Rork
Encyclopedia
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
s by Andreas. It is also the name of the protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
of the series.
The character Rork is a white-haired "wizard" from another dimension who solves supernatural mysteries, before embarking on a quest to discover his origins. During his quest, he is assisted by a cast of characters including occult detective Raffington Event, astrologer Capricorn, the psychic Deliah Darkthorne (aka "Low Valley") and her daughter Sy-Ra, the immortal Yosta, and others. His enemies are the mysterious Pharass and Dahmaloch, revealed to be an analogy for the Devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
himself in the later and twin Capricorne series.
The Rork series is notable for its use of allegory, mysticism, visual sequencing and unusual "dynamic" framing, with a visual structure and rhythm rather uncommon in European comics.
Many mysteries explored in the various albums are not revealed until the seventh album and some albums of the twin Capricorne series, and even then many enigmas remain unanswered for the reader.
The series
- Fragments (Lombard, 1984)
- Passages (Lombard, 1984)
- Le Cimetière des Cathédrales (The Graveyard of Cathedrals) (Lombard, 1988)
- Lumière d'Etoile (Starlight) (Lombard, 1988)
- Capricorne (Capricorn) (Lombard, 1990)
- Descente (Descent) (Lombard, 1992)
- Retour (Return) (Lombard, 1993)
Publishing history
The Rork stories were originally serialized in the magazine TintinTintin (magazine)
Le journal de Tintin or Kuifje , was a weekly Belgian comics magazine of the second half of the 20th century...
in 1978; after the Belgian edition was cancelled in 1980 the series continued in the French and Dutch edition of the magazine.
The first five Rork stories were translated by Jean-Marc Lofficier
Jean-Marc Lofficier
Jean-Marc Lofficier is a French author of books about films and television programs, as well as numerous comic books and translations of a number of animation screenplays. He usually collaborates with his wife, Randy Lofficier .-Biography:Jean-Marc Lofficier was born in Toulon, France in 1954...
& Randy Lofficier. They were first serialized in b&w in Dark Horse's "Cheval Noir" comic, then published as graphic novels by NBM.
Capricorn
Capricorn is an astrologer and crime-fighter whose real identity is unknown. Ably assisted by librarian Astor and stunt flyer Ash Grey, Capricorn fights occult threats in the New York of the 1930s. His arch-enemy is the mysterious Mordor Gott.Capricorn stories
- 1. L'Objet (The Object) (Lombard, 1996)
- 2. Électricité (Electricity) (Lombard, 1997)
- 3. Deliah (Lombard, 1998)
- 4. Le Cube Numérique (The Numerical Cube) (Lombard, 1999)
- 5. Le Secret (The Secret) (Lombard, 2000)
- 6. Attaque (Attack) (Lombard, 2001)
- 7. Le Dragon Bleu (The Blue Dragon) (Lombard, 2002)
- 8. Tunnel (Lombard, 2003)
- 9. Le Passage (Lombard, 2004)
- 10. Les Chinois (Lombard, 2005)
- 11. Patrick (Lombard, 2006)
Note: Capricorn's encounter with Rork (in Rork Nos. 5 and 7) takes place between Volumes 4 and 5 of the series.