Tardi was born on 30 August 1946 in Valence, Drôme.

After graduating from the École nationale des beaux-arts de Lyon and the École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs in Paris, he started drawing comics in 1969, at the age of 23, in the Franco-Belgian comics magazine Pilote, initially illustrating short stories written by Jean Giraud and Serge de Beketch, before creating the political fiction story Rumeur sur le Rouergue from a scenario by Pierre Christin in 1972.

[1][2] In the English language, many of Tardi's books are published by Fantagraphics Books, edited and translated by Fantagraphics' co-founder Kim Thompson.

[3] In 2013, Tardi was nominated as a Chevalier in France's Legion of Honour, the country's highest distinction.

[4] However, he turned down the distinction, citing that he will "remain a free man and not be held hostage by any power whatsoever.