Jean-Yves Mitton Entretiens (which translates to Jean-Yves Mitton Interviews) is a book published by Editions Mediacom SA in France in 1999. This softcover book features interviews with the renowned comic artist Jean-Yves Mitton, known for his work on various series, including the Phantom.

Jean-Yves Mitton Entretiens serves as a comprehensive retrospective and deep dive into the career of one of France’s most prolific comic book creators. The book is structured as a series of interviews conducted by Jean-Louis Cartillier and Thierry Martinet, featuring a preface by the renowned writer François Corteggiani. It captures Mitton at a significant point in his career, offering a reflective look at his transition from a reliable studio illustrator to a celebrated auteur known for his historical epics and bold storytelling.

The cover art, a detailed montage of characters surrounding a central portrait of Mitton, beautifully illustrates the breadth of his contribution to the medium, with the Phantom also featured. Within its 127 pages which includes both color and black-and-white illustrations, it explores his early days at the Lug publishing house, where he worked on iconic titles like Blek le Roc and Mikros, the latter of which became a cornerstone of French superhero comics. The interviews provide rare insight into his artistic process, his thoughts on the evolving Franco-Belgian comic market, and the historical research required for his more mature, acclaimed series such as Vae Victis! and Les Chroniques de la Terre Fixe.

As a piece of comic history, this volume is an essential resource for enthusiasts of “le neuvième art” seeking to understand the man behind the ink. It balances personal anecdotes with technical discussion, painting a portrait of a tireless worker who bridged the gap between classic adventure strips and modern graphic novels. By documenting his influences and professional challenges, the book preserves the legacy of an artist whose versatility allowed him to master genres ranging from science fiction and superheroes to gritty, hyper-realistic historical drama.

A small description of Jean-Yves Mitton Entretiens is found on the books back cover:

He was sixteen and already publishing! A true Toulousain, Jean-Yves Mitton entered the world of comics through small-format books, which he initially only touched up. His first attempts were accompanied by his discovery of Armenian and Italian comics. Soon, under the pseudonyms jym or John Milton, he masterfully tackled all graphic styles.

An accomplished author, Mitton moves effortlessly from comedy (Pim Pam Poum, Pougatchoff…) to realistic drawing (The Silver Surfer, Fantastic Four), not forgetting Blek le Roc, for which he created 52 episodes, always with a master’s touch, whatever the genre. The transcendent precision of Ambre, heroine of Vae Victis, confirms today that his creative flow never runs dry

A captivating virtuoso of the 9th Art, Mitton has been enchanting us for almost forty years. Both writer and artist, this storyteller, as he likes to define himself with a modest wink, shares here his own story, his emotions, his projects, and even more secrets.

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