Graton éditeur
Corporate brand
UnclaimedGraton éditeur was a French comics publisher founded by Jean Graton to control and develop the publication of the Michel Vaillant series.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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History
Jean Graton's publishing career was built around the creation and sustained development of Michel Vaillant, an automobile and motorsport comic character first introduced in 1957. Five short stories appeared in Tintin, and their popularity led to a full-length album published in the same magazine in 1959. The character's success made it possible to develop a substantial album catalogue and to extend the property into television, including a 1966 adaptation and an animated series in 1990. Seeking direct control over the production of his albums, Jean Graton created his own publishing house in 1981, with the company operating from 1982 as Graton éditeur. His son Philippe Graton joined him and became managing director. New Michel Vaillant albums were published through the house from 1982 onward. This arrangement gave the Graton family control over the principal series and created an editorial structure capable of handling related publications. The catalogue remained centered on Michel Vaillant but was not limited to the main numbered adventures. In 1995, Graton éditeur introduced Les Dossiers Michel Vaillant, a series combining comics with information about important figures and subjects in the automobile industry. The publisher also issued Palmarès inédit, Les Labourdets, and Julie Wood. In 1986, the Michel Vaillant album Irish Coffee received the Grand Prix at the Morzine-Avoriaz Festival, providing recognition for the publisher's central property. As the series developed, authorship became more collaborative. Jean Graton eventually stopped writing the scenarios, Philippe Graton assumed script duties, and Studio Graton took over the drawing. This transition preserved the continuity of Michel Vaillant while changing it from a principally individual creation into a studio-supported production. In 2010, after several years without a Michel Vaillant album, Graton éditeur formed a partnership with Dupuis. The objective was to revitalize the series with the support of a major French-language comics publishing group. The arrangement did not satisfy the Graton family, and in 2020 the family sold the company to Dupuis and transferred the rights to the series, apart from moral rights. The available source does not clearly document the subsequent independent status of Graton éditeur as a legal entity or imprint.
- 2020
Company and series rights transferred to Dupuis
[1]The Graton family transfers the company and Michel Vaillant rights to Dupuis, excluding moral rights.
- 2010
Dupuis partnership begins
[1]Graton éditeur partners with Dupuis to help renew and strengthen the Michel Vaillant series.
- 2000
Palmarès inédit is created
[1]Graton éditeur adds the Palmarès inédit series to its catalogue.
- 1995
Les Dossiers Michel Vaillant launches
[1]The publisher introduces a series combining comics with information about important personalities and subjects in the automobile industry.
- 1990
Animated adaptation
[1]Michel Vaillant is adapted as an animated television series.
- 1986
Irish Coffee receives festival award
[1]The Michel Vaillant album Irish Coffee wins the Grand Prix of the Morzine-Avoriaz Festival.
- 1982
Graton éditeur begins publishing new albums
[1]New Michel Vaillant albums begin appearing under the Graton éditeur imprint.
- 1981
Publishing house established
[1]Jean Graton creates an independent publishing operation with his son Philippe to exercise greater control over album production.
- 1966
Television adaptation
[1]The adventures of Michel Vaillant are adapted for television.
- 1959
First full Michel Vaillant album
[1]A full album-length Michel Vaillant adventure is published in Tintin following the popularity of the earlier short stories.
Products and positioning
A creator-controlled French comics publisher focused on automobile, motorsport, and character-driven graphic storytelling, with Michel Vaillant as its central intellectual property.
Comic series · 1957
Michel Vaillant
The publisher's principal property is a long-running comics series about Michel Vaillant, a fictional racing driver whose stories combine motor racing, automobile technology, competition, family relationships, and industrial settings. Created by Jean Graton in 1957, the series developed from short stories into full albums and later expanded into television and animation. Graton éditeur published new albums from 1982 until the rights were transferred to Dupuis in 2020.
Documentary comics · 1995
Les Dossiers Michel Vaillant
This related series uses the Michel Vaillant universe as a framework for comics and informational material about notable people and subjects in the automobile industry. It broadened the catalogue beyond fictional racing narratives and connected the character with real-world automotive history and industry figures.
Comics series · 2000
Palmarès inédit
Palmarès inédit was a catalogue series created by Graton éditeur in 2000. The available reference material identifies the series but does not provide enough detail about its format, publication frequency, or complete contents.
Comic series
Les Labourdets
Les Labourdets is one of the additional comic series associated with the Graton éditeur catalogue. The supplied reference material does not describe its plot, publication history, or later rights status.
Comic series
Julie Wood
Julie Wood is another comic series published among Graton éditeur's works. The available material confirms its presence in the catalogue but does not provide sufficient information about its characters, publication dates, or current ownership.
Brand decisions
2020
Transfer the company and Michel Vaillant rights to DupuisM&ABackground
The earlier Dupuis partnership did not meet the expectations of the Graton family, which sought a durable future for the series through a major French-language publishing group.
Action taken
The Graton family sold the company to Dupuis and transferred the rights to Michel Vaillant, while retaining moral rights.
Aftermath
Dupuis became the rights holder and future publishing partner for the flagship series. The subsequent independent status of Graton éditeur is not established in the available source.
2010
Partner with Dupuis to revive Michel VaillantStrategyBackground
Several years had passed without a new Michel Vaillant album, creating a need to restore momentum around the publisher's flagship series.
Action taken
Graton éditeur signed a partnership agreement with Dupuis, a major French-language comics publisher.
Aftermath
The partnership was later considered unsatisfactory by the Graton family and was followed by the transfer of the company and series rights to Dupuis in 2020.
1981
Create a creator-controlled publishing houseStrategyBackground
Jean Graton wanted greater control over the production and publication of his albums, particularly the Michel Vaillant series.
Action taken
He established a publishing operation with his son Philippe, which operated as Graton éditeur from 1982.
Aftermath
The Graton family published new Michel Vaillant albums through its own house and expanded the catalogue with related series.
Sources1 sources
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