Luc Orient

• Creator — Greg, Eddy Paape • Status — Discontinued • Genre — Science fiction • First — 1967 • Last — 1994 • Publisher — Le Lombard, Dargaud

Luc Orient was originally serialized in the weekly Tintin magazine starting on January 17, 1967. It was one of the several series simultaneously launched by then-editor Greg to give the magazine a needed facelift. Luc Orient's adventures were then collected as a series of graphic novels by Éditions du Lombard, starting in 1969. The series continued regularly with one or two volumes per year until episode 13, L'enclume de la foudre was released in 1978. After Tintin ceased publication in 1978 (following several name changes), the later episodes were released sporadically. The series was to be reprinted in an omnibus edition, two volumes in one, by Pictoris Studio, under the title L'intégrale de Luc Orient; but only three tomes (i.e. the first six volumes) ever appeared, between 1998 and 1999.

Luc Orient, professor Hugo Kala from Eurocristal laboratory and his secretary Lora, share several adventures involving aliens and scientific mysteries. At the beginning, the trio discovers a stranded spaceship with a hibernating alien crew; professor Kala's arrival brings hope to the refugees from the planet Terango (Episodes 1-2). They then travel to Terango to thwart the evil tyrant Sectan who plots to invade Earth (Episodes 3-5). Subsequent adventures involve a series of scientific mysteries. Luc and Lora even acquire temporary superpowers in Episode 6.