​Jean-Claude Forest was a true innovator of the comics scene of the 1960s and the 1970s, mainly because of the classic 'Barbarella' series. He made his debut at the publishing house Élan, where he drew comics like 'Le Vaisseau Hanté', 'Hyppolite et les Diamants de Pésetas-City'. He then worked for the magazines O.K., Caméra 34 and Vaillant. For the latter, he created the 'Copyright/Copyrit' series. he joined the S.P.E. ('Société Parisienne d'Édition) in 1952, where he took over the 'Charlot' character and began series like 'Mike Hagarth'. Throughout the 1950s, he was an illustrator for numerous magazines and pocket books.​