MAJOR
GRUBERT
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  Real Name: Major Grubert
(first name possibly André).
Identity/Class: Alternate
Reality (Earth-74314) human;
space, time & dimensions traveler;
advanced technology user
Occupation: World-shaper
Group Membership: The Ciguri;
previously Servant of the Nagual
Affiliations: The
Archer, the Artist, Cervic, Lark Dalxtrey, Finnegar, Graad,
Malvina, Samuel
Mohad, Okania
formerly Lewis
Carnelian, Lady Kowalski
Enemies: The Bakalite, Orne Batmagoo, the Bouch
Tar'Hai, Lewis Carnelian, Torpeniczel
Chot, the General, Sper
Gossi, Jasper, the
Jouk, the Nagual, Famechon
Plikan, the President, the Tar'Hai
Known Relatives: Unrevealed
Aliases: The Major
Base of Operations:The Ciguri
First Appearance: Pilote #749 (March 14,
1974);
(Marvel/Epic) Moebius 3: The Airtight Garage
(1987)
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Powers/Abilities: The Major has vast
knowledge of time, space and alternate dimensions and has access
to highly advanced futuristic science and technology.
He is endowed with a variety of
superhuman including ESP, flight, energy manipulation and
immortality; the point of his helmet connects him to the bridge
of the Ciguri.
He created vast and
complex Airtight Garage from the pleasure asteroid known as
Flower.
The Ciguri was the spaceship via
which the Major traveled. |
Height: Unrevealed. (approximately 6'4")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 180 lbs)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black
History:
(The Airtight Garage (fb)) - According to the Archer, Grubert was born in
1958 in Baden-Oos, West Germany on an Alternate Earth. He worked as a
journalist for Divelt, a German newspaper founded in 1946, and went
missing during the Vietnam war, when he accidentally stepped through a
transtime circle at Angkor.
He ended up in the 19th century, where he
was taken in by a Brahman from Pondicherry. Initiated to the equivalent of
a phase IV level, he worked for thirteen years in laboratories of spatial
magic. Having teamed up with another explorer, Lewis Carnelian, they came
across the wreck of the Otra ark, mother ship of the great ancient ones,
on a routine flight at the edge of the nebula Hakbah of Saligaa. when
Grubert discovered the secret of immortality.
(The Airtight Garage (fb)) -
A photograph was taken of a young Grubert, Lewis Carneliam and his
brother, Erik, taken on Random Earth SDX during the Great Aeronautic War
that took place two thousands year ago.
(The Airtight Garage (fb)) - Grubert and Lewis met the Nagual, an entity
who (according to him) "stands immobile and silent at the center of the
web of time." Carnelian added that the Nagual lied "hidden within the
folds of the fabric of time" and "governs the destinies of mortals." They
agreed to serve the Nagual.
(Major Fatal (fb)) - At some undetermined time, on the planet
Syldaine-Cygnoos, Grubert killed "an old Bakalite with terrible powers" in
order to steal a junctor. Whether he still served the Nagual or not at
that time is uncertain.
The Bakalite are an
alien race who exist in the "A-void".
(The Airtight Garage (fb)) - At some undetermined time, Grubert escaped
or was freed from the Nagual, intent on extending his power throughout the
galaxy.
(The Horny Goof (fb)) - At some undetermined time, Grubert came across
"Flower," the legendary pleasure asteroid of Lady Kowalski located in the
constellation of the Lion; the nature of his connection with the lady
(presumably amorous) remains unmentioned.
(The Airtight Garage (fb)) - With the help of thirteen expansion
generators, Grubert turned Flower into a vast and complex world, with
three levels, nicknamed the Airtight Garage; ten additional generators
were later added.
The First Level is what remained of Flower.
Under it is an immense and complex machine world that
houses the expansion generators.
The Second Level has a tundra, great, fertile plains,
trains are the technology; one of its major city-state is Armjourth,
nicknamed the Pearl of the Tundra.
The Third Level is savage and primitive; it has
steppes, a desert, and a dim, still sun. Mrhu is a town located in the
desert region. There are pyramids full of corpses guarded by giant
Graverobbers.
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 (The
Elsewhere Prince#1-6) - On the Third Level, a wandering Artist
teamed up with a group of Barch Mercenaries when they were faced
by a deadly Jouk (something like a giant ant). He then joined the
Army of the Four Kingdoms looking to defeat the monstrous
Bouch'Tar'Hai.
