View source for Michel Vaillant

{{Short description|Comics series about a French  racing car driver}}
{{about|the comics series|the 2003 film|Michel Vaillant (film)|the footballer|Michel Vaillant Mbiobe Mouegni}}
{{Infobox comic book title
<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics--> 
 | image = Michelvaillant01.JPG
 | caption = Cover of ''Le Grand Defi'', the first title of the series<!-- Michel Vaillant, the main character of the eponymous comics series, in the Vaillante team suit. -->
 | format = [[Bande dessinée]]
 | publisher = [[Le Lombard]], Novedi, Fleurus, [[Graton éditeur]]
 | date = 1957 - present
 | main_char_team = Michel Vaillant
 | creators = [[Jean Graton]]
 | writers = Jean Graton, Phillipe Graton 
 | artists = Jean Graton, [[Studio Graton]]
 | colorists = Jean Graton, Studio Graton
}}
'''''Michel Vaillant''''' is a French [[car racing]] [[comics]] series created in 1957 by French<ref>{{cite news|first=Niels |last=Ruëll |title=Studio Graton: de strijd van een kleine uitgever |url=http://www.brusselnieuws.be/artikels/economie/studio-graton-de-strijd-van-een-kleine-uitgever |publisher=Brusselnieuws |location=Brussels, Belgium |date=December 1, 2005 |language=Dutch |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804115952/http://www.brusselnieuws.be/artikels/economie/studio-graton-de-strijd-van-een-kleine-uitgever |archivedate=August 4, 2009 }}</ref> [[cartoonist]] [[Jean Graton]] and published originally by [[Le Lombard]]. Later, Graton published the albums by himself when he founded [[Graton éditeur]] in 1982. Michel Vaillant is the main character of the eponymous series, a French racing car driver who competes mainly in [[Formula One]].

The feature first appeared in ''[[Tintin (magazine)|Tintin]]'' magazine, where Jean Graton had already published a number of short stories about real-life sporting heroes. The series appeared in ''Tintin'' between 1957 and 1976, in France<ref>{{cite web|work=Bdoubliées.com|url=http://bdoubliees.com/journaltintin/series4/michelvaillant.htm|title=Michel Vaillant dans le journal Tintin édition française|language=French|access-date=2008-10-10|archive-date=2008-10-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013004552/http://www.bdoubliees.com/journaltintin/series4/michelvaillant.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> as well as in Belgium.<ref>{{cite web|work=Bdoubliées.com|url=http://bdoubliees.com/tintinbelge/series3/michelvaillant.htm|title=Michel Vaillant dans le journal Tintin édition belge|language=French|access-date=2008-10-10|archive-date=2008-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011053503/http://bdoubliees.com/tintinbelge/series3/michelvaillant.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> An estimated 17&nbsp;million copies of the series' albums have been sold worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.bdparadisio.com/scripts/detail.cfm?Id=391 |title= Jean Graton|work=BD Paradisio |quote=On estime à 17 millions le nombre d'albums vendus dans le monde depuis 1959}}</ref>

==Publication history==
On February 7, 1957,{{citation needed|date=June 2017}} Jean Graton created the character Michel Vaillant, with five short stories published in the [[Franco-Belgian comics]] magazine ''[[Tintin (magazine)|Tintin]]'', with publication beginning June 12, 1957. With their positive reception, a full-length adventure was written and drawn by Graton, published in ''Tintin'' in 1959.

The titles were first published in album format by [[Le Lombard]] until 1976, then by [[Dargaud]] until 1979, by [[Fleurus]] in 1979 and 1980, by Novedi in 1981 and 1982, and finally by [[Graton editeur]], created and owned by Philippe and Jean Graton from 1983 on.<ref>{{cite web|work=Bdtheque|url= http://www.bdtheque.com/main.php?bdid=661&action=3| title= Michel Vaillant - "Série"|language=French}}</ref>  In 1995, a new series was launched, the ''Dossiers Michel Vaillant'' series, with stories and information on important figures in motorsports and the [[automobile]] industry. In 2000, the ''Palmarès Inedit'' series was created, with early works and stories previously unpublished in books. In 2007, [[Studio Graton]] translated three titles into [[English language|English]]:<ref>{{cite web| work=michelvaillant.com| url=http://www.michelvaillant.com/index%20EN.html| title=Books in English| url-status=dead| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081109063105/http://www.michelvaillant.com/index%20EN.html| archivedate=2008-11-09}}</ref> "The Great Challenge" (Tome 1), "China Moon" (Tome 68), "24 Hours Under the Influence" (Tome 70). In 2008, a new collection was launched by Le Lombard, named ''Integrale Michel Vaillant''. This series plans to reprint all past adventures in 20 volumes of 200 pages, each volume grouping several stories. All the titles of the original series are to be reprinted, and many comments, dossiers and unpublished strips added.

