Largo Winch
Encyclopedia
Largo Winch is a Belgian
comic book series by Philippe Francq
and Jean Van Hamme
, published by Dupuis
.
The principal character is Largo Winch whose birth name is Largo Winczlav. Other important characters include Nerio Winch (his adoptive father), senior Group W executives John D. Sullivan and Dwight E. Cochrane, and his friend Simon Ovronnaz.
Largo Winch started as a series of novels by Jean Van Hamme in the late 1970s, but stopped due to a lack of success and the huge amount of work Van Hamme had in the meantime with his comic books (e.g. Thorgal
). When Francq wanted to start a series with Van Hamme, he revived his old hero, and reworked the novels into the first albums of the comic series. Later, new stories followed.
In the first two volumes of the series, L'héritier and Le Groupe W, Largo, a young and handsome orphan, is propelled to the head of a business empire, Group W, after his adoptive father Nerio is murdered, and goes through a lot of troubles to preserve his inheritance and avenge Nerio.
The following albums are more or less based on the same basic plot: someone is trying to harm Largo's company or to take control of it from him, and he has to fight that someone to ensure the survival of his holdings.
All the stories of the series are published in two volumes, the first one being the one putting Largo in an impossible situation, and the second one letting him get out of it. In addition, both volumes share the same background color on the cover.
The stories appear originally in French, and are translated into various languages, including Croatian, Danish, Dutch, English, German, Portuguese, Serbian, Spanish and Swedish. The series is among the most popular comics series in French, with annual sales of nearly 500.000 copies.
* To be published
The English editions are censored.
in Canada
as Largo.
and starring Tomer Sisley
, was released in France on December 17, 2008.
A documentary, "Largo", directed by Yves Legrain-Crist with Jean Van Hamme and Philippe Francq, was released in France on Autumn 2007. This film shows two authors are searching for the answer to the question:
"How is a comic book created?" It is available, with English subtitles, directly from the producers through VOD
was released in 2002 by Dupuis
and Ubisoft
. The game is a puzzle-based 3rd-person adventure game with Largo himself as the playable character. The plot of the game follows the usual scenario of Largo Winch stories with his business empire under threat as he fights to save it.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
comic book series by Philippe Francq
Philippe Francq
Philippe Francq is a Belgian comic book artist, best known for the series Largo Winch.-Biography:Philippe Francq was born in Etterbeek in 1961. He was since his youth an ardent comic reader, who grew up with the comics from Tintin magazine from the 1950s...
and Jean Van Hamme
Jean Van Hamme
Jean Van Hamme is a Belgian novelist and comic book writer. He has written scripts for a number of Belgian/French comic series, including Histoire sans héros, Thorgal, XIII and Largo Winch.-Early years:...
, published by Dupuis
Dupuis
Éditions Dupuis S.A. is a Belgian publisher of comic books and magazines.Based in Marcinelle near Charleroi, Dupuis was founded in 1922 by Jean Dupuis, and is mostly famous for its comic albums and magazines. It is originally a French language publisher, but publishes many editions both in French...
.
The principal character is Largo Winch whose birth name is Largo Winczlav. Other important characters include Nerio Winch (his adoptive father), senior Group W executives John D. Sullivan and Dwight E. Cochrane, and his friend Simon Ovronnaz.
Largo Winch started as a series of novels by Jean Van Hamme in the late 1970s, but stopped due to a lack of success and the huge amount of work Van Hamme had in the meantime with his comic books (e.g. Thorgal
Thorgal
Thorgal is a critically acclaimed Belgian comic book series by the Belgian writer Jean Van Hamme and the Polish graphic artist Grzegorz Rosiński. It first appeared in serial form in the "Tintin" magazine in 1977, and has been published in hardcover volumes by Le Lombard from 1980 on...
). When Francq wanted to start a series with Van Hamme, he revived his old hero, and reworked the novels into the first albums of the comic series. Later, new stories followed.
