“A craftsman must remain dissatisfied. If he does not constantly question himself, he stops evolving. » HERMANN
It is with pain and sadness that the Lombard editions regret to inform you of the death of Hermann. A pillar of European comics and Grand Prix de la Ville d’Angoulême in 2016, he died on March 22, 2026, at the age of 88. A figure in the Tintin newspaper and Lombard editions for 60 years, he notably published Bernard Prince and Comanche, series that have become legendary, as well as several albums from the Signé collection.
Editions du Lombard have a heartfelt thought for the family, friends, and loved ones of Hermann, in particular his wife and his son Yves H., who is also his screenwriter and closest collaborator. More broadly, it is the world of comics and all lovers of the 9th art who have just lost an immense author.
Hermann Huppen, known as Hermann, was born on July 17, 1938 in Bévercé, in the province of Liège, in Belgium, not far from the German border. After an apprenticeship in cabinetmaking, he worked in an architectural firm, before launching into comics in the mid-1960s. A world that he discovered through his brother-in-law Philippe Vandooren, novelist and future editor-in-chief of the Spirou newspaper. In 1965, Hermann published his first comic strips there, a short story from the Belles histoire de l’uncle Paul collection. The following year, and before working on Jugurtha, he began a fruitful collaboration with a screenwriter then on the rise: Michel Greg. “I really learned my trade from Greg,” said Hermann. Together, they created two major series, which were published in the pages of the Tintin newspaper, before appearing in albums by Éditions du Lombard.
The first, Bernard Prince, evokes the adventures of a former Interpol police officer turned adventurer, who travels the world aboard his ship, the Cormoran. Until 1980, Hermann illustrated 14 albums in the saga, then gave way to Dany and Aidans, before returning for a final episode scripted by Yves H. and released in 2010. In the wake of Bernard Prince, Greg and Hermann also launched Comanche, in 1969. A western noted for its realism and its nervousness, which also has the particularity of its female protagonist, in a genre and register usually reserved for male heroes. The designer signed no less than ten Comanche albums, before Michel Rouge took over. These two series offer a more realistic and above all more adult approach to comics, at a time when they are still mainly intended for young readers. They do not hesitate to address the issue of violence head-on. Hermann then follows in the tradition of authors such as William Vance, Franz, or Dany.
After a decade spent alongside Greg, Hermann wants to stand on his own two feet. A dream that he made come true by creating Jeremiah in 1977, which appeared for the first time in the German comics magazine Zack, published by Koralle. Taken over by Dupuis in 1988, the series has established itself over the years as a staple of post-apocalyptic science fiction comics. The wanderings of Jeremiah and Kurdy in the ruins of a pulverized America say a lot about Hermann’s disenchanted view of this humanity which knows how to delight in violence. Building on this third great success, Hermann wrote and drew no less than 42 volumes of Jeremiah solo in almost half a century. The last episode, entitled Les Larbins, was published in October 2025.
Hermann was an insatiable creator. Les Tours de Bois-Maury, inaugurated in 1984 by Glénat editions, is the perfect illustration of this. The author seeks to renew himself, and to do so decides to radically change times. He ventures for the first time into the Middle Ages, unfolding the episodes of an ambitious historical fresco which evokes the quest of Aymar de Bois-Maury, then of his descendants. Hermann published 15 volumes of Tours de Bois-Maury, being joined on the screenplay by Yves H. from volume 12.
For Hermann, the 1990s were then marked by the publication of his first one-shots, starting with Missié Vandisandi and the very moving and engaging Sarajevo-Tango, both published in the Aire libre collection by Editions Dupuis. Sarajevo-Tango marks a fundamental break in the work of Hermann, who took a liking to direct color, and who will now only work using this process. Without being fully satisfied with it. “I drew with all kinds of techniques. I never manage to combine all the elements so that the page is as I would like it to be,” he declared on this subject. Before adding: “this job is a constant frustration, to the point that I sometimes feel like I don’t know anything at all.”
Hermann subsequently published several new complete stories including Caatinga and Afrika (Le Lombard) and We killed Wild Bill (Dupuis), before illustrating scenarios by Jean Van Hamme (Lune de guerre) and especially his son Yves H. From 2000, the duo notably published Liens de sang, Manhattan Beach 1957, The Girl from Ipanema, Station 16, and Old Pa Anderson in the Signé collection of Editions du Lombard. We also owe them Le Passeur in the Aire libre collection. In 2017, at almost 80 years old, Hermann took on one last big challenge: creating a new series. Entitled Duke, this western is developed over seven volumes, like in the heyday. Hermann and Yves H. still offer Brigantus, then Cartagena, which will be published on April 30, 2026.
