The Grand Prix de la ville d’Angoulême, which is one of the most prestigious rewards of the comics, was awarded to the Franco-Belgian Hermann.
Hermann, whose real name is Hermann Huppen, was born in 1938 in Belgium where he still lives. His story with the comics begins with a publication in a scout magazine. He then joins Greg’s studio and starts the series Bernard Prince with the latter. The albums Comanche will follow later, one of the best realistic westerns of the Franco-Belgian comics taken over in 1990 by Michel Rouge.
Considered as one of the greatest realistic artists of Franco-Belgian comics, he tackled a variety of genres. In 1979, he creates on his own Jeremiah, a post-apocalyptic science fiction comic book series. He is also known for creating Les tours de Bois-Maury, a medieval fresco launched in 1984, which tells the search of Aymar de Bois-Maury, accompanied by his faithful horseman Olivier. Hermann is also the author of one-shots, such as Missié Vandisandi (1991), Sarajevo Tango and Lune de guerre. Through his work, Hermann shares his taste for watercolours, but also a certain misanthropy. He has never hidden it: he is wary of the man; all of his work is aimed at diving us into our own darkness.
Already on the podium in recent years, Hermann wins the 43rd Grand Prix of the festival. In this way, he follows the author of Japanese manga Katsuhiro Otomo, the 2015 laureate of the prestigious distinction. Ever since its creation in 1973, and with an average frequentation of 200 000 people every year, Angoulême is the first festival that is devoted to comics in Europe. Each year, its jury awards a Golden Wildcat to the best cartoon album of the year.