In the first two volumes of the series, L'héritier and Le Groupe W, Largo, a young and handsome orphan, is propelled to the head of a business empire, Group W, after his adoptive father Nerio is murdered, and goes through a lot of troubles to preserve his inheritance and avenge Nerio.
The following albums are more or less based on the same basic plot: someone is trying to harm Largo's company or to take control of it from him, and he has to fight that someone to ensure the survival of his holdings.
All the stories of the series are published in two volumes, the first one being the one putting Largo in an impossible situation, and the second one letting him get out of it. In addition, both volumes share the same background color on the cover.
The stories appear originally in French, and are translated into various languages, including Croatian, Danish, Dutch, English, German, Portuguese, Serbian, Spanish and Swedish. The series is among the most popular comics series in French, with annual sales of nearly 500.000 copies.
Albums of the series
The English translation is given when the album title is French.- L'Héritier (The Heir)
- Le Groupe W (The W Group)
- O.P.A. (Takeover Bid)
- Business Blues
- H
- Dutch Connection
- La Forteresse De Makiling (The Makiling Fortress)
- L'heure du tigre (The Hour Of The Tiger)
- Voir Venise... (See Venice...)
- ...Et mourir (...And Die)
- Golden Gate
- Shadow
- Le Prix de l'argent (The Price Of Money)
- La Loi du dollar (The Law Of The Dollar)
- Les trois yeux des gardiens du Tao (The Three Eyes Of The Tao Guardians)
- La Voie et la vertu (The Way And The Virtue)
- Mer noire (Black Sea)
- Colère Rouge (Red Anger)*
In English
The volumes are being translated into English and published by Cinebook. The following volumes have been released to date:- The Heir (includes The W Group) - March 2008 ISBN 9781905460489
- Takeover Bid (includes Business Blues) - July 2008 ISBN 9781905460588
- Dutch Connection (includes H) - February 2009 ISBN 9781905460786
- The Hour of the Tiger (includes Fort Makiling) - August 2009 ISBN 9781905460991
- See Venice... - February 2010 ISBN 9781849180207
- ...And Die - May 2010 ISBN 9781849180320
- Golden Gate - February 2011 ISBN 9781849180696
- Shadow - April 2011 ISBN 9781849180757
The English editions are censored.
TV
A TV series based on the comics was launched in 2001 and has aired in English and French. The English edition has aired on Showcase TelevisionShowcase Television
Showcase is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Shaw Media. Showcase is a predominantly fiction-based service centred around scripted television series and films....
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
as Largo.
Cinema
A film, directed by Jérôme SalleJérôme Salle
Jérôme Salle is a French film director and screenwriter.Salle has directed the films Anthony Zimmer, Largo Winch, and Largo Winch .-Notes:...
and starring Tomer Sisley
Tomer Sisley
Tomer Sisley is a French humorist and actor, born in Berlin , on August 14, 1974.His family lives in Israel, but originally came from Lithuania and Yemen. He uses both of his origins to make part of his shows...
, was released in France on December 17, 2008.
A documentary, "Largo", directed by Yves Legrain-Crist with Jean Van Hamme and Philippe Francq, was released in France on Autumn 2007. This film shows two authors are searching for the answer to the question:
"How is a comic book created?" It is available, with English subtitles, directly from the producers through VOD
Video Game
Largo Winch: Empire Under ThreatLargo Winch: Empire Under Threat
Largo Winch: Empire Under Threat is an action-adventure video game released in 2002 by Dupuis. The game is based on the Largo Winch series....
was released in 2002 by Dupuis
Dupuis
Éditions Dupuis S.A. is a Belgian publisher of comic books and magazines.Based in Marcinelle near Charleroi, Dupuis was founded in 1922 by Jean Dupuis, and is mostly famous for its comic albums and magazines. It is originally a French language publisher, but publishes many editions both in French...
and Ubisoft
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries....
. The game is a puzzle-based 3rd-person adventure game with Largo himself as the playable character. The plot of the game follows the usual scenario of Largo Winch stories with his business empire under threat as he fights to save it.
External links
- English publisher of Largo Winch - Cinebook Ltd, Largo Winch 2 fansite officiel.