Jean Graton later left the writing to his son Philippe,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.bedetheque.com/auteur-1442-BD-Graton-Philippe.html |title= Graton, Philippe| work = Bedetheque| quote = En 1994, Philippe reprend l'écriture des scénarii de Michel Vaillant}}</ref> gradually leaving the artwork to the [[Studio Graton]], which he established. Since Graton stopped drawing the series himself, the graphic style has evolved, with Philippe Graton continuing with the writing and three artists providing the artwork. Philippe Graton admitted that the draftsmanship isn't as rigorous as it once was.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.actuabd.com/spip.php?article6845&var_recherche=michel%20vaillant| title= Philippe Graton : "Notre studio respecte le style Graton tout en le faisant évoluer" |date=17 June 2008 |work = ActuaBD |quote = On perd donc une certaine spontanéité et nous n’avons pas la même rigueur }}</ref>

==Series overview==
''Vaillante'' is a family-run French business which, in the beginning, was a [[transporting]] company. They also create their own [[truck]]s and cars and so decide to enter [[Formula One]] racing competition. In 1939, Henri Vaillant, a young driver, creates this new team. In the next seventy plus adventures, Michel Vaillant and the Vaillante [[Grand Prix motor racing|race team]] compete in numerous races in Formula One and other driving competitions such as [[American Championship Car Racing|IndyCar]], [[rallying]] or [[enduro]] challenges.

Michel, Henri's son, is the main driver, his usual team-mate being the American, Steve Warson. The team is first managed by Henri Vaillant, then by Michel's older brother Jean-Pierre. Henri has remained the chairman of the Vaillante firm, but was replaced by Jean-Pierre when he retired.

As the Vaillante firm grows, Vaillante's drivers, among them Michel, accumulate victories, but their success is either disrupted by rivals, by internal problems in the Vaillante team or by the "Leader", the greatest of Vaillante's enemies. Most of the adventures deal with motor racing life, but they also deal with the Vaillante team drivers' private lives, with concerns in the Vaillante firm and with various outside problems.

==Realism==
[[Image:MichelvaillantF1.jpg|250px|thumb|A Vaillante F1, designed by Michel Vaillant, as drawn by Jean Graton on the back cover of the most recent albums]]The comic is notable for depicting [[Grand Prix motor racing|real-life motor racing]] background,<ref>{{cite web| publisher =cartype.com (a museum of automobile typography) |url= http://www.cartype.com/pages/1741/vaillante |title=Vaillante|quote=The realistic drawings constitute an exceptional encyclopaedia of 50 years of motor racing}}</ref> featuring many [[List of Formula One drivers|real-life drivers]], [[List of Formula One constructors|teams]] and personalities. Michel Vaillant competes in existing [[Auto racing|motor races]] and [[List of Formula One Grands Prix|Grand Prix]] on [[List of Formula One circuits|real-life circuits]]. In the course of the series, the background in which the characters are featured evolves: the series' environment has always been updated, so that cars, teams and personalities have constantly changed.<ref>[http://marquebd.free.fr/Dossiers/MichelVaillant/formule1.html La Marque BD "Sport-Auto dans Michel Vaillant] "Rétrospective des aventure F1 de Michel Vaillant"</ref>

Graton's graphic style also aims at being realistic, as the illustrations are very technically accurate. Notably, Graton is recognized for the meticulous [[Complexity|details]] he provides on [[Formula One car|cars]] illustrations.<ref>Saturday Morning Cartoons [http://saturdayamcartoons.blogspot.com/2008/07/michel-vaillant.html ''Michel Vaillant'']</ref> The numerous depictions of cars and circuits featured in the series are very specific and detailed; Graton used to personally attend races and circuits to take notes. Philippe Graton later continued this practice.<ref>{{cite web| work = Webcarnews |url= http://www.voitures.com |title= Michel Vaillant affronte les Audi aux 24H du Mans| quote=Pour être le plus réaliste possible, la collaboration avec Vanina Ickx (fille de Jacky et pilote chez Audi) mais aussi avec Luc Donckerwolke, un designer automobile, donne à cet opus un véritable goût d'asphalte.}}</ref>

Michel Vaillant's name is very similar to that of the birth name of automotive pioneer [[Karl Benz]], which was ''Karl Friedrich Michael Vaillant''.

Realism is also expressed in the fictional background. Vaillant's factories and property are prominently featured in the series.  The Vaillante firm is run as a real company, it has financial problems, must launch [[advertising]] campaigns and search for [[sponsor (commercial)|sponsor]]s. It owns factories, which employs several [[engineer]]s and [[mechanic]]s that are realistically described and is shown employing several real-life drivers.

