r/AskUkraine • • 9d ago

Culture A Ukrainian Superhero?

Over here in the US, I want to create a superhero for Ukraine.

My original idea was to call him Kuvalda, but that name has a terrible Russian mercenary connotation, so now, corrected...

I want to call him Hromobii. A great thanks to the inspirations from you all. Hromobii is a "brick" archetype: tough, strong, with protection against physical damage. He is an older hero in his late 30s now, and would be the second superhero to use the Hromobii name. He is deliberate but determined, and he probably has a power hammer attached to his superhero suit with a long, two handed handle.

What colors does Hromobii wear today? I imagine him wearing metallic gray with glowing orange circuitry, changing into this uniform after a heavy orange uniform during the revolution in 2004-2005.

21 Upvotes

115 comments sorted by

30

u/Initial-Reading-2775 9d ago

I think you should look into Cossack nicknames. Many of Ukrainian surnames are basically nicknames from Zaporizzhian cossack army.

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u/LeadNational1460 9d ago edited 8d ago

What suggestions would you make that match superpowers they might have? I have no reason to limit my Ukrainian roster to Hromobii and Kotyhoroshko.

13

u/deaddyfreddy 9d ago

Cossack surnames pretty often consist of two parts: verb and Object, for example

Perebyinis - Break the nose

Vernydub - Twist the oak

Vernyhora - Twist the mountain

So, in theory, you can use any combination that matches your hero.

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u/LeadNational1460 9d ago

So Vernydub and Vernyhora read as having matter control over wood and stone respectively. Very dangerous heroes in their natural environments! Why, Vernydub could entangle criminals easily, and he and Vernyhora read like more rural superheroes, and there are not many of those like there should be.

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u/Glittering_Wash_8654 9d ago

Vernydub is more about strength. That you have the ability to twist and break trees with your bare hands. It often meant literally.

And Vernyhora is from "to move mountains" saying. So, somebody who is ready and able to put in the effort to achieve the unachievable.

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u/LeadNational1460 8d ago

When building superheroes, sometimes the name refers to the personality or essence of the super, so I would use this. Vernydub is more about strength and perhaps his forest control, while Vernyhora is not only about control of stone and rock, but physical and mental endurance.

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u/Akerishe 9d ago edited 9d ago

On that account you can read about Kharakternyks , most often they allegedly can teleport (in real life they used underground tunnels and knowledge of the area) , stop bullet/immune to bullets , foresight , stop blood / immune to pain , become invisible etc. In fantasy/alternative history Litopys Siroho Ordeny author made them werewolfs (immune to steel and lead , weak to silver) that when die leave huge oak used by other werewolfs as kind of communication network (action takes place in mid XIX century).

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u/LeadNational1460 9d ago edited 7d ago

This is also very rich material for the kind of modernized, stylized superheroes that are common in the US. These kinds of heroes are very unique.

This is what I'm looking for beside Hromobii and now Kotyhoroshko and his team.

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u/I_am1221325 9d ago

They usually related either to the activity of the person, the most obvious Koval - Smith, Melnyk - Miller or to their appearance like Shram - a scar, Ryabko - ginger. There are also characters like Ivan Pidkova (horseshoe) - because he used to break horseshoes because of how strong he was etc. Some of them later bacame surnames, some of them didn't

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u/LeadNational1460 9d ago

I like these kinds of superheroes. These line up as the domestic crimefighters like Hawkeye of the Avengers. I can easily imagine a Shram who is a hand to hand scrapper, grim, multiple scars on his face, scary to his criminal opponents. And Pidkova could be on a lower but equally viable superhero tier, and he clearly has a logo already. Those are two solid foundations for characters.

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u/Magnus_Helgisson 9d ago

First and foremost, you said “the Ukraine” in your first sentence. It’s just “Ukraine”.

Then, I’m honestly not sure about the name. I don’t have any concrete argument, but Kuvalda as a nickname just sounds too russian for my gut feeling, even though it seems there’s nothing wrong with it. I guess I’ve just seen too many russian bandit characters called Kuvalda. So yeah, it might work out, it might not.

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u/LeadNational1460 9d ago

So Molot is worlds better. Thank you.

5

u/DelKarasique 9d ago

Molot

And his sidekick Serp.

1

u/LeadNational1460 8d ago edited 7d ago

I thought the same thing. So, in my universe's history, the old Soviet Molot and Serp were on a team with Zolotozvezda. When the USSR fell, the next Molot, a Ukrainian man, went home to his homeland and became Hromobii, the Thunder Striker. So yes, the Russians used the Communist symbol since World War II much like the Americans did on their EAGLE represenative.

I really wanted to check in with some homebred Ukrainians to avoid the potential for unintentional insults (and boy am I glad I didn't use Kuvalda!) and I found a big world of magic, strongmen, nature powered heroes, enough to fill a room with Marvel styled Ukrainian superheroes.

Of course, I have to place superhumans in Russia too.

The reason for much of this is to portray a world full of superhumans in many nations and developed from differing cultures. I don't want to Americanize them too much, but the Mighty Marvel Manner is how I have built characters for 15 years or so, so I hope to not overdo any internal instoncts I may have.

