While Arnold Schwarzenegger wilts under bad publicity, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is getting a surprising boost from an unlikely source: the comics. Superputin, A Man Like Any Other, an online comic strip, was released last week, and is already an Internet phenomenon. "Superputin, allegedly the work of a Russian PR freelancer who received no input from the Kremlin, features a kimono-clad Putin darting to rescue a bus from an al-Qaeda bomb attack. Helping him is the cartoon version of President Dmitry Medvedev, described as a “gnome raised by bears” with an obsession for gadgets. The gentle parody of Russia’s political duo registered three million views in its first week, but has also stirred criticism for portraying the political opposition as brain-hungry zombies."
Comics and graphic novels are enjoying a growing following thanks to some talented and creative writers and artists.
Via Macleans
See English version of the comic strip here. (Click on images to proceed to the next one.)
