Mézières (1938–2022) Darth Vader? Never heard of him! Indian ink and gouache on paper, signed in the bottom right-hand corner by Mézières and monogrammed by Evelyne Tranlé, executed on the reverse of an original, uncoloured blue blank artwork from plate 26 of the Valérian album ‘Les Foudres d’Hypsis’ 27 x 22 cm Condition report: Framed. Very good condition. There is a 2 cm white patch in the first speech bubble. An iconic illustration, in which Mézières playfully references the (well-documented) borrowings from Valérian’s visual universe by *Star Wars*: here, Valérian poses alongside a ‘Connaisseur’, a character from the album *The Empire of 1,000 Planets* who bears a resemblance to Darth Vader, both in the shape of his helmet – which he never takes off – and in what lies beneath it: a gaunt, almost scorched face… The referential dialogue playfully – and with a touch of exasperation – highlights the fact that Mézières’ creation (1969) predates that of George Lucas (1977). The original artwork is by Jean-Claude Mézières, whilst the original gouache colouring is by Evelyne Tranlé, colourist for the *Valérian* series.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale The 70s, 80s, 90s & 2000s – Iconic Decades VI
Auction location
Auction time 09/26/2026 at 10:30 AM
Pictures modified on 09/12/2026 at 6:21 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
You may also like