Alain Voss (29 April 1946 – 13 May 2011) (also credited Al Voss) was a French‑Brazilian comics artist whose career bridged Brazil’s late‑1960s underground/alt press and France’s 1970s Métal Hurlant revolution. Known for provocative satire, stylish parodies of classic comic icons, and the controversial punk strip Heilman (1978), Voss also designed album covers—notably for the Brazilian band Os Mutantes—and earned the European Album of the Year (1982) for Adrénaline. After returning to Brazil in the 1980s, he continued publishing, advertising, and editorial work, later launching the series Anarcity and the strip Zensetos before his death in Lisbon in 2011.

Quick Facts (Infobox): Alain Voss

Name	Alain Voss (aka Al Voss)
Born	29 April 1946, Paris, France
Died	13 May 2011, Lisbon, Portugal
Nationality	French–Brazilian
Family	Son of a German father and French mother
Occupations	Comics artist, illustrator, cover designer
Active	1960s–2011
Known for	Métal Hurlant contributions; Heilman; Tobiaze; Parodies de Al Voss; *Adrénaline* (1982); Os Mutantes album covers
Publishers/Mags	Les Humanoïdes Associés; Métal Hurlant; Charlie Mensuel; Mormoil; Editora Ondas; Press‑Maciota
Influence	Cited influence on Serge Clerc

Biography

Early Life & Brazil (1946–1971)

Born in Paris to a German father and French mother, Alain Voss spent his early years in Brazil. He debuted professionally in the 1960s in Brazilian periodicals such as O Loco (Editora Taika) and O Careca, and created LP/album covers for local labels and artists—most famously for Os Mutantes. This period forged his blend of graphic boldness, satire, and pop‑music visual culture.

Alain Voss was born in France, the son of a German father and a French mother, he spent his early life in Brazil, and debuted in comics magazines in that country and executing LP covers in the 1960s. He moved to France in 1972. From 1975 he worked for the experimental Metal Hurlant magazine with series including that of the punk rocker Heilman (1978), Tobiaze and parodies of famous comics characters such as Popeye, Asterix, and Superman. He returned to Brazil in 1981, and during the rest of his life collaborated with Brazilian publishers such as Editora Ondas and Press-Maciota. In 1982 he won the European Album of the Year Award for Adrénaline.

Alain Voss (29 April 1946 – 13 May 2011), also known as Al Voss, was a French-Brazilian comics artist. — Alain Voss, Illustration by Tor, Image: Toons Mag

In 2009 he suffered a first stroke: after recovering, he launched the series Anarcity, influenced by Philip K. Dick’s works, and the strip Zensetos.

Voss spent the last part of his life in Lisbon, Portugal, where he died of a stroke in May 2011.[4] He was also known for designing album covers for the Brazilian rock band Os Mutantes.

Move to France & Métal Hurlant (1972–1980)

Voss relocated to France in 1972 and soon became part of the experimental, artist‑driven wave centered on Métal Hurlant (founded 1975). There he produced:

Heilman (1978) — A punk‑rocker anti‑hero serial whose pages incorporated swastikas and other Nazi fanfare, employing shock iconography within a critical, transgressive underground vocabulary of the time.
Tobiaze — A series showcasing Voss’s sharp caricature and satirical framework.
Parodies de Al Voss — A suite of parodies targeting canonical comics figures, including Popeye, Astérix, The Smurfs, Blueberry, and Superman. These were collected in albums by Les Humanoïdes Associés.

Beyond Métal Hurlant, he contributed to Charlie Mensuel and Mormoil, reinforcing his presence across France’s adult‑comics ecosystem.

Return to Brazil & Ongoing Work (1981–2008)

In 1981, Voss returned to Brazil, contributing to Inter‑Quadrinhos (Editora Ondas) and Monga, a Mulher Gorila (Press‑Maciota). He alternated between comics, promotional/advertising illustration, book and album cover art, and editorial pieces, maintaining ties with both Brazilian and European scenes.

