Hermann Huppen (17 July 1938 – 22 March 2026), better known by the pen-name Hermann, was a Belgian comic book creator. He was most famous for his post-apocalyptic comic Jeremiah which was made into a television series.
Life and career Hermann was born on 17 July 1938 in Bévercé (now a part of Malmedy) in Liège Province.De Weyer, Geert (2005). "Hermann". In België gestript, pp. 124–125. Tielt: Lannoo. After studying to become a furniture maker and working as interior architect, Hermann made his debut as comic book artist in 1964 in the Franco-Belgian comics magazine Spirou with a four-page story. Greg noticed his talent and offered him to work for his studio. In 1966, he began illustrating the Bernard Prince series written by Greg, published in Tintin magazine. In 1969, also in collaboration with Greg, he began the western series Comanche. This appeared at the same time as other western series such as Blueberry.
He began writing his own stories in 1977, starting the post-apocalyptic Jeremiah series, which is still produced today. In the same period, he also made three albums of Nick, inspired by Little Nemo in Slumberland, for Spirou. In 1983, he began a new series, Les Tours de Bois-Maury, which is set in the Middle Ages and is less focused on action than his other works.
Hermann also created many non-series graphic novels sometimes together with his son Yves H. One of them, Lune de Guerre, with a story by Jean Van Hamme, was later filmed as by Dominique Deruddere.
Hermann died on 22 March 2026, at the age of 87.
Style and artistic philosophy Throughout his career, Hermann remained fiercely dedicated to traditional comic book craftsmanship, creating his works using physical mediums such as pencils, ink, and direct coloring. He expressed strong skepticism toward the digitalization of the comic book industry and the widespread use of computer graphics, arguing that digital art often strips illustrations of their unique character, human imperfection, and the organic "dirt" that defined his signature style.
In both his historical series (such as The Towers of Bois-Maury) and post-apocalyptic narratives (like Jeremiah), Hermann rejected the idealization of protagonists and contemporary political correctness. Instead, his storytelling focused on a gritty, uncompromising realism, frequently exploring the dark, primal, and brutal aspects of human nature under extreme duress or in survival scenarios.
Awards 1973: Prix Saint-Michel, Belgium 1980: Prix Saint-Michel 1992: Best Long Comic Strip at the Haxtur Awards, Spain - nominated for Best Drawing at the Haxtur Awards 1998: U Giancu's Prize, International Cartoonists Exhibition 1999: nominated for Best Drawing and Best Cover at the Haxtur Awards 2001: Best Drawing at the Haxtur Awards - nominated for Best Short Comic Strip and Best Script at the Haxtur Awards 2002: Grand Prix Saint-Michel - nominated for Best Short Comic Strip and Best Drawing at the Haxtur Awards 2003: nominated for the Audience Award and the Artwork Award at the Angoulême International Comics Festival, France 2005: nominated for the Audience Award at the Angoulême International Comics Festival 2006: nominated for Best Comic (French language) at the Prix Saint-Michel 2010: nominated for Best Artwork at the Prix Saint-Michel
Selected bibliography All of these comics have been published in French, Dutch and German: other translations are noted in the "remarks" column.
SeriesYearsVolumesWritten byEditorRemarksBernard Prince1969–1980, 201014Greg and Yves H. (Vol. 18)Le Lombard and DargaudTranslated into German; Translated into Danish; Translated into Serbian; Translated into Swedish;"Bernard Prince." Seriewikin.serieframjandet.se. Retrieved 5 October 2012. Translated into Tamil by Lion Comics; Translated into Polish.
Volumes 1-13 (Greg/Hermann), volumes 14-15 (Greg/Danny), volumes 16-17 (Greg/Aidan), volume 18 (Hermann/Yves H.)Comanche1972–198310GregLe Lombard and DargaudContinued by Rouge for five more stories; Translated into Serbian; Translated into Tamil by Lion Comics; Translated into PolishJugurtha1975–19772VernalRTP, Le Lombard and DargaudJeremiah1979–?39HermannFleurus, Edi-3, Novedi, Hachette, and DupuisTranslated into Serbian; translated into Polish; volumes 1 & 4 translated into English and published by Fantagraphics in 1983 under the titles The Survivors: Talons of Blood and The Survivors: The Eyes That Burned; Jeremiah 13: Strike published by Catalan Communications in 1990. Jeremiah: Gun in the Water and Jeremiah: Mercenaries published by Strip Art Features (SAF) in 2002 and 2003. A new series began in March 2012, collecting 3 of the original French language tomes in each hardcover edition; the series is being simultaneously published in English (as The Jeremiah Omnibus by SAF and Dark Horse Comics), German (as Jeremiah Integrale by Kult Editionen), Italian (as Jeremiah. Ediz. integrale by Linea Chiara), and Spanish (as Jeremiah Integral by Planeta DeAgostini Cómics). Alerte aux pirates19801Yves Duval and StepBédéscopeLes Dalton19801Yves DuvalBédéscopeHey, Nick! Are you dreaming1981–19833MorphéeDupuisTranslated into English by SAF Comics 2003Les Tours de Bois-Maury (The Towers of Bois-Maury)1984–202116Hermann (vols 12-15 written by Yves H.)GlénatTranslated into Danish, Serbocroatian and Polish, published in English by Titan Books Volumes 1 published in English by Titan Books 1984; Volumes 1 & 2 published in English by Titan Books 1989; Volumes 1-3 translated into English by Catalan Communications 1990 and Volumes 1 and 2 republished by SAF Comics in 2002.
Volumes 11-15 are named Bois-Maury, as opposed to the original naming of the first 10 volumes.Abominations19881HermannGlénatPublished in English in 1990 by Catalan CommunicationsMissié Vandisandi19911HermannDupuisSarajevo Tango19951HermannDupuisThe first book Hermann made in direct color.Le secret des hommes-chiens19951Yves HuppenDupuisFirst collaboration with his son YvesCaatinga19971HermannLe LombardWild bill is Dead19991HermannDupuisTranslated into English by SAF Comics 2003Liens de sang20001Yves H.Le LombardPublished in English by Dark Horse ComicsLune de guerre20001Jean Van HammeDupuisTranslated into Polish.Manhattan Beach 195720021Yves H.Le LombardTranslated into English by SAF Comics 2003Zhong Guo20031Yves H.DupuisThe girl from Ipanema20051Yves H.Le LombardTranslated to DanishSur les traces de Dracula : Vlad l'empaleur20061Yves H.CastermanTranslated to Danish; Translated into SerbianLa vie exagérée de l'Homme Nylon20071Hans-Michael KirsteinLe LombardAfrika20071HermannLe LombardDanish translation by Faraos CigarerTranslated into English by SAF Comics and published in USA by Dark Horse 2012Le diable des sept mers2008–20092Yves H.DupuisUne nuit de pleine lune20111Yves H.GlénatRetour au Congo20131Yves H.GlénatStation 1620141Yves H.Le LombardTranslated into Polish.Sans pardon20151Yves H.Le LombardTranslated into Polish.Old Pa Anderson20161Yves H.Le LombardLe Passeur20161Yves H.Dupuis .Duke2017-7Yves H.Le Lombard
References
Sources
Béra, Michel; Denni, Michel; and Mellot, Philippe (2002): "Trésors de la Bande Dessinée 2003-2004". Paris, Les éditions de l'amateur. Hermann publications in Spirou, Belgian Tintin, French Tintin, Circus / Vécu , BoDoï BDoubliées Frosztęga, Radosław (2024). "Wywiad z Hermann Huppen" (Interview with Hermann Huppen). POPKulturowy Kociołek.
External links Hermann Huppen official site Hermann biography on Lambiek Comiclopedia Hermann fan site