Meanwhile, aboard the Ciguri, Major Grubert
warned the Archer that they were approaching a crisis and
dispatched him to the Third Level. Led by the General, a group of
plotters attempted to kill the Archer to seize his bow. Suddenly,
the Bouch'Tar'Hai appeared. Using the bow, the Artist managed to
destroy it. The Artist then returned to his village to find it in
the thrall of the Jouk, but the Major saved the day, using his
vast powers to freeze everything in place and then send the
General and his troops home.
(Onyx Overlord #1-4) - Lark Dalxtrey teamed up with a private eye
from Armjourth called Finnegar to stop the alien slaver Famechon
Plikan from invading the Airtight Garage. Searching for the Major,
who had disappeared, Dalxtrey and Finnegar traveled to RandomEarth
YBY, where the Confederacy was still fighting the Mexican Empire.
Eventually, Dalxtrey and Finnegar arrived on Onyx, the Famechon’s
homeworld. Major Grubert then revealed his presence and activated
his giant Starbilliard
robot in order to fight the Famechon's own Overlord.
(The Airtight Garage) - On the Third Level, young Engineer
Barnier, working in one of the Ciguri’s local bases, unwittingly
caused an accident that would weaken the Airtight Garage’s
expansion generators. Aboard the Ciguri, the Major discovered that
the Garage had been invaded. He rightly suspected that the invader
was Lewis Carnelian, his former companion in the service of the
Nagual, a powerful cosmic entity. The Major dispatched his agent
Samuel L. Mohad, an android, and Okania to the Third Level inside
a Starbilliard robot. They met and defeated a Graverobber, but the
Starbilliard was destroyed by a Tar’Hai wizard. They escaped and
managed to reach the Second Level. 
Meanwhile, despite the advice of his fiancée,
the beautiful Malvina, the Major himself traveled to Armjourth on
the Second Level. There, he met up with Sam Mohad and Okania in a
café, but Sam was shot by Sper Gossi, an agent of the Tar’hai
revival movement. Meanwhile, Barnier had met up with Jasper, Lewis
Carnelian’s lieutenant, who introduced him to the mysterious
Archer. The Archer offered to take Barnier out of the Garage, and
together they traveled to the Second Level.
On the Ciguri, Malvina dispatched Laerk
Dalxtrey to help the Major, but he was mistakenly transported to
another RandomEarth. Meanwhile, the President of Armjourth had
dispatched the Airplane of Destiny to kill the Major, but the
Archer destroyed it, which further weakened the expansion
generators. However, the Archer succeeded in escaping the Garage
with Barnier.
The Major located Graad, Okania’s father, who
restored him to his full powers. He then met with Lewis Carnelian,
who had come to judge him and his creation. Together, they
traveled to the First Level and discovered that the Garage has
also been invaded by the Bakalite, evil creatures of chaos. Sper
Gossi, who dreamed of overthrowing his creator, had allied himself
with the Bakalite.
The Major and Lewis joined forces and defeated
the Bakalite, sending him back to the chaotic A-void from which he
came. However, Lewis lost his life in the battle, and the Nagual
stripped the Major of his immortality and powers. Nonetheless, the
Garage was safe, restored to its initial state. The Major was then
forced by Gossi to flee his creation, and found himself back on
Earth.
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Comments: Created by Jean
Giraud (a.k.a. Moebius).
Per a
French Wikipedia:
Major
Grubert's first cartoon appearances took place in the 1970s in
the weekly Pilote ("in a hoax column on the wonders of the
Universe,” in issue 749 of 14/03/1974) and in the special "summer" pages
of the daily newspaper France-Soir. He was then the hero of short
satirical comic strips, under the title La chasse au Français en
vacances.
--Snood
Other non-Marvel issues featuring the Major include:
(The Man from the Ciguri 1) - While
his friends on the Ciguri searched for him, the Major was lost on an
alternate earth desperately trying to find his way home, pursued by
assassins sent on a vengeance mission by Sper Gossi.
(The Man from the Ciguri 2) - Twenty-two pages in which the Major
returned to Armjourth, the Tar'Hai wizard returned, and Orne Batmagoo
suffered various torments, however,
the events did not bring the story to an in-universe conclusion.
(Le Chasseur Déprime) - Not quite a direct sequel to The Airtight
Garage and The Man from the Ciguri, more a complement to both, which
perhaps takes its cue from the irresolute ending of the latter story.
