History:
ALAIN FERRAND
Real Name: Alain Ferrand
Identity/Class: Human (French)
(World War II Era
to Post-World War
II Era)
Occupation: Astronomer
Group Membership: French Foreign Legion, formerly the Free French Movement
Affiliations: LeBrun
Enemies: Ernst Kronhauer, the Vietminh
Known Relatives: Paul Ferrand (brother, deceased)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Paris, France; formerly mobile in French Indo-China
First Appearance: Savage Tales II#1 (October, 1985)
Powers/Abilities: Alain Ferrand was an excellent fighter who used a rifle. He had experience with guerrilla tactics and jungle warfare. After World War II he carried a Luger pistol for eventual use against Ernst Kronhauer.
Height: Unrevealed
(approximately 6')
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 170 lbs.)
Eyes: Unrevealed
Hair: Black
History:
(Savage Tales II#1 (fb)) - During World War II, Alain and his younger brother Paul served in the Free French Movement to liberate Paris from the Nazis. In 1944, as tanks of the Free French army were about to liberate Paris, Alain, Paul and other members of the movement were captured by Ernst Kronhauer. Ernst lined up the captured men and began shooting them; Paul died begging Alain to save him. Kronhauer's gun ran out of bullets after shooting Paul and as he was reloading he heard the French tanks approaching, so he and his forces retreated, leaving Alain alive.
After hearing Ernest Kronhauer joined the French Foreign Legion and served in a German unit in French Indo-China, Alain joined the Foreign Legion, hoping for a showdown with Kronhauer. Having acquired a Luger pistol, he carried the Luger wherever he went, intending to kill Kronhauer with it. In 1950, Alain was serving in the French Foreign Legion in French Indo-China. In a convoy run north of Hanoi, the convoy was ambushed by the Vietminh and pinned down under fire.
Alain and LeBrun's commander ordered them to cross a ridge and meet up with the Third Battalion, who were under attack on the other side. As they crossed through the jungle, all of Alain and LeBrun's comrades were killed by the Vietminh and LeBrun was hit in the eye by shrapnel when he saved Alain from a grenade.
Alain and LeBrun met up with Sgt. Hans Schmidt of the Third Battalion who supplied medical gear to help treat LeBrun's injury. Alain recognized "Schmidt" was Kronhauer and began calling him that but "Schmidt" refused to acknowledge it as his identity. "Schmidt" saved their lives from the Vietminh on several occasions. As they continued to trudge through the jungles, the Legionnaires ran out of ammunition and had to resort to bayonets to fight off the Vietminh. When LeBrun reminded Alain he still had his Luger and should use it, Alain agreed; although he briefly pointed it at "Schmidt," then began shooting the Vietminh, saving their lives. When they arrived at That Khe, the officer on duty asked "Schmidt" to identify himself. "Schmidt" started to say his identity was a matter of debate, but Alain, impressed by "Schdmidt's" heroism, said he was convinced the man he was after was dead and that he was Sgt. Hans Schmidt.
(Savage Tales II#1) - In 1955, Alain tracked Kronhauer to a bistro in Les Halles, Paris. Without speaking a word, Alain drew his Luger and shot him dead, emptying the gun into Kronhauer's body. Rather than escaping, Alain waited for the police to arrive. When the police observed that Kronhauer had been granted amnesty because of his heroism in Indo-China and wondered why Alain had killed a man who saved his life once, Alain replied that he respected Hans Schmidt, "but Ernst Kronhauer is still the man who killed my brother." The police took Alain away, warning him he was bound to be executed for murder.
Comments: Created by Archie Goodwin and John Severin.
This profile was completed on 02/23/2026 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.
Profile by Prime Eternal.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Alain Ferrand should not be confused with:
Paul Ferrand was Alain's younger brother and lived with him in Paris. Both brothers served in the Free French Movement. When Paul and Alain were captured by Kronhauer with other Free French men, he fired his gun at each of them, killing Paul with his last bullet. Paul's last words were spent begging his brother to save him.
--Savage Tales II#1/3 (fb)
Ernst Kronhauer was a German captain and member of the Nazi Party. During World War II he was stationed in Paris. When Free French forces came to liberate Paris, he captured a group of civilians who had been assisting the army, among them Alain and Paul Ferrand. Kronhauer began shooting each of the men but ran out of bullets after killing Paul Ferrand. As he started to reload his gun, the French tanks drew closer and he was forced to flee Paris. Captured by the French, Kronhauer was offered the chance to avoid prison by joining the French Foreign Legion; he agreed.
After the war, Ernst assumed the alias "Hans Schmidt." He served in the Third Battalion, a German unit who were sent to French Indo-China to battle the Vietminh. His battalion were based out of Cao Bang. In 1950, now a sergeant, "Hans" encountered Alain Ferrand and helped defend him and his friend LeBrun from the Vietminh. When Alain accused "Hans" of being Kronhauer he answered that all men in the Foreign Legion had been "born again." Convinced of this, Alain let the matter drop and gained respect for "Schmidt." "Schmidt" went on to win the Legion of Honour at Dien Bien Phu and was granted full amnesty for his actions as Ernst Kronhauer.
Now able to live again under his true name, Kronhauer went back to Paris to live the rest of his life in peace. In 1955, Ernst was enjoying himself in a bistro in Les Halles, Paris, when Alain Ferrand entered the bistro and shot Ernst to death; Alain respected "Hans Schmidt" but now that he had become Kronhauer again, he had resumed being the man Alain despised.
--Savage Tales II#1/3 (1/3 (fb), 1/3
LeBrun was a member of the French Foreign Legion who was friends with Alain Farrand. LeBrun had two counts of armed robbery against him in Marsielle, so joined the Foreign Legion to avoid punishment. LeBrun served in French Indo-China and fought against the Vietminh. While accompanying Alain to find the Third Battalion across a ridge, LeBrun was hit in the right eye by shrapnel from a grenade as he saved Alain from being hit. Alain tended to LeBrun's injury.
--Savage Tales II#1/3 (fb)
images: (without ads)
Savage Tales II#1/3, page 1, panel 3 (main)
Savage Tales II#1/3, page 3, panel 5 (face)
Savage Tales II#1/3, page 4, panel 3 (Paul)
Savage Tales II#1/3, page 4, panel 2 (Kronhauer)
Savage Tales II#1/3, page 3, panel 2 (LeBrun)
Appearances:
Savage Tales II#1/3 (October, 1985) - Archie Goodwin (writer), John
Severin (artist), Larry Hama (editor)
First posted: 09/26/2026
Last updated: 08/21/2026
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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