Barbarella 1968: Pop Art, Sex & Space Opera

As always, there are spoilers ahead.

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Graphic novels and comics were widely considered to be for children in the early 1960s. It was a relatively small number of artists and publishers who were working to have comics seen as a viable form of art as well as making comics for adults.

Although the history of comics for adults is definitely older, this period marks a surge in European interest in the medium. Famous film producer Dino de Laurentiis helped this when he bought the filming rights to adult comics Diabolik (from Italy) and Barbarella (from France) turning them both in to movies in the 1960s.

De Laurentiis originally wanted Bridget Bardot for the title role and after she turned it down, he looked to Sophia Loren who did the same. His third choice was Jane Fonda who initially rejected the script until her then husband Roger Vadim convinced her to take it. Vadim joined as Director and the rest is kitschy sci-fi history.

I have two fantastic guests to talk through this swinging 60s sci-fi space opera oddity.

Lisa Yaszek is Regents' Professor of Science Fiction Studies at Georgia Tech and has written/edited extensively on science fiction.

Hugo Frey is Professor of History at the University of Chichester. He has a special interest in graphic novels and is co-author of the 2026 book The Look of the 1960s. Barbarella and the Pulp Pop Comics.

CORRECTION: In the question about the legacy of Barbarella I say Star Trek when I mean Star Wars.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:17 Sci-fi precedence

03:45 Barbarella comic origins

06:31 1960s France and the rise of adult comics

09:37 Jane Fonda playing it straight

10:59 Jean Claude Forest

12:22 Jane Fonda: Body dysmorphia and sexploitation

14:01 Censorship

19:19 Pop Art and design

26:56 Big hair and science fiction

32:24 Terry Southern

35:50 UK vs US reception

41:48 Government girl with a gun

44:22 A progressive Barbarella?

46:48 Masculinity and femininity

55:37 Recommendations

Recommendations:

Born in Flames (1983)

Bardot, Deneuve and Fonda: The Memoirs of Roger Vadim

Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg (2024)

NEXT EPISODE!

Next episode we will be talking about The Planet of the Apes (1968). Planet of the Apes is available to rent or buy from major online platforms including Apple TV. It is also available on Disney+ in the UK. You can check the Just Watch website to find where it may be streaming in your region.