(The Major) - The Major embarked on an examination of the
relationship between himself and his creator (Moebius), realizing he
must suffer at the whim of his creator, despite his passionate desire
for real life and freedom beyond comics. The sequences appear to occupy
a kind of hinterland behind or before Giraud’s Inside Moebius series
where the Major is fully aware of being one of Mœbius’ characters. Here,
at first, he does not, and he is not easily reconciled to it.
Major Grubert is also the subject of a number of
short, humorous comic stories, but as these are not part of the
continuity, they have not been recorded above. They are:
The Hunt for the Vacationing
Frenchman (La Chasse aux Français en Vacances, France-Soir, 1974; in
Moebius#6: Pharagonesia, Epic, 1988)
Les Merveilles de l’Univers
(Pilote#749, 1974)
Une Aventure du Major Grubert (Metal
Hurlant#2, 1975)
Le Major Grubert - The Forbidden City
Rides Again (Fluide Glacial#2, 1975)
La Flore de Paradis 9 (Metal
Hurlant#19, 1977)
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Major Grubert and Malvina also appear
throughout the six-volume Inside Moebius series (Stardom/Moebius
Productions, 2000–2010) (Moebius Library #2, #4, #5, Dark Horse,
2018). There, The Major is part of Moebius’ world rather than a
world-maker, and realizes it.
The character of "Master Burg" in the Aedena series is likely a
future incarnation of the Major. In French his name is Maitre
Burg. If you read it backwards it says "Grubert I am".
The name "Jerry Cornelius", which originated
with Michael Moorcock, and was used by permission, was changed in
the 1987 Epic translation to that of "Lewis Carnelian" not
because, as it was often reported, Moorcock was not entirely happy
about his appropriation (he was), but because the IP was being
licensed to Hollywood film studios and Moebius could not legally
license a name he didn't own or control. In any event, Jerry
Cornelius' real name in the story is said to be "Lewis Cern".
 The Airtight Garage
was also the name of a bar and videogame parlor in the Metreon in
San Francisco, featuring unique original games developed for the
venue. The name and architectural styling was no coincidence, and
Moebius souvenirs could be purchased there. The arcade was later
renamed Portal One, and the original games were phased out in
favor of more familiar ones (although the decor was still
Moebius-inspired). It closed permanently on 13 May 2007.
This profile was completed
9/22/2024, but its publication was delayed as it was intended
for the Appendix 25th anniversary 's celebratory
event.
Profile by Jean-Marc Lofficier.
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CLARIFICATIONS:
Major Grubert should be distinguished from:
- MAJOR AMERICA
of Earth-11418 ( ) - Americommand--Captain America
Corps#1
- MAJOR DOMO -
personal assistant of Mojo--Longshot#4
- MAJOR JONES of
Earth-928 circa 2099 A.D. - dealer of Chameleon 2099, mutated by
it--2099 Unlimited#10
- MAJOR
LIBERTY (John Liberty) – World War II hero, professor of
American history. Able to summon ghosts from America's past to
help him against crime and enemy agents--(g) USA
Comics#1
- MAJOR LOVE ( ) - leader of
D.E.A.D., released poisoned money above crowd of homeless people in
Los Angeles, defeated by Spider-Man and Generation X--Marvel Team-Up
II#1
- MAJOR MAPLELEAF (Louis
Sadler) – World War II, Canadian hero, ally on Invaders, father of
Michael and Louis, revealed id in 1963, retired to raise Michael, who
was a gay man who contracted aids and died, battled Northstar in
recent times when attempted to kill an infant with H.I.V. due to
jealousy of its public support. Enhanced strength + durability--Alpha
Flight I#106
- MAJOR MAPLELEAF
(Sgt. Commander Edmond Louis Sadler) - Alpha Flight reserves, Canadian
hero, RCMP?, son of original--Alpha Flight III#1
- MAJOR MERCURY -
see MAKKARI. identity used as part of First Line circa late
1960s--Marvel: Lost Generation#5
- MAJOR MINOR
( ) - "Circus of Lost Souls," refugee from Circus of
Crime. Diminutive man, belligerent attitude--Incredible Hulk II#217
- MAJOR OAK - Lionheart,
warrior of the Lord high Protector, leads the Huscarls. Strong
+durable, master warrior + swordsman--Death's Head II#3