Hermann released no less than 120 albums throughout his 60-year career. He achieved recognition in 2016, when he was elected Grand Prix de la Ville d’Angoulême by his peers. Through his productivity, his longevity, his success, and his ability to reinvent himself, Hermann has established himself as a monument of the 9th art. Celebrated master of direct color, outstanding manager of silence, he stands out for his naturalist approach. His characters are sincere and whole, neither really good nor totally bad. Because Hermann’s art is in his image: diligent, passionate, and imposing.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bernard Prince (The Lombard) – Screenplay by Greg1 – General Satan (1969)2 – Thunder over Coronado (1969)3 – The Border of Hell (1970)4 – Adventure in Manhattan (1971)5 – The Oasis in Flames (1972)6 – The Law of the Hurricane (1973)7 – The Furnace of the Damned (1974)8 – The Green Flame of the Conquistador (1974)9 – Guerrilla for a Ghost (1975)10 – The Breath of Moloch (1976)11 – The Fortress of the Mists (1977)12 – Objectif Cormoran (1978)13 – The Port of Fools (1978)18 – Threat on the River (2010) – Screenplay by Yves H.
Bernard Prince yesterday and today (1980) Complete 1 (2010) Complete 2 (2010) Complete 3 (2010)
(nos. 14 to 17 were drawn by Dany and Aidans, script by Greg)
Comanche (The Lombard) – Screenplay by Greg1 – Red Dust (1972)2 – Warriors of Despair (1973)3 – The Wolves of Wyoming (1974)4 – The Sky is Red Over Laramie (1975)5 – The Lightless Desert (1976)6 – Rebel Fury (1976)7 – The Devil’s Finger (1977)8 – The Sheriffs (1980)9 – And the Devil screamed for joy (1981)10 – The Body of Algernon Brown (1983)
The prisoner (1998, Shadow line) Complete The whole story (1995) Complete 1 (2004) Complete 2 (2005)
Duke (Le Lombard) – Screenplay by Yves H.1 – The mud and the blood (2017)2 – The one who kills (2018)3 – I am a shadow (2019)4 – The last time I prayed (2020)5 – A gunslinger, you will be (2021)6 – Beyond the track (2022)7 – This world is not mine (2023)
Jugurtha (Le Lombard) – Screenplay by Jean-Luc Vernal1 – The lion cub of the sands (1975 – RTP, 1977, Le Lombard)2 – The Celtiberian helmet (1975 – RTP, 1977, Le Lombard)(these 2 volumes are included in Complete 1 (2011 – Le Lombard)
Jeremiah (all albums are now published by Dupuis)1 – La Nuit des rapaces (1979, Fleurus)2 – Du sable plein les dents (1979, Fleurus)3 – Les Héritiers sauvage (1980, Fleurus)4 – Les yeux de fer rouge (1980, Fleurus)5 – A guinea pig for eternity (1981, Hachette)6 – La Secte (1980, Hachette)7 – Afromérica (1982, Hachette)8 – Waters of Anger (1983, Hachette)9 – A Clown’s Winter (1983, Hachette)10 – Boomerang (1984, Novedi)11 – Delta (1985, Novedi)12 – Julius et Roméa (1986, Novedi)13 – Strike (1988, Dupuis)14 – Simon is back (1989, Dupuis)15 – Alex (1990, Dupuis)16 – The red line (1992, Dupuis)17 – Three motorcycles.. or four (1994, Dupuis)18 – Ave Caesar (1995, Dupuis)19 – Border zone (1996, Dupuis)20 – Mercenaries (1997, Dupuis)21 – Cousin Lindford (1998, Dupuis)22 – The gun in the water (2001, Dupuis)23 – Who is Blue Fox (2002, Dupuis)24 – The last diamond (2003, Dupuis)25 – And if one day, the earth… (2004, Dupuis)26 – A port in the shadows (2005, Dupuis)27 – Elsie and the street (2007, Dupuis)28 – Esra is doing very well (2008, Dupuis)29 – The little cat is dead (2010, Dupuis)30 – Fifty-fifty (2011, Dupuis)31 – The basket of crabs (2012, Dupuis)32 – The boss (2013, Dupuis)33 – A big dog with a blonde (2014, Dupuis)34 – Jungle City (2015, Dupuis)35 – Kurdy Malloy and Mama Olga (2017, Dupuis)36 – And then shit (2018, Dupuis)37 – The Beast (2019, Dupuis)38 – Do you understand? (2020, Dupuis)39 – Grudge (2022, Dupuis)40 – The One Who Misses (2023, Dupuis)41 – Casio Celestial (2024, Dupuis)42 – The Minions (2025, Dupuis)
Integral 1 (2005, Dupuis) Integral 2 (2006, Dupuis) Integral 3 (2006, Dupuis) Integral 4 (2007, Dupuis) Integral 5 (2007, Dupuis) Integral 6 (2008, Dupuis) Integral 7 (2010, Dupuis)
Les Tours de Bois-Maury (Glénat)1 – Babette (1984)2 – Eloïse de Montgri (1985)3 – Germain (1986)4 – Reinhardt (1987)5 – Alda (1988)6 – Sigurd (1990)7 – William (1990)8 – Le Seldjouki (1992)9 – Khaled (1993)10 – Olivier (1994)
Bois-Maury (Glénat)11 – Assunta (1998)12 – Rodrigo (2001) – Screenplay by Yves H.13 – Dulle Griet (2006) – Screenplay by Yves H.14 – Vassya (2009) – Screenplay by Yves H.15 – Œil de ciel (2012) – Screenplay by Yves H.
