Übermensch

WINNER OF THE BEST BOOK DESIGN OF THE YEAR

"What they do is both brilliant and original."
– Troldspejlet

★ ★ ★ ★
"Now I'm going to say something that will likely attract the right underground fans and simultaneously repel those who are uninterested: *Übermensch* is an ugly, ugly comic... I'm sold."
– Nummer 9

Übermensch spends his days on the city's rooftops, while he awkwardly swings in and out of illusions about saving the world and the prison of his growing depression. Fear is Übermensch's true sidekick, and together they fight a heroic battle to get out of bed, brush their teeth, and be a real person in a real world. For what good is it to fly and lift cars if the absurd eternity of the cosmos dictates that we will all eventually die?

But no superhero without their supervillain. The opponent – Übermensch's own roommate and hidden infatuation – is the nemesis Madame Méchante, who, in addition to her very frivolous attachment to the shared dishes and vacuuming, bases her life on Ayn Rand / Ryan Air's neoliberal values of freedom. While she robs banks and creates chaos in the city, she fantasizes about the gold-embroidered business cards from *American Psycho* and Daniel Day Lewis's oil-slicked mustache from There Will Be Blood.

In this constant interplay between the two protagonists, we follow Übermensch's self-destructive descent into depression and Madame Méchante's destructive self-realization. However, what unites them both is the search for happiness and meaning, as they, tormented by eternal inner doubt, try to philosophize their way through the struggles of colorful archetypes. While Übermensch is paralyzed by his own inadequacy, Madame Méchante is driven forward towards the next fleeting, short-lived fix of happiness.

Nilas Røpke Driessen (born 1990) is probably best known for his work as a cleaning assistant for a mid-sized Danish company in the city center, but he has also created animated short films and award-winning comics. With his comic Übermensch in its internet comic form, he has been nominated for a Ping Prize twice, and in 2018 he won a Ping Prize with the comic *Mor*. His comics often have a surrealistic tone and play with the absurd and silly, often mixed with a healthy dose of melancholy. In his work, he is inspired by comic artists such as Olivier Schrauwen and Michael DeForge, as well as the atmosphere in films by directors like Werner Herzog and Roy Andersson.

The work is in English.

Offset printing on three different uncoated high-quality papers. 100% recycled paper.