The Vaillants own the familial domain "La Jonquière", located a short drive / cycle ride from the factory, and is home throughout the series to Henri and Elisabeth Vaillant. Michel and Jean Pierre lived there in the early books, before striking out on their own.

As the context in which the characters evolved, Michel also is shown getting older. While he looked like a young man of about twenty years at the beginning of his adventures, he is seen progressively reaching middle-age. Recently his appearance is younger than previously. Other fictional characters are also shown getting older. In recent years, their general appearance has become steady. In spite of this he is still depicted as quite young for a man who has competed against drivers of multiple generations, including [[Juan Manuel Fangio]], [[Graham Hill]] and [[Ayrton Senna]].

==Characters==
[[Image:Michel Vaillant.jpg|left|150px]]'''Michel Vaillant''' is the main character of the series.  Michel Vaillant is a complete driver and sportsman. His main occupation is to drive in the [[Formula One|Formula 1 Championship]]. Michel is named [[List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions|world champion]] in four different albums. He also twice won the [[Indianapolis 500]] and the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]] four times. He also competed in rally races, winning the East [[Safari Rally|African Safari]] and the [[Dakar Rally|Paris-Dakar]]. He participated in several [[stock car racing|stock-car]], [[Formula Two|F2]], [[Formula Three|F3]] and [[FIA GT Championship|GT]] races.

He is also able to drive [[truck]]s and [[motorcycle]]s, and practice [[Association football|football]], [[gymnastics]], [[tennis]], [[judo]] and [[skiing]] very well. As a kind, serious, helpful, attentive, honest and generous man, Michel is very popular.<ref>{{cite web |work=[[Le Nouvel Observateur]] |title=A coeur Vaillant... - Michel Vaillant, l'Intégrale |url=http://automobile.nouvelobs.com/dossiers/2531/marque/modele/article.html?xtmc=michelvaillant&xtcr=7 |quote=Lorsqu'il discute moteur (...), Michel parle en réalité de la Vie, avec un grand V. Celle qui exige force de caractère et droiture. D'ailleurs les femmes qui le côtoient dans ses aventures lui reconnaissent tour à tour les qualités du gendre idéal, du fiston rêvé et du petit-fils parfait. }}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> His many abilities, his courage and his values, his kindness and his physical appearance make him a practically perfect hero, without any flaws.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.kodak.com/US/plugins/acrobat/en/motion/newsletters/inCamera/april2003/vaillant.pdf |title= Michel Vaillant: Bringing a cartoon strip to the screen|work= InCamera |date= April 2003| publisher= Kodak|quote= The character of Michel Vaillant is an ideal mixture of all the characteristics they like to see in a popular hero !}}</ref>

'''Françoise Vaillant''' is Michel's wife. She first appeared in 1963, as a teenager. At that time, she was a journalist for a newspaper owned by her father Louis Latour, a good friend of Henri Vaillant. In 1966, she appeared again, but as an older, attractive young woman. From that time on, she appeared in every album of the series and saw Vaillant more and more, until his family urged him to marry her. They married in 1974. Françoise has an important role in the series, and in some adventures she is the main character.

'''Jean-Pierre Vaillant''' is Michel's older brother by six years. Like Michel, he started as a driver for the Vaillante team. He married Agnès de Chanzy, the daughter of Henri Vaillant's friend living in Argentina, in the very first album. But rapidly, he became more and more interested in managing the family team and to elaborate strategies for [[Formula One racing]]. He soon became the leader of the Vaillante society, replacing his father. Able to make difficult decisions, he also does not hesitate to launch ambitious projects. He has a son, Jean-Michel Vaillant, who is Michel's [[godson]].

'''Steve Warson''' is an American driver and Michel's best friend. He first appeared in the series in 1957. Steve has a different personality than Michel: he smokes, drinks, flirts, fights, and defies other drivers. Despite his several flaws, he is a good driver for the Vaillante team and a faithful teammate to Michel, even if his romantic adventures sometimes caused him to be Vaillante's occasional rival. His numerous girlfriends have included Ruth and [[Julie Wood (comics)|Julie Wood]]. As good driver as Michel, he outdoes him in most rallying and American races.

''' The "Leader"''' is a mysterious character who is the worst enemy of Vaillante and owner of the Leader team. The Leader team uses modern and advanced technology to compete against the Vaillante team in motor races. The team resorts to aggressive strategies to win races and uses dangerous drivers, such as Vince Hummer, Bob Cramer, Dan Hawkins, Donald Payntor, Michael Borman, and Jack Moore. The leader was brought up by Buddhist monks. An ambitious and cruel man, he studied a form of Buddhism that gives him amazing powers, which he uses to try to dominate the motor industry. His first appearance was in the album "Mach 1 pour Steve Warson".

