Death of Jean Graton, the creator of Michel Vaillant

It is a motorsport monument which passed away this Thursday, January 21. At the age of 97, Jean Graton, the inventor of the Michel Vaillant comic strip saga, dedicated to motor sports, has died.

The French designer born in Nantes on 10 August 1923, the same year as the first 24 Hours of Le Mans, had emigrated to Belgium to flourish in the world of comics. After knocking on the doors of Brussels publishing houses, Jean Graton began his fiction stories, before the editor-in-chief of Tintin magazine, André Fernez, suggested to him the idea of ​​creating a car racing hero. It will be Michel Vaillant, in 1957.

The first volume by Michel Vaillant appeared two years later, and was called “The Great Challenge”. “I wanted to put everything into Le Grand Défi. My hero, his family, Formula 1, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Indianapolis, up to the hero offering his blood to the injured opponent, explained Jean Graton. Steve Warson, whom I had created to symbolize the anti-Vaillant, was only supposed to make a brief appearance in this album alone... But as I progressed in the story, he began to become friendly. Michel got attached to it, me too, Steve Warson became the other great hero of this series. »

The albums follow one another as do the successes. Michel Vaillant's winning formula lies first of all in the “documentary” side comic strips, with many details on the vehicles, the atmosphere and the actors of each era of motorsport. THE values ​​of the Vaillant family (loyalty, courage, righteousness) make them models for readers, unlike the enemies, the Leaders.

As the family press release rightly points out, “Among Michel Vaillant's readers, several have become F1 drivers or journalists, among the greatest. Even designers, because Jean Graton created more than 200 Vaillante models, and a real automotive style. »

In 1994, Jean Graton welcomed his son Philippe during the album “Jade’s Trail”, the 57th volume ; he became the scriptwriter of the series and took over completely 10 years later, after the successful experience of Dossiers Michel Vaillant. In 2004, Jean Graton was received by the French Minister of Culture as Commander in the Order of Arts and Letters, proof of the important role that Michel Vaillant plays in the ninth art and in sport.

All AUTO editorial staffhebdo extends its sincere condolences to the family of Jean Graton, starting with his son Philippe, as well as his loved ones.