Complete (2009) Complete in black and white (2013)
Nic (Dupuis) – Screenplay by Philippe Vandooren1 – Hey, Nic! Are you dreaming? (1981)2 – Good nights, Nic (1982)3 – That’s filarmo, Nic (1983)
Complete (2014 – Ed. Hématine)
Complete storiesMissié Vandisandi (1991, Dupuis)Sarajevo Tango (1995, Dupuis)Caatinga (1997, Le Lombard)We killed Wild Bill (1999, Dupuis)Lune de Guerre (2000, Dupuis) – Screenplay by Jean Van HammeBlood Ties (2000, Dupuis) – Screenplay by Yves H.USA trilogy box set (2000) Manhattan Beach 1957 (2002, Le Lombard) – Screenplay by Yves H. Zhong Guo (2003, Dupuis) – Screenplay by Yves H. The girl from Ipanema (2005, Le Lombard) – Screenplay by Yves H. In the footsteps of Dracula, volume 1: Vlad the Impaler (2006), screenplay by Yves H. La Vie Exaggerated Nylon Man (2007, Le Lombard) – Screenplay by KirsteinAfrika (2007, Le Lombard)The Devil of the Seven Seas volume 1 (2008, Dupuis) – Screenplay by Yves H.The Devil of the Seven Seas volume 2 (2009, Dupuis) – Screenplay by Yves H.A Full Moon Night (2011, Glénat) – Screenplay by Yves H.Retour au Congo (2013, Glénat) – Screenplay by Yves H.Station 16 (2014, Le Lombard) – Screenplay by Yves H.Sans pardon (2015, Le Lombard) – Screenplay by Yves H.Old Pa Anderson (2016, Le Lombard) – Screenplay by Yves H.The passer (2016, Dupuis) – Screenplay by Yves H.Brigantus volume 1 (2024, Le Lombard) – Screenplay by Yves H.Brigantus volume 2 (2025, Le Lombard) – Screenplay by Yves H.Cartagena (2026, Le Lombard) – Screenplay by Yves H.
Single albums and participations (selection)The Daltons (1980, Bédescope)Alerte aux pirates (1980, Bédescope)Les amis de Buddy Longway (1983, Le Lombard)The makings of a crack (1984, Bédescope)The ballad of slaps (1983, Goupil publisher)6000 meters (1993, Gibraltar)Billy the kid (1993, Gibraltar)Barney Jordan (1993, Gibraltar)The Secret of Dog Men (1995, Dupuis), drawings and screenplay by Yves H., inkings and colors by Hermann.Dirty Little Tales 2: Perrault (1998, Dupuis) –Scenario by YannAbominable (1988, Glénat)The Tree of Two Springtimes (2000, Le Lombard)Heroes and cattle (2002, Mosquito)Monographs (selection)Schtroumpf – Les Cahiers de la bande bande n°44 (1980,Glénat)Hermann, a monograph (1997, Mosquito)Inside Hermann (1995, Comic! Events)DBD n°15 (2002)On dry land with Hermann (2002, Petit à Petit)Hermann Post-Atomic (2008, CBBD-La Poste Belge)DBD Special issue n°5: Hermann, the Stakhanovist of drawing (2011)