Barbarella

Jean-Claude Forest’s Barbarella launched in 1967 with a single, landmark issue from Bertelsmann, introducing the iconic sci-fi heroine whose liberated, psychedelic adventures redefined European comics. Forest served as both writer and artist, crafting a visually lush, erotic space opera that blended whimsical fantasy with sharp social commentary. Though the series’ initial run was brief, its influence on the medium and pop culture at large remains profound, cementing Barbarella as a symbol of 1960s counterculture and a touchstone for adult-oriented graphic storytelling.