At first Varenne couldn't get his work published so when he finally (after ten years of trying) succeeded his work had already reached a certain degree of maturity. His debut was therefore well received. Varenne depicts a post-apocalyptic view on society, but builds his story's around historical fact. In this way he criticises on totalitairian rule and nuclear armament. But his fame comes from his erotic work published in 'Liberation' in which he depicts a woman, Erma Jaguar, who was modelled after the famous singer of the Arithmics band.