Michel Vaillant

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Michel Vaillant is a French comic book character created in 1957 by Belgian (French-born) cartoonist Jean Graton.

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.

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.

There was a Michel Vaillant animated series. It was released in the U.S. as Heroes on Hot Wheels. Michel was called Michael Valiant.

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

A Michel Vaillant movie 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