The 24 Hours of Le Mans has often been the scene of fierce rivalry – Ford v. Ferrari, Porsche v. Ferrari, Matra v. Ferrari, Renault v. Porsche, Audi v. Peugeot, Audi v. Porsche, and so on. And there is also Vaillante v. Leader. The saga began in the mid-sixties with the album “Mach 1 pour Steve Warson” and reached a climax in “Le Fantôme des 24 Heures”, which sees an eerily empty 24-Hour circuit as the setting for a night-time showdown between the enigmatic Leader (whose identity is as yet unknown) and Michel Vaillant that flirts with the world of fantasy. An epic tussle ensues between Vaillante and Leader prototypes.

“Le Fantôme des 24 Heures” features prominently in the Art Strips collection which homes in on selected fragments and images taken from the Michel Vaillant comic book series and shows Jean Graton’s illustrations in a new light. “It’s a distinct possibility that the artwork was overshadowed by the documentary aspect and the realism with which motorsport is portrayed in the Michel Vaillant albums,” admitted Philippe Graton, now overseeing the fate of the famous comic-strip driver created by his parents Francine and Jean. “Dominique, the artistic director of the Fondation Jean Graton, has reworked some of the panel details, reframing and recomposing some of the images or changing some of the colours, without touching the lines.”

In addition to “Le Fantôme des 24 Heures”, Michel Vaillant crosses swords with Leader at Le Mans in the albums “Un Pilote a disparu”, “Une Histoire de Fous”, “La Prisonnière” and “Pour David” (adapted from the scenario of the movie “Michel Vaillant”, partly filmed during the 2002 running of the legendary 24-Hour race and released in October 2003). The confrontation between Vaillante and Leader will be taking a new direction as it moves into the field of economics in “Collapsus”, due for publication in October.

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO
Translated from French by David Goward

Photo: A moonlit Michel Vaillant under the Le Mans circuit clock – one of several powerful comic strip images from “Le Fantôme des 24 Heures” that could hold pride of place in your living room!