'''Ruth''' alias '''Jo Barett''' is the Leader's daughter and was briefly Steve Warson's girlfriend. Before knowing her real origin, Ruth was a kind girl and friendly towards the Vaillante team. She became cruel and mean, taking over as the new Leader at her father's death, and tried to avenge him by fighting against his enemies.

'''Henri Vaillant''' is Michel and Jean-Pierre's father. He began as a [[mechanic]], then became a driver, created his own team and then became chairman of Vaillante. Rather authoritarian, he gave his two children a strict education. Later, he let his son Jean-Pierre take over as the leader and retired. His way of life remains modest, as chairman he went to work on a [[bicycle]]. A respectable man, close to his [[employee]]s, he is very appreciated by them.

'''Elisabeth Vaillant''' is Henri Vaillant's wife. She married him when he was a simple mechanic, but does not know anything about cars, [[motor racing]], or mechanics.

'''Julie Wood''' is an American [[motorcycle]] racer and at one time Steve Warson's girlfriend. An orphan, she was brought up by her uncle Chris, in [[California]], with her two brothers, Indy and Phil. She is at ease in any kind of [[Motorcycle sport|motorcycle race]]. Before her appearance in the Michel Vaillant series (in the album "Paris-Dakar"), she starred in her own series, ''[[Julie Wood (comics)|Julie Wood]]'', which ran for eight volumes, from 1976 to 1980.

'''Yves Douleac''' is a driver for the Vaillante team. He lost his father, a truck driver for Vaillante at [[Marseilles]], at 7. He was brought up by his mother and he was very admirative of Michel Vaillant, getting to know him personally and being employed as a driver. Courageous and proud, he later fell in love with Gabriele Spangenberg, and succeeded in marrying her despite his modest origin.

'''Gabriele Spangenberg''' is a German female driver for the Vaillante team and Yves Douléac's girlfriend. Her father, of noble heritage, first opposed such a union, due to Yves's poor origin, but later gave his permission, in the face of Gabriele's determination.

'''Bob Cramer''' is an American driver, Vaillante's enemy and a driver for the Leader team along with his friend and partner Dan Hawkins. A drunkard and a brawler, he is also aggressive in motor races where he caused a lot of crashes.

'''Non-fictional characters'''<br />
As a driver evolving in the motor racing background, Michel Vaillant competes with many existing drivers, some of whom play an important part in the stories. [[Pierre Dieudonné]] appeared in some adventures as a driver for the Vaillante team. Drivers, most notably French and Belgians like [[Vanina Ickx|Vanina]] and [[Jacky Ickx]], [[François Cevert]], [[Patrick Tambay]], [[Thierry Boutsen]], [[René Arnoux]], [[Jean-Pierre Beltoise]] and [[Éric Bernard]], have made appearances in the storylines.

[[Gilles Villeneuve]] and [[Jacky Ickx]] are portrayed as good friends of Michel's  as is [[Didier Pironi]], and are the most recurring drivers of the series. [[Didier Pironi]] played an important part in the album: Un pilote a disparu (1980).  Non-fictional team managers and journalists also appear regularly, as do some statesmen and celebrities. Michel himself is often seen being interviewed by real-life journalist [[Gérard Crombac|Gérard "Jabby" Crombac]].