Late Projects, Stroke & Final Years (2009–2011)

Voss suffered a stroke in 2009. After recovering, he launched Anarcity (a project influenced by Philip K. Dick’s speculative motifs) and produced the strip Zensetos (also rendered as Os Zensetos) for Caros Amigos. He spent his final years in Lisbon, Portugal, where he died on 13 May 2011.

Career Highlights & Works

Major Series & Albums

Heilman (1978, Métal Hurlant) — Punk‑era provocation employing forbidden iconography as part of a transgressive satire.
Tobiaze — Satiric serial work from the French period.
Parodies de Al Voss — Collected spoofs of classic comics characters (Popeye, Astérix, The Smurfs, Blueberry, Superman), published by Les Humanoïdes Associés.
Adrénaline (1982) — Awarded European Album of the Year.

Magazines & Publishers (Selected)

France: Métal Hurlant (Les Humanoïdes Associés), Charlie Mensuel, Mormoil.
Brazil: Inter‑Quadrinhos (Editora Ondas), Monga, a Mulher Gorila (Press‑Maciota), Caros Amigos.

Music & Design

Album covers (1960s onward), notably for Os Mutantes (Brazil) alongside other editorial/advertising illustration assignments.

Style & Themes

Satire & Parody: Voss excelled at pastiche and deconstruction of familiar comics iconography, turning recognizable heroes into vehicles for social and media critique.
Transgressive Symbols: In work like Heilman, he juxtaposed punk aesthetics with provocative symbols, reflecting the era’s underground vocabulary of shock and critique.
Cross‑Cultural Hybrid: His French–Brazilian trajectory fused European adult‑comics experimentation with Brazilian pop and countercultural sensibilities.

Influence & Reception

Regarded as a cult figure of the Métal Hurlant generation.
Influenced artists such as Serge Clerc, who drew on Voss’s sleek caricature, graphic economy, and pop‑music inflection.
His parodic albums for Les Humanoïdes Associés helped codify a playful, referential approach within late‑20th‑century European comics.

Selected Bibliography (Curated)

Parodies de Al Voss — Collections (Les Humanoïdes Associés)
Heilman — Serial in Métal Hurlant (1978)
Tobiaze — Serial/shorts in Métal Hurlant
Adrénaline — Album (1982)
Anarcity — Late‑career series (post‑2009)
Zensetos / Os Zensetos — Newspaper/magazine strip (Caros Amigos)

Note: Exact publication years/editions may vary by market; the list reflects the core projects highlighted in historical accounts.

Timeline (At a Glance)

1946 — Born in Paris, France
1960s — Debut in Brazil (O Loco; O Careca); LP covers (incl. Os Mutantes)
1972 — Moves to France
1975–1980 — Métal Hurlant era (Heilman 1978; Tobiaze; Parodies)
1981 — Returns to Brazil (Inter‑Quadrinhos; Monga, a Mulher Gorila)
1982 — Adrénaline wins European Album of the Year
2009 — Stroke; launches Anarcity; creates Zensetos
2011 — Dies in Lisbon, Portugal

FAQs about Alain Voss

Who was Alain Voss?

A French‑Brazilian comics artist (also credited Al Voss) active from the 1960s–2011, known for Métal Hurlant work, parodies, the punk strip Heilman, and award‑winning Adrénaline (1982).

What is Voss best known for?

For satirical, pop‑savvy comics in France (especially Métal Hurlant), parody albums with Les Humanoïdes Associés, and album‑cover design (notably Os Mutantes).

Did he receive awards?

Yes. He received European Album of the Year (1982) for Adrénaline.

Where did he work and publish?

In France (Métal Hurlant, Charlie Mensuel, Mormoil) and Brazil (Inter‑Quadrinhos, Monga, a Mulher Gorila, Caros Amigos), alongside advertising/design work.