Largo Winch 01-08 (data9724-DCP) [DCP-D]

And here you go, one of my favorite european series, Largo Winch, published by Cinebook.

Largo Winch is written by Jean Van Hamme and drawn by Philippe Francq. This is an action thriller series about a young man who inherits one of the largest multi-national corporations in the world. When I say “inherit,” I mean he inherits everything: money, fame, and power, yes, but also a host of enemies that his adoptive father made along the way.

The first four book have been printed as double books, so this collection cover the first 12 issues.
As usual, it had been censored, and I have had help decensoring it, and the censored pages are in the back as extras.


And as usual, if you like it, BUY IT. This is a small publisher taking huge chances on publishing european comics in english. All their books can be gotten from Amazon.com and other good online retailers, because you can most likely not find them in your local comic store.


Here is a small spoiler free review of the series:
First a word about the artwork, as this is a graphic novel series. The characters are nicely proportioned and several are eerily lifelike, almost making you believe that this not just hand-drawn art but photo-realism.

Now to the stories themselves. Largo Winch is an odd character: he is a violent, arrogant playboy stocked full of immoral habits, a womanizer, and a convict. But he is somehow likable, if only because the villains are so nefarious–in a cutthroat businessman sort of way. He is an innocent in the world of business, relying on instinct rather than schooling or knowledge, and this often lands him in hot water with the law. Oh, and he is very loyal to his friends, something they do not all reciprocate.

And Largo has some interesting friends, too. His best friend, Simon, is an escaped Swiss convict who happened to be shackled to Largo in prison during the first volume of the series–which is how they met. Then there’s Freddie, a pilot with a wicked scar running down his face and a snide remark ever-ready. These two crop up in various situations, sometimes in trouble themselves, sometimes helping Largo get out of his own trouble.

In addition to these friends, three other recurring characters of note need mentioning: John Sullivan is an old associate of Largo’s adoptive father and acts as a sort-of business mentor and guide for the inexperienced Largo; Dwight Cochrane is likewise a mentor, though his motives are less clear than Sullivan’s, as he often seems to want Largo’s schemes to fail just to prove a point; and Miss Pennywinkle is Largo’s indomitable spinster-secretary, who is constantly trying to get her boss to act more like a classy gentleman and less like the rogue he is. All of these characters are delightful in their own way, and provide many of the series’ conflicts and make the many deus-ex-machina moments possible (and plausible).

Obviously, it is impossible to go into depth about story lines in such a short review, but I will say that the stories are often very complex, convoluted, and hard to follow at first, but always begin to sort themselves out soon. Being a graphic art, it is possible for the observant reader to pick up subtle visual clues along the way and figure out what is going on before Largo and his friends manage to, which makes reading closely a very rewarding experience. The numerous side-characters who crop up during Largo’s adventures are all very well written and drawn, and each villain in particular feels unique. There are a few moments that may make you shake your head in disbelief, but they are few and far between as this is a very down-to-earth series. No superheroes, superpowers, magic, etc. here. This is purely real-world stuff, which makes it very appealing in a market overpopulated with the supernatural.

Overall, I highly recommend this series for anyone interested in graphic novels. The writing is excellent, the artwork is first-rate, and the characters are true-to-life. In a market saturated with superheroes and magicians, Largo Winch stands out as option for all those tired of the same stories over and over again.


Largo Winch 01 - The Heir - The W Group
Largo Winczlav, born in Yugoslavia, is an orphan. Thousands of miles away, one of the richest men in the world will change Largo's destiny. He has the same name, but slightly different: “Winch.” This man, Nerio Winch, wants to find an heir to his empire and adopts Largo, offering him the best education. When his adoptive father disappears under dramatic circumstances, Largo inherits the W Group, the biggest conglomerate of multinational enterprises ever possessed and managed by a single man. From now on, he will be worth $10 billion. Which is not to everybody's taste, as he is about to find out…

This two-volume book includes "the W Group"





Largo Winch 02 - Takeover Bid - Business Blues
A veritable secret war for power takes place behind the scenes in big financial groups. One of the most common methods of attack is the takeover bid: A would-be buyer offers to acquire all available shares of a rival at a determined price in order to control it. The W group is attacked by FENICO, a business conglomerate. As if this were not enough, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service also takes on Largo Winch. Will he lose his entire fortune?

This two-volume book includes “Business Blues”.





Largo Winch 03 - H - Dutch Connection
H : Largo Winch gives a cocktail party to launch his foundation for war orphans when a waiter brings out one of his colleagues’ severed head on a tray. He has been murdered by the drugs traffickers Largo is after. In a matter of hours, the billionaire’s life is turned upside down.

Dutch Connection : Two policemen are shot down as they arrest Largo Winch and he is charged with the murders. On top of that, he is accused of being part of the international heroin trade. Largo flees to Paris and ends up in the homeless community, with little hope of escaping the dire fate that awaits him : a lifelong jail sentence…

This two-volume book includes “H”.





Largo Winch 04 - The Hour of the Tiger
Largo’s best friend, Simon Ovronnaz, is being targeted by the secret services of Myanmar (formerly Burma). Simon and his girlfriend are wrongfully convicted of murder and imprisoned. After a very flawed trial, Simon is condemned to death and transferred to the infamous Fort Makiling. Blissfully ignorant of his friend’s fate, Largo is enjoying a romantic adventure at the top of the world, while the plot against him deepens dangerously.

This two-volume book includes “Fort Makiling."





Largo Winch 05 - See Venice
In the middle of the night, a man runs through the narrow back alleys of Venice. Three men are after him. He breaks into a travel agency, where he faxes Winch a hastily scribbled message before being gunned down by his pursuers. The person who hands Largo Winch the fax in New York is also killed. The message says only: “Beware of the doge*…” Our millionaire businessman hero thinks his friend, the gorgeous Charity, could be in trouble and heads for Italy. They are invited to a masked ball, where they indeed meet a doge . . .

* A Renaissance-era term for the chief magistrate of the former republics of Venice and Genoa




Largo Winch 06 - ...and die
Two of Largo’s employees have been killed in his headquarters in New York. His friend Charity has been kidnapped in the middle of the Piazza San Marco. His only lead is a mysterious message: “Beware of the Doge…” As the bodies start piling up, Largo—aided by the beautiful Domenica—turns the Serenissima upside down to find the young woman and unravel the truth before it is too late. Balls, duels, boat chases, revenge… Ah, Venice!




Largo Winch 07 - Golden Gate
Simon—Largo’s friend—has been cast as the lead in a new TV series, “Golden Gate.” It’s produced in part by one of Group W’s subsidiaries. When the investigator sent by Dwight Cochrane to examine irregularities in the funding of the series disappears, Largo takes matters into his own hands and heads to the city by the Bay. But what will he find? An innocuous example of bad television? A case of tax evasion? Or… worse?




Largo Winch 08 - Shadow
Largo Winch has been hoodwinked, framed and sent to jail. His enemies are celebrating their victory after taking control of his TV station. His friends are either in prison or in mortal danger… But Largo wasn’t born a billionaire. He knows how to fight dirty, and now he’s going to have to strike back at the circle of crooks, pimps and murderers who came after him—before they kill all potential witnesses, including his own employee, Sarah Washington.