Jean Graton, dad of Michel Vaillant, died

The cartoonist Jean Graton, creator of Michel Vaillant, died on January 21, 2021 at the age of 97.

The world of comics and motor sports enthusiasts are in mourning. The designer Jean Graton died on January 21 in Brussels (Belgium). He was 97 years old. For many, it was the last sacred monster of the golden age of Franco-Belgian comics.

Jean Graton is of course the creator of Michel Vaillant, a comic book character born in 1957. The comic book series features a racing driver from the Vaillante team, a brand created by Michel's father. The adventures of the Vaillantes have fascinated generations of readers and have certainly aroused vocations.

Jean Graton's work was hailed for its realism. Michel Vaillant's official website explains about Jean Graton and his work: "He was the first to understand that to tell stories, you had to be inspired by reality. Jean Graton attended races almost everywhere in the world, befriending drivers, team leaders and circuit managers, accumulating thousands of photos and documents that give his work the stamp of authenticity".

Michel Vaillant's first season has 70 volumes, published until 2007. The series then made a fresh start in 2012, with a ninth volume which has just been released.