==Publications==
  {{colbegin}}
* Volume 1 : ''Le Grand défi'' (1959)
* Volume 2 : ''Le Pilote sans visage'' (1960)
* Volume 3 : ''Le Circuit de la peur'' (1961)
* Volume 4 : ''Route de nuit'' (1962)
* Volume 5 : ''Le 13 est au départ'' (1963)
* Volume 6 : ''La Trahison de Steve Warson'' (1964)
* Volume 7 : ''Les Casse-cou'' (1964)
* Volume 8 : ''Le 8e pilote'' (1965)
* Volume 9 : ''Le Retour de Steve Warson'' (1965)
* Volume 10 : ''L'Honneur du Samouraï'' (1966)
* Volume 11 : ''Suspense à Indianapolis'' (1966)
* Volume 12 : ''Les Chevaliers de Königsfeld'' (1967)
* Volume 13 : ''Concerto pour pilotes'' (1968)
* Volume 14 : ''Mach 1 pour Steve Warson'' (1968)
* Volume 15 : ''Le Cirque infernal'' (1969)
* Volume 16 : ''Km. 357'' (1969)
* Volume 17 : ''Le Fantôme des 24 heures'' (1970)
* Volume 18 : ''De l'huile sur la piste !'' (1970)
* Volume 19 : ''5 filles dans la course !'' (1971)
* Volume 20 : ''Rodéo sur 2 roues'' (1971)
* Volume 21 : ''Massacre pour un moteur !'' (1972)
* Volume 22 : ''Rush'' (1972)
* Volume 23 : ''Série noire'' (1973)
* Volume 24 : ''Cauchemar'' (1973)
* Volume 25 : ''Des filles et des moteurs'' (1974)
* Volume 26 : ''Champion du monde'' (1974)
* Volume 27 : ''Dans l'enfer du safari'' (1975)
* Volume 28 : ''Le Secret de Steve Warson'' (1975)
* Volume 29 : ''San Francisco Circus'' (1976)
* Volume 30 : ''Les Jeunes Loups'' (1977)
* Volume 31 : ''La Révolte des rois'' (1978)
* Volume 32 : ''Le Prince blanc'' (1978)
* Volume 33 : ''La Silhouette en colère'' (1979)
* Volume 34 : ''KO pour Steve Warson'' (1979)
* Volume 35 : ''Le Galérien'' (1980)
* Volume 36 : ''Un pilote a disparu'' (1980)
* Volume 37 : ''L'Inconnu des 1000 pistes'' (1980)
* Volume 38 : ''Steve Warson contre Michel Vaillant'' (1981)
* Volume 39 : ''Rallye sur un volcan'' (1981)
* Volume 40 : ''Rififi en F1'' (1982)
* Volume 41 : ''Paris-Dakar'' (1982)
* Volume 42 : ''300 à l'heure dans Paris'' (1983)
* Volume 43 : ''Rendez-vous à Macao'' (1983)
* Volume 44 : ''Steve et Julie'' (1984)
* Volume 45 : ''L'Homme de Lisbonne'' (1984)
* Volume 46 : ''Racing show'' (1985)
* Volume 47 : ''Panique à Monaco'' (1986)
* Volume 48 : ''Irish coffee'' (1986)
* Volume 49 : ''Catégorie poids lourds'' (1987)
* Volume 50 : ''Le Défi des remparts'' (1988)
* Volume 51 : ''Le Caïd de Francorchamps'' (1989)
* Volume 52 : ''F3000'' (1989)
* Volume 53 : ''La Nuit de Carnac'' (1990)
* Volume 54 : ''L'Affaire Bugatti'' (1991)
* Volume 55 : ''Une histoire de fous'' (1992)
* Volume 56 : ''Le Maître du monde'' (1993)
* Volume 57 : ''La Piste de jade'' (1994)
* Volume 58 : ''Paddock'' (1995)
* Volume 59 : ''La Prisonnière'' (1997)
* Volume 60 : ''Victoires oubliées'' (1997)
* Volume 61 : ''La Fièvre de Bercy'' (1998)
* Volume 62 : ''Le $pon$or'' (1999)
* Volume 63 : ''Cairo'' (2000)
* Volume 64 : ''Opération Mirage'' (2001)
* Volume 65 : ''L'Épreuve'' (2003)
* Volume 66 : ''100.000.000$ pour Steve Warson'' (2004)
* Volume 67 : ''Pour David'' (2005)
* Volume 68 : ''China Moon'' (2006)
* Volume 69 : ''Hors-piste en enfer'' (2006)
* Volume 70 : ''24 hours under the influence'' (2007)
 {{colend}}

'''New series'''
  {{colbegin}}
* Volume 1 : ''In the name of the Son'' (2012)
* Volume 2 : ''Charge'' (2013)
* Volume 3 : ''Beyond Control'' (2014)
* Volume 4 : ''Collapse'' (2015)
* Volume 5 : ''Renaissance'' (2016)
* Volume 6 : ''Rebellion'' (2017)
* Volume 7 : ''Macau'' (2018)
* Volume 8 : ''13 Days'' (2019)
* Volume 9  : ''Duels'' (2020)
* Volume 10 : ''Pikes Peak'' (2021)
* Volume 11 : ''Cannonball'' (2022)
* Volume 12 : ''Target'' (2023)
* Volume 13 : ''Redemption'' (2024)
 {{colend}}

In 1986, the album ''Irish coffee'' was awarded the [[Avoriaz]] Festival's Grand Prix ([[Morzine]], France).

==In other media==
In 1967, French TV broadcast a live-action adaptation of the series, '''''Les Aventures de Michel Vaillant'''''. It ran for 13 episodes and featured stories written and filmed around a real-life world sportscar championship, documenting Henri Grandsire driving an [[Alpine A110]], interspersed with dramatic interludes acted by Grandsire himself. Episodes offer rare close-up contemporary footage of races and cars that year at the Rallye Du Nord, [[Magny Cours]], [[Nürburgring]], [[Monza]], [[Targa Florio]], [[Circuit de la Sarthe|Le Mans]], [[circuit de Monaco|Monaco]], [[Rouen-Les-Essarts]], [[Sebring International Raceway|Sebring]] and [[Reims-Gueux|Reims]].

