“La Fortune des Winczlav”, the comic book series on the origins of Largo Winch

You probably know the adventures of Largo Winch, the comic book hero, but do you know his past? You will learn it by reading The Fortune of the Winczlav, the new comic book series from the creator of Largo Winch, Jean Van Hamme, and the designer Philippe Berthet. The first volume is published this Thursday by Dupuis editions. This is called a prequel (or antépisode, in good French): it is an episode of a work written after, but whose action is situated before that of the preceding episodes. Clearly, it’s a step back in time.

In Fortune of Winczlav, Jean Van Hamme examines the distant origins of the hero. It was already known that Largo Winch is in fact called Largo Winczlav, that he is an orphan and was adopted by Nerio Winch, a billionaire who bequeaths his fortune to him, the first fortune in the world. But where does this fortune come from? This is the question answered by this family saga, which reveals over three generations and in three volumes the origins of the fortune to which Largo Winch is the heir.

Dive into the great history

Usually, Largo’s adventures are twists and turns against the backdrop of financial shenanigans. But with this new series, we dive into the great history. That of Europe, first, by following Vanko Winczlav in Montenegro in 1848. This young doctor is at the head of a peasant revolt against the Turkish occupier. He is being chased by the authorities and must flee. Direction America, to make a fortune! But he quickly becomes disillusioned. His diploma is not recognized in the United States, he has no more money and the Civil War is approaching. We follow his path and that of his children, and at the same time, we visit the history of the United States at a run.

This is only the first volume in a trilogy. Each album will correspond to a generation of Winczlav. Until the appearance of Largo Winch, no doubt, we hope, in the third volume, which will take place in 1965.