The series tells the story of special agent Hans, caught up in a struggle for power in a totalitarian city, the only one left on Earth after a nuclear war.

During his adventures, which include both space and time travel, Hans falls in love with Orchid, one of the outlaws who live in the ravaged areas around his home city.

The series debuted with La Tour du désespoir, a short story, in early August 1980 in the Franco-Belgian magazine Tintin.

In 1986 a one page short story featuring Hans was published in French magazine Circus [fr] and another, two page short story was part of Tintin's 40th anniversary special edition (featuring Hans saving Tintin from a meteor strike).

From Volume 7 (Les Enfants de l'infini, 1994) onward, the stories were not published elsewhere before appearing in book form.

[2]: 307  In 2001, Ksenia Chamerska, reviewing the series for the Polish magazine Świat Komiksu [pl], praised Duchâteau for the novel ideas and surprising plot twists.

[5] Duchâteau listed Brave New World and Alice in the Wonderland as inspirations, and described the motifs of the series as primarily praise of escaping to freedom and democracy, and secondarily a critique of tyranny.

[8]: 29 Duchâteau chose the German name Hans for the character, as he wanted a simple, recognizable name, and decided to settle on the one known through the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale.