Belgian Comic Artist Hermann, 2016 Angoulême Grand Prix Winner, Dies at 87

Hermann Huppen, the Belgian comic artist known professionally as Hermann, passed away on March 22 at age 87. His death was announced by publisher Le Lombard, which described him as a monumental figure in the world of comics. Born on July 17, 1938, in Bévercé, Liège province, Belgium, Hermann initially trained in cabinetmaking and worked in an architecture firm before entering comics through his brother-in-law Philippe Vandooren. He debuted in 1965 with short stories in Spirou magazine's 'Belles histoires de l'oncle Paul' series. Hermann became a key contributor to Tintin magazine and collaborated extensively with writer Michel Greg, creating major series like Bernard Prince (14 albums until 1980) and Comanche (10 albums starting 1969). In 1977, he launched the post-apocalyptic science fiction series Jeremiah, which spanned 42 volumes, with the final installment published in October 2025. The series was adapted into a U.S. television show in 2001. Hermann also created the medieval saga Les Tours de Bois-Maury in 1984 and experimented with direct color techniques in works like Sarajevo-Tango in the 1990s. Throughout his six-decade career, he explored diverse genres including westerns, adventure, fantasy, and thrillers, publishing nearly 120 albums. He worked with publishers Glénat, Dupuis, and Le Lombard. In later years, he collaborated with his son Yves H. on series like Duke and Brigantus. Hermann received the Grand Prix de la ville d'Angoulême in 2016 and was named a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 2009. His final work, Cartagena, created with his son, is scheduled for release on April 30, 2026.