The series was also adapted into a '''''Michel Vaillant''''' animated series. 65 episodes of 26 minutes were produced in 1990 in France by [[la Cinq]]. It was released in the U.S. in 1991-1992 as ''Heroes on Hot Wheels'', produced by [[Jetlag Productions]] and the [[Freeform (TV channel)|former Family Channel]], sponsored by  [[Mattel]]'s ''[[Hot Wheels]]'' franchise (hence the title) and distributed by France 3 Video and Pacific Media Ventures.<ref name=Perlmutter>{{cite book |last1=Perlmutter |first1=David |title=The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows |date=2018 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1538103739 |pages=288–290}}</ref> Michel's name was anglicized to "Michael Valiant". It was broadcast again in France in 1993 and 1998 by [[France 2]], and sold in more than 30 countries.

A [[Michel Vaillant (film)|Michel Vaillant film]] was made in 2003, and the [[Michel Vaillant (album)|soundtrack to the movie]] composed by the band [[Archive (band)|Archive]] was released at the same time.

== In popular culture ==
[[Image:Michel Vaillant affiche.jpg|thumb|A Dutch poster celebrating the 50th anniversary of the series in 2007]]

The series has been influential in the world of [[auto racing]]. Some famous [[List of Formula One drivers|Formula One drivers]] have admitted that their passion for automobile racing originated from reading the ''Michel Vaillant'' comics series,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.bdparadisio.com/scripts/detail.cfm?Id=391 |title=Jean Graton|quote = Quelques grands pilotes actuels avouent devoir leur passion à Michel Vaillant.|language=French}}</ref> among them four- time [[List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions|Formula One champion]] [[Alain Prost]].<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.michelvaillant.com/index%20EN.html | title= Michelvaillant.com | quote= Michel Vaillant has revealed the world of motor racing of all ages. Some even admit they passion began with Michel Vaillant books. These include Alain Prost, five times world champion or Luc Donckerwolke, the most renowned automobile of his generation. | url-status= dead | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20081109063105/http://www.michelvaillant.com/index%20EN.html | archivedate= 2008-11-09 }}</ref> In 1969, [[Henry Ford II]] and [[Enzo Ferrari]] personally wished Michel Vaillant a happy 20th birthday.<ref>{{cite web| work=Cartype (a museum of automobile typography) |url= http://www.cartype.com/pages/1741/vaillante |title=Vaillante |quote= This imaginary hero [is] recognised by the world of racing ([[Henry Ford II]] and [[Enzo Ferrari]] personally wished him a happy 20th birthday)}}</ref> The [[circuit Zolder]], in Belgium, in which several well-known [[List of motorsport championships|motorsport races]] take place, have paid tribute to the series, naming the biggest building of the circuit "Michel Vaillant club".<ref>{{cite web |title=VIP Lounges - Michel Vaillant club |url=http://www.circuit-zolder.be/en/corporate/hospitality/viplounges/index.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090801231603/http://www.circuit-zolder.be/en/corporate/hospitality/viplounges/index.html |archivedate=2009-08-01 |work=Circuit Zolder}}</ref>

