User:BobOrson/Sandbox7

XXXXX

Author	Boris Andronovksy
Country	Soravia
Language	Soravian
Subject	Superhero
Publisher	Samistopol Publishing (SP)
Publication date	1978

XXXXX is a comic book maxiseries by the Soravian-Vinalian creative team of writer Boris Andronovksy, artist Imrich Igumenov and colorist Sidere Opekai. It was published monthly by Samistopol Publishing in 1978 before being collected in a single-volume edition in 1982. XXXXX originated from a story proposal by Andronovksy to SP.

Andronovksy used the story to reflect contemporary anxieties, most prominently that of the Vinalian Struggle, and the Great Game. XXXXX depicts an alternate history in which superheroes emerged in the 1960s and 1970s and their presence changed history. Nations utilize their superheroes to wage proxy war with one another, with their discovery and training of stronger superheroes creating a weapons race between superpowers.

A commercial success, XXX has received critical acclaim both in the comics and mainstream press. An animated tv series was produced in 2023.

Background and creation

Andronovksy came up with the idea in 1971, when he found a Gaullican political cartoon, depicting North, and South Vinalia as two men in a standoff. Andronovksy interpreted the national personification to be the superheroes of each country, and began to consider a world where each nation was assigned a superhero. Andronovksy, who was inspired by spy fiction, and action films imagined a world where superhero spies engage in dangerous missions to advance their nations interests.

Concerns regarding nuclear weapons and their proliferation along with the theory of mutually assured destruction or MAD, made confrontations between superpowers an issue of great concern to the general populace. The North Vinalian propaganda film Sum of all terror, features a North Vinalian spy working to prevent the transfer of a nuclear weapon to the South Vinalian government. Andronovksy claimed it as serving as a great source of inspiration.

Characters

Euclean Association of Understanding (EAU)

The earliest alliance of superheroes, it incorporates the Eastern Euclean powers, and cooperates closely with the Defenders.

• The Lion: The first superhero in the world, his powers include clairvoyance, and swordfighting skills. He serves as the leader of the EAU, and is also the Prime Minister of Estmere. Following an attempt on his life by Mantis, he is left on a wheel chair, his age also clouds his ability to see the future.

The Defenders

Based in the Asterian Federative Republic, the group incorporates the Western Asterian powers.

• The Avenger: One of the youngest superheroes, his powers include super strength, enhanced agility, and vision.

Socialist league

The Socialist league is seen as the most effective organization of superheroes, incorporating the Socialist nations of the world.

• Irvadistan man: One of the first superheroes to arise, his powers include flight, laser eyes, invincibility, self-healing, and x-ray vision. He is a founding member of the Socialist League, and is seen as among the strongest superheroes in the world. His older age, makes the government, fear for their survival in the face of a greater Zorasani group of superheroes. Leading to the Irvadistani government working on developing their own superheroes.

• The Crane: A young woman, whose powers include flight, durability, super intelligence, and strength.

The Five

Based in Soravia.

Others

• Mantis: A skilled mercenary, recognized as a master in multiple martial arts.