Jean-Claude M�zi�res is a French comic strip artist and illustrator. Born and raised in Paris, he was introduced to drawing by his older brother and influenced by comics artists such as Herg�, Andre Franquin and Morris and later by Jij� and Jack Davis. Educated at the Institut des Arts Appliqu�s, upon graduation he worked as an illustrator for books and magazines as well as in advertising. A lifelong interest in the Wild West led him to travel to the United States in 1965 in search of adventure as a cowboy, an experience that would prove influential on his later work. Returning to France, M�zi�res teamed up with his childhood friend, Pierre Christin, to create Val�rian and Laureline, the popular, long-running science fiction comics series for which he is best known and which has proved to be influential to many science fiction and fantasy films, including Star Wars. M�zi�res has also worked as a conceptual designer on several motion picture projects ? most notably the 1997 Luc Besson film, The Fifth Element ? as well as continuing to work as an illustrator for newspapers, magazines and in advertising. 

September 23rd, 1938 in Paris  /  Died:   Jan 23rd, 2022 - aged 83