The Aviator - Volume 1 - Take-off

Jean-Charles Kraehn was born on June 27th, 1955, in Saint-Malo in northwestern France. While he was studying at the Estienne school of art, it was his meeting with Patrice Pellerin, who was living at the house of the famous illustrator Pierre Joubert at the time, which was to be the deciding factor in his career choice. As though he had had some kind of revelation, he began drawing furiously, working on all the bases of academic drawing: anatomy, perspective, composition, etc. Having earned his BTS technical diploma, he then decided to give this profession a go.
As well as various illustration work (French scouts, Hachette, etc.), he made a quick appearance in advertising, and worked six months as a storyboard artist in a Parisian agency. However, comic books remained his main objective. His first creation was a historical album for the Oise (France) Crédit Agricole: "2000 ans d'histoire de l'Oise, " published by ID Program. This was followed by his participation in a collective album, still for the same agency, "2000 ans d'histoire de la Bretagne, " in which several future comic book greats can be found, such as Juillard, Rouge, Lidwine, Arnoux, and Rollin, among others. Thanks to Patrice Pellerin, he met the great Jean-Michel Charlier, who suggested he take over the artwork for the series "Jacques Legall." But the living legend was too busy and sadly never provided a script. With his partner Patrice Pellerin (writing the script for the first three volumes), Jean-Charles Kraehn then created a series set in the Middle Ages, "Les aigles décapitées." Then followed, alone or in collaboration, a vast number of volumes for various series, including notably the long-running "Tramp, " together with artist Patrick Jusseaume (Dargaud 1993, Europe Comics in English 2017).
He then followed that up with "L'Aviateur" (Dargaud; "The Aviator, " Europe Comics) in 2016, drawing on the "Tramp" universe. Erik Arnoux was born in 1956 in Nancy (France). After studying at the École supérieure d'arts graphiques (ESAG), in Paris, he joined "Plein Pot, " a monthly comics magazine for motorsports. There he would meet Christian Debarre (Bar2), Christian Rossi and Brice Goepfert, among others.
At the same time, he drew hundreds of pages for the magazines "Télé Junior" and "Télé Parade, " featuring television cartoon characters. In 2000, he became a comic book consultant for the French bank Caisse d'épargne, a partner of the Angoulême International Comics Festival. Each year, from 2000 and 2008, he organized a series of author interviews and introductory sessions to the comic book profession.
In 2008, the two volumes of "Ava Dream" (Le Lombard), a thriller illustrated by Alain Queireix, were released. In 2011 and 2012, he then co-illustrated with Chrys Millien, his "graphic partner, " the two-volume thriller "Poker Face" (Jungle), written by Jean-Louis Fonteneau. In 2014, he again teamed up Millien, alongside writer Jean-Charles Kraehn, for "L'Aviateur" (Dargaud; Europe Comics 2020), drawing on the universe of the maritime adventure series "Tramp" (Dargaud). Born in Vitry-le-François on April 21, 1975, Chrys Millien spent his childhood in the Marne, east of Paris.
At a very young age, he embarked on the creation of a few comic book pages. Life took him to Grenoble, where, after a few years of study, he decided to devote himself to comic books. Self-taught, he participated, in 1996, in the "Fun en bulles" fanzine that led him to the four corners of France. In 1999, he began his career alongside Erik Arnoux, working as artist and colorist for the first three volumes of the series "Witness 4" (Soleil).
In 2007, he adapted the novel "Around the World in 80 Days" (Adonis), and in 2009, he illustrated "Dumarest, the Star Adventurer" (Sun), a story written by Richard D. Nolane. In 2014, Chrys turned to crowdfunding to complete his first series, "Witness 4" (Sandawe). In 2016, still with Erik Arnoux and with a script by Jean-Charles Kraehn, Chrys illustrated "L'Aviateur" (Dargaud; Europe Comics 2020), drawing on the universe of the maritime adventure series "Tramp" (Dargaud, Europe Comics in English).