When he was about twenty years of age, Michel Janvier made his first comics for the fanzines La Claque and L'Abcès. Later on he specialized in photography and illustration. He did most of his illustration work in the advertising field, such as for the Michelin Guides. From 1982 Janvier worked regularly for Dargaud publishers. In 1986 he cooperated on the 'Lucky Luke' album, 'Le Ranch Maudit', which contained short stories written by Claude Guylouis, Jean Léturgie and Xavier Fauche.