- MAJOR VICTORY
( ) - fictional character circa World War
II--[Invaders I#16]
- MAJOR VICTORY
of Earth-691 (Vance Astrovik) - alternate future counterpart of
Justice, mutant, Earth-691's Guardians of the Galaxy. Uses shield of
Captain America, telekinesis-aka Vance Astro* (M)--Guardians of the
Galaxy#19
- MAJOR VIOLENCE
(
)
- Delta City, super-hero, has toys modeled after him--Bill & Ted#9
- MAJOR X of
Earth-19647 (Alexander Nathaniel Summers) - son of Cable and Storm,
grew up in the X-Istence--Major X#1
- MAJOR ZEMO of
Earth-9602 - Baron Zemo + Iron Major--Super Soldier: Man o War#1
- GRUBER - circa 1962, agent
of Luther Krumhausen, worked on case of Darius
Zamora--Journey into Mystery I#80
- GRUBER, - Ryker's Island
guard--Daredevil II#82
- "GRUBER, Dr." - employee of
Frederick Dirkreich--Marvel Super-Heroes III#2/5
- GRUBER, BARBARA
- see MOTHER
MATRIX--Marvel Comics Presents#156
- GRUBER, Major EMIL - 1940s,
US Army's Director of Information, propaganda expert, pushed idea of
flag-themed costume for Captain America--Adventures of Captain
America#1
- GRUBER, ERNST - rocket
scientist circa 1953, ambushed by communist spy Joe Borden--Menace#4/2
- GRUBER, FRANZ -
see BARON
ZEMO impostor--Avengers I#6
- GRUBER, NELSON
- see BOOKWORM--Sleepwalker
I#4
- GRUBERVELT, HANS
- see EXECUTIONER--Avengers
I#7
- other "Major" or
"Grubert" characters, groups, items, events, races or places...
images: (without ads)
Major Grubert poster - Marvel Moebius posters (1990) (main)
Epic Graphic Novel: Moebius 3: The Airtight Garage, p26,
pan4 (headshot without helmet)
Epic Graphic Novel: Moebius 3: The Airtight Garage cover (headshot
with helmet)
Epic Graphic Novel: Moebius 3: The Airtight Garage, p57,
pan5 (photo with Grubert, Lewis and Eric)
Heavy Metal vol.1, inside back cover, originally from Métal Hurlant cover
(seated hunting photo)
Epic Graphic Novel: Moebius 3: The Airtight Garage, p102, pan2 (superhero
Grubert)
Epic Graphic Novel: Moebius 5: The Gardens of Aedena, p42, pan2 (Master
Burg)
Onyx Overlord#4, p4, pan1 (Starbilliard)
And this image - per JML: I have no idea about
the source of that image, but can confirm it was definitely drawn a few
years before his passing, likely for an art exhibit of some kind. Not a
poster, however. Probably a painting.
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Appearances:
Pilote
#749 (March 14, 1974)
The Hunt for the Vacationing Frenchman (La Chasse
aux Français en Vacances, France-Soir, 1974); in English:
Moebius#6: Pharagonesia (Epic; 1988)
The Horny Goof: Le Bandard Fou Editions du Fromage (1974); in
English: Moebius#0: The Horny Goof (Dark Horse, 1990)
Major Fatal: Le Major Fatal in Métal Hurlant #6 (1976) included in Major
Fatal (Humanoïdes, 1979); in English: Moebius#3: The Airtight Garage
(Epic, 1987); The Airtight Garage #1-4 (Epic, 1993)
The Airtight Garage: Le Garage Hermétique de Jerry Cornelius in Métal
Hurlant #6-41 (1976-79) included in Major Fatal (Humanoïdes, 1979); in
English: Moebius #3: The Airtight Garage (Epic, 1987)
The Elsewhere Prince #1-6 (Epic, 1990) (plot by Moebius, script by RJM
Lofficier; art by Eric Shanower)
Onuyx Overlord #1-4 (Epic, 1992) (plot by Moebius, script by RJM
Lofficier; art by Jerry Bingham)
The Man from the Ciguri 1: The Man from the Ciguri in Cheval Noir #26-30,
#33-37, #40, #41, #50 (Dark Horse, 1992-95); L'Homme du Ciguri
(Humanoïdes, 1995); in English: The Man from the Ciguri (Dark Horse, 1996)
The Man from the Ciguri 2: The Man from the Ciguri in Moebius Comics#1-3,
#5 (Caliber Press, 1996-97)
Le chasseur déprime (Stardom, 2008)
Le Major (Moebius Productions, 2011); in English: Moebius Library#6: The
Major (Dark Horse, 2024)
First posted: 09/10/2026
Last updated: 09/08/2026
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
Copyright info
All characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and © 1974
The Estate of Jean "Moebius" Giraud. All Rights Reserved. If you like
this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit Official Moebius Site at: https://www.moebius.fr/
Special Thanks to
www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!
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