European Graphic Novels+

Anybody know anything about the 'Largo Winch' character? What media would you recommend?

Also, is it pro-rich / pro-cop?

My understanding is the guy inherits billions but he’s from the criminal classes and hates the upper-classes… not really sure what class message is being sent

https://lemm.ee/post/51033313

Okay, this isn't exactly meant as a full overview of the series, but I will try to answer your Q's. NOTE: one of the pics is kinda spoiler-ish, so be aware:

I find LW to be a tremendously fun, interesting and thrilling series, altho NB-- that's as someone who doesn't have nearly the financial & big business education to critically evaluate the way in which the money and corporate matters unfold.

So, Largo is a young billionaire with an atypically strong drive to be directly involved in his businesses, and specifically to operate in a moral, highly principled manner. This seems like somewhat of an absurd, storybook premise, but it works splendidly, as it puts him in the position to be attacked, betrayed and sabotaged by any number of enemies, some of them within his own organisations(!)

Also, is it pro-rich / pro-cop?

Overall I think it tends to be fairly critical of the rich, as the series routinely presents wealthy players as being cutthroat and ruthless, altho generally-speaking, Largo's wealthy associates tend to be portrayed as mostly trustworthy and principled. As for cops, there's not much of any commentary, far as I recall. I'd say they're usually presented briefly as people just doing their jobs.

My understanding is the guy inherits billions but he’s from the criminal classes and hates the upper-classes… not really sure what class message is being sent

Yes, the origin story is rather interesting. A very rich relative who's dying of cancer discovers Largo to be a long-lost relative, and bequeaths him his fortune and businesses. This goes far I think to explain why Largo doesn't remotely have the 'spoiled heir' kind of personality, and is instead so very hands-on. Um, now I don't really remember him being a criminal of any significance, altho in some of his missions and quests, he probably does break some laws along the way... almost always in a good cause. I don't remember him particularly hating the upper classes either, altho it's true that their typical behavior often causes him hardships.

As for an overall message, I find that Largo's a bit like a Robin Hood / Bruce Wayne character, with a dash of the Count of Monte Cristo thrown in. For example, beyond striving to grow his empire, Largo's generally trying to use his wealth and power to make the world a better place, frequently clashing with rich, powerful figures who are plainly out to exploit the world for their own ends. In that sense I find the series again kind of story-bookish, as my suspicion is that virtually any corporation, no matter how benignly run, is probably a net negative in contributing to late-stage capitalism and the erosion of sustainable civilisation. Still, regardless of how true that is, I find LW to be a gem of a series, and a rare one that takes big business scenarios most people wouldn't normally think would be very interesting, and turns them in to fascinating, edge-of-your seat thrillers. So, big, BIG thumbs up to this series from me. And btw-- I'm only familiar with the graphic novels, not the... TV series or movie which I recall being made at some point.

Btw, it's not really a surprise that the great Belgian writer Jean Van Hamme is behind this super-franchise, as he's also done stellar work on a number of other series, such as Thorgal and Lady S (my favorites), but also XIII, Chninkel, Wayne Shelton, Rani, and many others.

You can read more about the individual BD tomes at BDT:
https://www.bedetheque.com/serie-14-BD-Largo-Winch.html