A discussion titled "The Universe of Heroes as a Condition for the Development of a Multipolar World" was held at the "Shaping the Future" Symposium, hosted at the National Center "Russia." Organized by the "Dialog Regions" NGO and the New Media Workshop, the event explored the potential for creating a new generation of superheroes for global popular culture, potentially establishing entire universes to rival the dominance of American franchises like DC and Marvel.
Participants noted that countries like Russia and many others worldwide have ample resources to inspire compelling cultural characters. National folklore and epics could serve as fertile ground for creating such iconic figures. Aisen Nikolaev, Head of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), emphasized the success of leveraging regional cinema as a source of inspiration.
"The concept of the superhero is a distinctly Western product, addressing a cultural void that doesn’t exist in places like Russia, China, or India, where myths and legends already abound. Take the Russian bogatyrs from our folklore, for example—they’re quintessential superheroes: honest, famous, generous, and imbued with superhuman abilities. In Yakutia, we have the heroes of the Olonkho epic, while the Kalmyks have the grand legend of Jangar," Nikolaev remarked.
Mikhail Zvinchuk, head of the analytical center "Rybar" and author of the eponymous Telegram channel, spoke about the conditions necessary for a new superhero to gain widespread popularity.
"A hero reflects society’s demands and ideals. In today’s world, saturated with information noise, the current roster of heroes is no longer sufficient. Moreover, the traits of heroes are evolving, particularly in the context of an emerging multipolar world. Regions like Africa, Asia, and Russia require their own distinct figures. Interestingly, the West is already addressing this, creating new characters tailored to specific large audiences," Zvinchuk stated.
Chinese writer Wang Nuonuo shared an intriguing perspective on the essence of heroism, suggesting that heroes stand out by acting for the benefit of others and society. According to her, a hero can emerge even from seemingly "non-heroic" backgrounds, such as merchants—a social group that has inspired many traditional and modern Chinese cultural heroes.
Geopolitical analyst Sarah Beals from the United States proposed a broader vision, encouraging audiences to view the world beyond binary perspectives. She highlighted figures like Yuri Gagarin, who transcended cultural boundaries to unite people globally. Beals suggested that today's potential heroes might be found among inventors and scientists pioneering groundbreaking technological advancements.
The session also touched on Russia's ongoing efforts to develop its own superhero universe, rooted in Soviet-era science fiction from the 1930s and 1940s. Yulia Osetinskaya, General Producer of Soyuzmultfilm, and writer Sergey Lukyanenko explained this initiative.
"When we began this project, we were amazed to find that many American comic book characters had counterparts in our works from that era. This isn’t plagiarism—it’s just that both drew from a shared layer of mythological themes. We’ve integrated these characters into a new universe, and it turns out they coexist seamlessly. For instance, figures like Ichthyander, Aelita, and Engineer Garin fit perfectly together," Lukyanenko shared.
The "Shaping the Future" Symposium is being held from November 4 to 6, bringing together participants from 101 countries, including Russia, India, Italy, Iran, China, the UAE, Serbia, the USA, and France. The program features over 60 sessions across four key themes: the future of humanity, technology, a multipolar world, and civilizations. For schedules and live broadcasts, visit future.russia.ru.
The symposium is the inaugural event of the National Center "Russia," established on July 1, 2024, by a directive from Russian President Vladimir Putin. The center aims to preserve the legacy of the "Russia" International Exhibition-Forum while showcasing the nation's achievements and those of its citizens. Federal authorities, state-owned enterprises, corporations, and regional governments actively participate in the center's operations.
