Shingouz

The Shingouz are a fictional, alien species created by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières in the French comic book series "Valérian and Laureline".

Biology and culture

Shingouz are brown, short-furred creatures, little less than a metre tall, resembling flightless birds with a snout instead of a beak.

Shingouz mating is a very complex ritual where three pairs of Shingouz, each consisting of a male and a female, go through a choreography that can last for several days.

Shingouz have an extremely high tolerance and preference for strong alcoholic beverages, which they consume in large quantities. Their preferred drink is a local one called glingue, whose exact nature has never been mentioned but which is rumoured to be strong enough to be toxic to humans. Shingouz like their alcohol so strong that one of them once mistook lamp oil for a drink.

The Shingouz society is capitalist to the extreme. Shingouz want a profit from everything they do. They are especially adept in trading important and sensitive information to interested parties. They store their innumerable lucky finds in small double sacks, which they never give up.

A group of three Shingouz usually meet Valérian and Laureline on their travels. They are especially fond of Laureline, which she often uses to her advantage in striking favourable deals with them, and they are soothed when she pats them on the head. This trio is in the business of trading information and is an excellent source, having many contacts in various worlds.

Appearances

The Shingouz have appeared in the following "Valérian" albums:
*"Ambassador of the Shadows"
*"The Ghosts of Inverloch"
*"The Rage of Hypsis"
*"On the Frontiers"
*"The Circles of Power"
*"Hostages of the Ultralum"
*"In Uncertain Times"

References

*Mézières, Jean-Claude and Christin, Pierre, "Les Habitants du Ciel: Atlas Cosmique de Valérian et Laureline" ("The Inhabitants of the Sky: The Cosmic Atlas of Valerian and Laureline"), ISBN 2-205-03921-0 (Volume 1), ISBN 2-205-04984-4 (Volume 2).