A succession already in effect
Pauline Mermet became editorial director of Dargaud France on September 7, according to a September 14 report carrying the publisher's announced transition. She moves up from deputy editorial director and assumes responsibility for the French editorial operation. François Le Bescond is not leaving immediately: he remains until the end of April 2027 as a literary director attached to general management. During those months he will continue following the authors he edits and will retain editorial responsibility for Lucky Luke. Dargaud also leaves open the possibility that he may later work on selected projects as an independent editor.
Why Mermet's route matters
Mermet joined Dargaud in 2010 and has already tested a more compact editorial model inside the company. She created and runs Charivari, a label launched in 2025 that publishes about ten comics a year across intimate narratives, reportage, nonfiction and work for younger readers. That record gives readers and creators a concrete point of reference for her promotion, but it should not be treated as proof that all of Dargaud will adopt Charivari's scale or line. The appointment establishes who now leads; it does not yet announce a catalog overhaul, staff reorganization or change in the publisher's larger franchises.
Continuity is part of the plan
The seven-month overlap is significant because comics publishing depends on long creator relationships and multi-year projects. Keeping Le Bescond with his authors reduces the risk that the management change is mistaken for an immediate editorial break. Lucky Luke is especially visible during the character's eightieth-anniversary program, so retaining his oversight separates the succession from that active slate. The next evidence to watch is practical: new acquisitions, changes to Charivari, appointments beneath Mermet or a revised division of responsibility after April 2027. Until then, predictions about a new house-wide direction would go beyond the announced roles.