Hi again from Feral Cat Den! This time, we’ll be talking about another inspiration for Nirvana Noir - the works of Alejandro Jodorowsky - the visionary artist, writer, and filmmaker.
You might know of his masterpiece, The Holy Mountain, which has some of the most wild images ever put to film. Rich in symbolism and surrealism, the film follows a man and his disciples to a mountain of immortal wise men.
The Holy Mountain was actually funded by Allen Klein, president of The Beatles’ company Apple Corps, after John Lennon saw Jodorowsky’s first film, El Topo, in New York City. Lennon convinced Klein to distribute El Topo in the US, which resulted in The Holy Mountain being funded.
Just a heads up - this might be pretty intense!
There’s influence of some sets from The Holy Mountain in the colorful Constant Club in Nirvana Noir - take a look below!
Jodorowsky also created the classic comic with Moebius (aka Jean Giruad), The Incal. Containing three stories, The Incal, Before the Incal and Final Incal, the tales follow John DiFool, a PI in a dystopian city in a human-dominated galactic empire. Jodorowsky even worked in elements from his abandoned version of Dune (more on that later!).
This graphic novel is filled with some of the most beautiful illustrations and set in an incredibly dense science fiction universe that’s drenched with symbolic imagery.
We love these works and his other films, comics, and novels, but perhaps the most influential work for Nirvana Noir is The Panic Fables, a collection of comics that Jodorowsky wrote and illustrated while he was banned from creating theater in Mexico City.
While Jodorowsky is known for working with some of the most talented illustrators, these comics he illustrated himself. The rendering might be a bit primitive, but this only accentuates their psychedelic colors, layouts, lettering, and themes.
Finally, one of Jodorowsky’s most famous projects might just be one that never saw the light of day - his version of Dune. Conceived in 1974, he spent two years assembling an all-star group of talent, including Orson Welles, Mick Jagger, David Carradine, Salvador Dali, H.R. Giger, Moebius, Pink Floyd and Magma. Unfortunately, it never proceeded. However, a documentary about his planned release of Dune was released in 2014. Be sure to check it out!
Until next time!