Steve McQueen in Le Mans: new graphic novel

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Photo: Garbo Studio

Are you or someone you know a fan of Steve McQueen? Still needing that last-minute gift for your favorite car person for the Holidays?

Photo: Garbo Studio

A group out of Switzerland, Garbo Studios, has announced a new graphic novel, Steve McQueen in Le Mans, celebrating McQueen and the cult classic movie, Le Mans. It’s a little bizarre as it could have focused on someone who actually won Le Mans, like Jacky Ickx, for example, but it’s a nice tribute to the late McQueen nevertheless.

Photo: Garbo Studio

Regardless, he graphics in 64-page book look pretty awesome and it would make a nice coffee table decoration. It’s available now, in multiple languages, and at around 32 Euros (plus shipping), it’s not a bad deal.

Photo: Garbo Studio

The press release follows.

Steve McQueen in Le Mans: “King of Cool” Returns After 45 Years, in Stunning Graphic Novel Based on Epic ‘Le Mans’ Movie

Masterfully crafted by Sandro Garbo and the team at Garbo Studio, ‘Steve McQueen in Le Mans’ fuses a blistering graphic novel with a bold and vivid tribute to McQueen himself, a man who gave new hope and meaning to car enthusiasts around the world. Inspired by 1971’s iconic ‘Le Mans’ movie, which overcame its initial box office struggle to find true cult status, Garbo’s creation pays homage to the movie, its race, the cars that fired on all cylinders and the man who made it all possible. It’s a unique partnership between licensor CBS Consumer Products, Greenlight (representing Steve McQueen) and ACO (the owner of ‘24 Hours of Le Mans’).

Switzerland – In 1971, a movie came out unlike anything seen before. ‘Le Mans’ had minimal scripted plotlines, used real footage of the 1970 race that took place a year previously and launched Steve McQueen to a new level of epic stardom.

Four decades after its release, the movie is still a defining icon for those who live for auto racing, such as Sandro Garbo. And now, the movie and the man behind it come back to life, through a legendary new graphic novel.

‘Steve McQueen in Le Mans’ is not just a re-telling of the movie’s story, but a perfectly-fitting tribute to the “King of Cool.”

 

Synopsis:

Steve McQueen famously said “I’m not sure whether I’m an actor who races, or a racer who acts.” In 1970, he decided to share his passion and produce the best movie about car racing ever made. He couldn’t imagine a better place than Le Mans, one of the oldest and most prestigious endurance races in the world, to make his dream come true. The filming was difficult, but Steve never gave up.

And neither did another car enthusiast 45 years later…

Sandro Garbo and his team created a piece of art to share their love for classic cars, the movie ‘Le Mans’ and the “King of Cool.” But not just any graphic novel, this book would be a tribute to Steve McQueen and a legacy for all lovers of car racing and fans of the legendary Porsche 917, Ferrari 512, and of course many other beauties.

And after 3 years of hard work, here it is…

What makes this graphic novel so appealing is the love and effort Sandro and his colleagues invested in it, making sure that every detail was carefully crafted and depicted the story at its best.

 

“We’re really trying to push the quality of this graphic novel, as well as the endearing motivation behind it,” explains Garbo. “It’s a volume that will delight any fan of classic automobiles, racing or the work of McQueen. My team has invested hundreds of hours into crafting the perfect volume, and we’re currently working with partners (including CBS Consumer Products and the McQueen family themselves) to promote it to readers and groups around the world. McQueen knew no boundaries, and neither do we.”

Continuing, “We’ll be launching this month with our hardcover “tribute edition,” which is a beautiful 35x26cm, 64-page edition that will take pride of place on anyone’s coffee table or display cabinet. You really have to hold the book, feel the weight of its pages and see the high-resolution details of the graphic novel to appreciate it, so we’d suggest pre-ordering your copy now to take advantage of the first-round production.”

 

‘Steve McQueen in Le Mans,’ from Garbo Studio, is due for December release.

For more information or to order, visit the book’s official website: http://mcqueenlemans.com.

*Members of the media can download high-resolution images of the novel and press material by selecting PRESS ROOM onto the website with the code ‘GSPRESSKIT’.

 

About Garbo Studio:

Garbo Studio is a Swiss publisher created in 2013 with the goal to publish the graphic novel “Steve McQueen in Le Mans.” The team behind the project is the following:

Adaptation

Sandro Garbo

Art & Color

Florian Afflerbach, Jared Barel, Julien Dejeu, Sandro Garbo, Thomas Lebeltel, Guillaume Lopez, Pierre Ménard

CEO

Pascal Favre

 

About Greenlight:

Greenlight, part of the Branded Entertainment Network (BEN), mission is to connect global brands to consumers through the power of popular entertainment. It is a global media licensing, talent negotiation and rights representation agency, providing corporate, advertising and media clients with access to music, film and other entertainment content and celebrities. Greenlight works with the world’s leading advertising agencies and multinational companies to create innovative advertising, packaging and products. Greenlight’s rights representation group manages the personality rights of iconic personas including Steve McQueen, Albert Einstein, Muhammad Ali, Buzz Aldrin, Sophia Loren, Marvin Gaye, Charlie Chaplin, Thomas Edison, Andy Warhol, and The Wright Brothers. For more information and to see the full roster of talent, visit www.greenlightrights.com.

 

About The Automobile Club de l’Ouest:

The Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) founded in 1906 is the creator and organizer of major motor sporting events including the first grand prix in the history of motor racing in 1906 followed by the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1923. The ACO’s aim is to develop long-distance racing and since 2012 it has been the organizer and promoter of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC). The club is also the creator of the continental series: The WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, former American Le Mans Series (1999), the European Le Mans Series (2004), and the Asian Le Mans Series (2013). On its own circuits at Le Mans, the ACO organizes the 24 Heures Motos, the 24 Heures Karting, the 24 Heures Camions and the French Motorcycle Grand Prix. But above all the ACO is a club made up of enthusiasts who defend the rights of car users on a daily basis, and it gives its members a privileged welcome to enable them to live their passion for motor sport at the events it organizes. The ACO also has a driving school, Le Mans Driver, a leisure and kart competition complex and simulators, an Enterprise department for the organization of seminars, a team of guides providing tours of the installations of the Le Mans circuits, two official boutiques in Le Mans and Paris as well as eight regional agencies.