Many real cars were adapted from automobile designs from the series.  Cars bearing the logo Vaillante ran in [[24 hours of Le Mans|Le Mans]] in 1997 and 2003: A [[Courage Compétition|Courage]] in 1997, while in 2003, Vaillante cars have been designed to be used in the [[Michel Vaillant (film)|Luc Besson's movie]].<ref>{{cite web| work = Webcarnews |url = http://www.voitures.com |title= Michel Vaillant affronte les Audi aux 24H du Mans|quote= De véritables Vaillante avaient pris le départ en 1997 et en 2003.|language=French}}</ref> Some fans have built a real Vaillante Grand Defi, a model which appeared several times in the comics series. The car has participated in real races, under the brand Vaillante.<ref>''La bande dessinée et l'automobile : Partie 5, quand l'automobile s’inspire de la B.D... et inversement.'' [http://www.leblogauto.com/2008/01/la-bande-dessinee-et-lautomobile-partie-5-quand-lautomobile-sinspire-de-la-bd-et-inversement.html leblogauto.com]</ref> A model was marketed in Belgium, the [[Honda Civic|Honda Civic Vaillante]], of which 50 models have been produced.<ref>leblogauto.com [http://www.leblogauto.com/2006/03/genve_2006_seat.html ''Genève 2006: Seat Ibiza Vaillante'']</ref> [[Automotive design|Automobile designer]] [[Luc Donckerwolke]] (current designer of [[Lamborghini]], previously of [[SEAT]]) has drawn his inspiration from cars drawn by Jean Graton to design some real car models.<ref>{{cite web|work = [[Le Figaro]] |url= http://www.lefigaro.fr/automobile/2008/05/23/03001-20080523ARTFIG00431-luc-donckerwolke-generation-bd.php |title=Luc Donckerwolke, génération BD|date= 23 May 2008 |language=French}}</ref> He also designed the [[SEAT Ibiza|SEAT Ibiza Vaillante]], exhibited at the [[Geneva Motor Show]] in 2006.<ref>{{cite web | work = michelvaillant.com | url = http://www.michelvaillant.com/vaillante%20show-car%20info%20EN.htm | title = A Vaillante signed Donckerwolke | format = high definition images, a 3D movie and a movie in English to be downloaded | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090803230521/http://www.michelvaillant.com/vaillante%20show-car%20info%20EN.htm | archivedate = 2009-08-03 }}</ref> It was also Luc Donckerwolke who transformed a [[Lola B98/10]]&ndash;[[Judd (engine)|Judd]] into a Vaillante and a [[Panoz LMP-1 Roadster-S]] into a Leader car in 2003 for the Besson movie.<ref>{{cite web| work= Tout en BD |url=http://www.toutenbd.com/article.php3?id_article=1028 |title= La Seat Ibiza version BD| quote= A l'occasion du Salon de l'auto de Genève, la marque espagnole présente un concept car inspiré de Michel Vaillant: la Seat Ibiza Vaillante.|language= French}}</ref> Donckerwolke also collaborated with [[Studio Graton]] on the latest titles of the series, drawing some cars featured in the albums.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.audi.com/etc/medialib/cms4imp/audi2/company/financial_information/pdf.Par.0330.File.pdf|title= Culture : comic and design|work= Audi 2006 annual report|author= Franz-Peter Hudek|url-status= dead|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110615073720/http://www.audi.com/etc/medialib/cms4imp/audi2/company/financial_information/pdf.Par.0330.File.pdf|archivedate= 15 June 2011}}</ref>

Many commercial products have been derived from the series,<ref>La marque BD "Sport-Auto dans Michel Vaillant" [http://marquebd.free.fr/Dossiers/MichelVaillant/produits_derives.html ''Produits dérivés'']</ref> among them figurines, collected by automobile fans as well as comics fans.<ref>[http://www.michelvaillant.com/ Official website] "Les objets"</ref>   There's also a video game featuring Michel Vaillant<ref>gamespot.com [http://www.gamespot.com/mobile/driving/michelvaillant/index.html Michel Vaillant] "Michel Vaillant is a mobile racing game featuring Michel Vaillant."</ref> which has ranked first in the auto racing video games in [[Benelux]],<ref>[http://www.michelvaillant.com/index%20EN.html Official website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081109063105/http://www.michelvaillant.com/index%20EN.html |date=2008-11-09 }} ''Mobile games: Vaillant takes the lead''</ref> and has been the top download on commercial websites.<ref>themobilegames.com [http://themobilegames.com/GameDetail_new.asp?L=&id=304 Michel Vaillant Racing]</ref>

[[File:Vaillante Chevrolet.JPG|thumb|right|[[Alain Menu]]'s Vaillant color Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T]]
In June 2012, Swiss racing driver [[Alain Menu]] competed in the [[2012 World Touring Car Championship season|World Touring Car Championship]] [[FIA WTCC Race of Portugal|Race of Portugal]] with a Vaillante-themed livery.<ref>{{cite news|title=Chevrolet unveils one-off WTCC livery that Alain Menu will use at the Algarve circuit|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/99988|work=Autosport.com|publisher=[[Haymarket Media Group|Haymarket Publications]]|date=28 May 2012|accessdate=3 June 2012}}</ref> Menu won the second feature race of the event (round 14) under the name M. Vaillant, even dying his hair and shaving his beard to resemble the look of the character.

In 2017 [[Rebellion Racing]] entered the [[2017 FIA World Endurance Championship]], including the [[2017 24 Hours of Le Mans|24 Hours of Le Mans]] as "Vaillant Rebellion" using Vaillant colours on cars #13 and #31.

== Reception ==

The series is very popular among fans of automobiles, because it features real-life cars, including renowned and prestigious models. The series have fans throughout several countries, though it has not translated into other languages except for English, [[Dutch language|Dutch]], [[German language|German]], [[Danish language|Danish]], [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] (with Michel Vaillant renamed Mark Breton in the two latter), [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], [[Serbian language|Serbian]], [[Croatian language|Croatian]], [[Finnish language|Finnish]] and [[Italian language|Italian]]. It has above all fans in France and Belgium, including Dutch-speaking Belgium, given that ''Michel Vaillant'' albums have been translated into Dutch.{{Fact|date=October 2023}}

