I wrote earlier about two comics that tried to evoke the heroism that bicycle racing was in the early 20th century (see here). Since cycling is one of the only sports that I can muster the attention and interest to follow it with more than a cursory eye, I was delighted to read that Dargaud Editeurs is publishing a new tale about the heroes on two wheels, Le Tour Des Géants by illustrator and cartoonist Nicolas Debon.
(cover art for Le Tour des Géants by Nicolas Debon, published Dargaud)
Debon was born in France, but lived in Canada for a few years, where he built a career as a much-loved children’s books illustrator. He particularly received recognition for his illustrations for Virginia Walton Pilegard’s The Warlords series, and for his work in informative and non-fiction children’s books.
Back in France, Debon worked for publishers like Bayard (les Billes Du Diable) and Gallimard (L’Homme Le Plus Fort Du Monde). Le Tour Des Géants (previously announced as Le Grand Boucle) is his first major comic work for Dargaud. It tells the story of the gigantic undertaking that was the Tour of 1910, which consisted of 15 stages over 4,737 km, and literally circled France. Of the 141 cyclists who appeared at the start, only 40 made it to the finish, after days and days of trudging on in the most horrible of conditions.
(a page from Le Tour des Géants by Nicolas Debon, published Dargaud)
To celebrate this book, Dargaud has put up some sketches and preliminary work from Debon’s sketchbooks on their website. It’s a pity that most of them are in black and white, as Debon’s forte clearly his particular way of colouring his art.
I really can’t wait to see this book.
Mon, Jun 8, 2009
Comics and cartoons, From our Continental Correspondent