Michel Vaillant

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Michel Vaillant is a Belgian comic book character created in 1957 by Belgian (French-born) cartoonist Jean Graton and published by Le Lombard. Later, Jean Graton published the albums by himself.

Michel Vaillant is a French racing driver who competes mainly in Formula 1. The comic first appeared in Tintin, where Graton had already published a number of short stories about real sporting heroes. In 1957, he started with a fictional series about a racing driver.

Contents 1 Series overview 2 Characters 3 Michel Vaillant in English 4 In other media 5 External links

[edit] Series overview

Vaillante is a family-run French business which, in the beginning, is a transporting company. They also create their own trucks and cars and decide to enter Formula 1. In the following seventy plus adventures, Michel Vaillant and the Vaillante race team compete in numerous races in Formula 1 and other driving competitions (like IndyCar, rallying or enduro challenges).

Michel is the main driver, his habitual team-mate being American Steve Warson. The team is managed by Michel's older brother Jean-Pierre. The company president is their father, Henri.

The comic is notable for featuring real-life motor racing figures, including drivers like Jackie Stewart and Alain Prost and teams like Ferrari or Williams. Michel himself is often seen being interviewed by real-life journalist Gérard "Jabby" Crombac.

In recent years Jean Graton has left part of the work to his son Philippe Graton.

[edit] Characters

• Michel Vaillant: Frenchman, main character
  • Françoise Vaillant: French, Michel's wife
  • Patrick Vaillant: Frenchman, Michel's son. (Until now, he has never appeared in one the albums)
• Jean-Pierre Vaillant: Frenchman, Michel's six year older brother
  • Jean-Michel Vaillant: Frenchman, Jean-Pierre's son
• Henri Vaillant: Frenchman, Michel's and Jean-Pierre's father
• Benjamin Vaillant: Frenchman, Henri's brother, Michel's godfather
• Steve Warson: American, Michel's best friend
• Yves Douleac: Frenchman, Michel's godchild
• Mauro Bianchi: Belgian, one of Michel's team mates
• Lucien Bianchi: Belgian, Mauro's brother
• Bill Rix: Brittish: In the beginning Michel's rival, afterwards he becomes his team mate.
• Louis Latour: Henri's best friend and Françoise's father
• Jacky Ickx: Belgian, Michel's team mate. (Jacky is one of the many characters who lives in reality)
  • Vanina Ickx: Belgian, Jacky's daughter.

[edit] Michel Vaillant in English

In 2007, Studio Graton translated three titles into English:

1. 1 The Great Challenge
2. 70 24 Hours Under the Influence
3. 68 China Moon

[edit] In other media

There was a Michel Vaillant animated series. It was released in the U.S. as Heroes on Hot Wheels. Michel's name was anglicized to Michael Valiant.

A Michel Vaillant film was made in 2003. There is also a corresponding soundtrack to the movie composed by the band Archive.

[edit] External links

• Michel Vaillant official page
• Michel Vaillant at the Internet Movie Database
• Heroes on Hot Wheels at the Internet Movie Database