The series has received various tributes as a masterpiece of the [[bande dessinée]] genre. A stamp representing Michel Vaillant was published in Belgium,<ref>{{cite web |work= belgianmaximaphiles.be |url= http://www.belgianmaximaphiles.be/quidcmENG_1.htm |title= How to make a maximum card ? |access-date= 2008-10-10 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090130004321/http://www.belgianmaximaphiles.be/quidcmENG_1.htm |archive-date= 2009-01-30 |url-status= dead }}</ref> a rare privilege granted only to the greatest comics series'. It was made available from January 1, 2007 with a face value of 0.50 euros, in all [[Belgian Post Group|Belgian post offices]].<ref>[http://www.michelvaillant.com/index%20EN.html Official website]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081109063105/http://www.michelvaillant.com/index%20EN.html |date=2008-11-09 }} ''A stamp for Michel Vaillant''. The stamp panel can be seen [http://www.michelvaillant.com/pic5.html here] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804034855/http://www.michelvaillant.com/pic5.html |date=2009-08-04 }}.</ref> Celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the series took place in 2007, among them [[Turnhout|Strip Turnhout]], at the bi-annual official Flanders comics festival, organizing a retrospective exhibition.<ref>{{cite web | work= forbiddenplanet.co.uk | url= http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/?p=5276 | archive-url= https://archive.today/20120708061323/http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/?p=5276 | url-status= dead | archive-date= 2012-07-08 | title= Michel Vaillant at 50 | quote= Strip Turnhout, the bi-annual official Flanders comics festival, wanted to honour Michel Vaillant and his creator by organising a retrospective exhibition to mark this anniversary. The show, which tells the story of the comic, but also of car racing in general, debuts on December 15, together with this year's edition of the festival. }}</ref>

The series also ranks high on the collector's market, with original editions ranking among the most valuable. Graton's original art pages have fetched high prices at auctions. In January 2006, a [[panel (comics)|page]] from "Le 13 est au départ" was sold for 4,800 euros at an auction in Paris. In April 2006, in Paris again, an original page from "L'Honneur du Samourai" was auctioned for 12,384 euros (whereas its original value was 3,500 euros), breaking the record of the time.<ref>[http://www.michelvaillant.com/index%20EN.html Official website]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081109063105/http://www.michelvaillant.com/index%20EN.html |date=2008-11-09 }} ''Auction'' and ''Record sale in Paris''. The two panels can be seen [http://www.michelvaillant.com/pic20%20EN.html here] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804034138/http://www.michelvaillant.com/pic20%20EN.html |date=2009-08-04 }} and [http://www.michelvaillant.com/pic22%20EN.html here] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804034220/http://www.michelvaillant.com/pic22%20EN.html |date=2009-08-04 }} and here.</ref> In 2008, an original page from "De l'huile sur la piste" was sold for 11,520 euros at auction in 2008 at [[Brussels]] among other works previously published by ''[[Tintin (magazine)|Tintin]]'' magazine, establishing the record sale of that day.<ref>{{cite web| work =Tout en BD|url=http://www.toutenbd.com/article.php3?id_article=2335 |title=11.520 euros la planche de Michel Vaillant|quote=Une planche à l'encre de Chine de l'épisode ''De l'huile sur la piste'' a créé la surprise lors d'une vente publique à Bruxelles.}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Portal:Formula One|Formula One portal]]
* [[Portal:Sports|Sports Portal]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.michelvaillant.com/ Michel Vaillant official page] {{in lang|en|fr|nl}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080930203136/http://www.lelombard.com/michelvaillant/ Michel Vaillant] on Lelombard.com {{in lang|fr}}
* "[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/2726613/The-largest-pilot-of-all-times.html The largest pilot of all time]", ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' {{in lang|en}}
* [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0166898/ Michel Vaillant (TV series)] on Internet Movie Database {{in lang|en}}
* [http://www.imcdb.org/movie_166898-Les-aventures-de-Michel-Vaillant.html ''Les Aventures de Michel Vaillant''] on the Internet Movie Cars Database {{in lang|en}}
* [http://campus.3ds.com/students/more-cool-stuff/vaillant-race-cars/ Michel Vaillant race cars in 3D] {{in lang|en|fr}}
* [http://jim-on-the-web.com/comic_errors.php?comic=MichelVaillant Errors in ''Michel Vaillant''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804002056/http://jim-on-the-web.com/comic_errors.php?comic=MichelVaillant |date=2009-08-04 }} on jim-on-the-web.com {{in lang|en}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vaillant, Michel}}
[[Category:Michel Vaillant| ]]
[[Category:Fiction set in 1939]]
[[Category:Comics set in the 1930s]]
[[Category:Bandes dessinées]]
[[Category:French comics|Michel Vaillant]]
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[[Category:Fictional racing drivers]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1957]]
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