A satirical look at the world of superheroes, combining social commentary with romance and suspense

Comics

At the very start of the comics we learn that there are four ways to become a superhero: you have to be fired up with determination, not be afraid of making waves, live with the wind at your back and courage in your heart, and have adventure at your fingertips. It sounds like something from a flyer for a personal development course. What appears to be the prologue to a superhero narrative quickly transforms into an advertising slogan promoting the mysterious Supro corporation. It promises that it will help clients who sign up for its services to discover and activate their superhero gene. The desire to have special abilities is so great that many people borrow money on such unfavourable terms that they will never be able to get out of the debt trap. Some readers might see it as a straightforward updating of the Faust story, others as an allegorical satire on the predatory practices of modern-day capitalism. There is no shortage of images of a dystopian near future involving social networks, marketing strategies, the media, concrete jungles and genetic experiments.