  • I am not a Marvel nor professional comic book writer. Just a fan creating my own world that is more internationally conscious.

I think Serp might have rebranded himself as the Russian equivalent of the Grim Reaper (who is female, as I continue to learn more) after the Soviet Union falls, as the old USSR symbolism no longer works past that point, the the world became a little different then.

11

u/Hireling_ua 9d ago

Kuvalda was used by russian mercenarys to punish (kill) people. See vagner group and kuvalda. Not sure about direct association, but got this flashback right after reading the post.

1

u/LeadNational1460 9d ago

Thank you VERY much for this insight. It's hard to know the symbology of things from half a world away.

8

u/radiowestin Ukrainian 9d ago

Kotyhoroshko is a folk Ukrainian superhero

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u/LeadNational1460 9d ago

Tell me more!

2

u/radiowestin Ukrainian 9d ago

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u/LeadNational1460 9d ago

If I were to create a modern Kotyhoroshko like a comic book superhero, would that be silly? I could definitely adopt his strength as drawn from his brothers, and activated when he eats his peas. Obviously he has a snakelike nemesis, and that presents itself right away.

I can design Molot AND have a modern Kotyhoroshko. Why not?

2

u/radiowestin Ukrainian 9d ago

no it wouldn't, feel free to

5

u/LeadNational1460 9d ago

When I read about Kotyhoroshko eating his peas, I'm reminded of Popeye the Sailor and his spinach. It's a fun comparison to think of.

4

u/radiowestin Ukrainian 9d ago

lol indeed there's a similarity, have never thought of it

1

u/LeadNational1460 9d ago

With his three companions, the Ukrainian superhero count goes way up. His three companions feel like elemental forces tied to mountain, forest and rivers. All of them could have a Marvel type representation.

I also like Kotyhoroshko's heavy iron mace. It is very intimidating.

8

u/AnozerFreakInTheMall 9d ago

"Older hero in his late 30s". 😭😭😭

2

u/LeadNational1460 9d ago edited 9d ago

Compared to many of his contemporaries around my world today. Superheroing takes a lot out of a person, as most don't stay active into their 40s. In my imagining, Hromobii the Second is on the experienced end in 2026.

6

u/Environmental_Sir356 9d ago

Personally, I'd look for a distinctly Ukrainian name rather than one based on the weapon itself. Kuvalda has strong Russian associations, and while Molot is also a valid Ukrainian word, it exists in Russian too, so it might not communicate the character's Ukrainian identity as clearly.

A few alternatives worth considering:

Veleten (Велетень) - “Giant.” A good fit for a superhero with immense physical strength. Dovbnia (Довбня) - a Ukrainian word for a heavy blunt implement, traditionally associated with a large wooden mallet or club. Hromobii (Громобій) - roughly “Thunder-Striker,” a more mythic-sounding option. Hrim (Грім) - “Thunder.” Short and memorable.

He could still wield a molot as his weapon while having a distinctly Ukrainian name. I think Veleten or Hrim, wielding a molot, could work well.

6

u/LeadNational1460 9d ago

I think Hromobii, with the nickname of Hrim, is a big winner for his rebranding and Ukraininan style. I want to give him orange lightning for his power hammer strikes and add an electric set of superpowers for him. I want to reverse my earlier redesign for him and make his uniform a metallic gray with orange circuitry, which is a pretty powerful look.

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u/Environmental_Sir356 9d ago

Sounds nice, looking forward to seeing your work!

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u/LeadNational1460 9d ago

I was hoping to find a rebranding of Molot for when the Cold War ends and he comes home to Ukraine. These options sound rather good. The words Veleten and Hromobii play very well to the ear, with Veleten sounding more sleek and quicker, while Hromobii, the full word, evokes a big, burly man who can swing that big power hammer around with force. These are good inspirations!

2

u/Environmental_Sir356 9d ago

One more idea: Sokyra (Сокира), meaning “axe” in Ukrainian. It could work as the name of a second hero who actually fights with an axe.

1

u/LeadNational1460 9d ago

This is also a good idea, pulling him further away from his old Soviet origins and giving him a good partner and friend. "Axe" though isn't enough now that Hromobii is the name for my envisioned superhero. "Thunder-Striker" and "Lightning Axe" perhaps?

2

u/Environmental_Sir356 9d ago

Bureriz (Буреріз), combines “буря” (burya - storm) and “різати” (rizaty — to cut), giving it the sense of “Stormcutter” or “Stormcleaver.” How does it sound to you?

1

u/LeadNational1460 8d ago

I am unsure. The double parallel to Mjolnir and Stormbreaker is too strong. I like some other addition to the word Axe to avoid that.

6

u/Fluffy_While_7879 9d ago

I personally not a big fan of Molot, cause it immediately associated with Soviet coat of arms. "Gupalo" suggested in different comment is cool and is pretty unique. Another good word with similar semantics "Gatylo". 

1

u/LeadNational1460 9d ago

This is why I want Molot to be rebranded as Ukraine became independent. Gatylo makes me want to make him have more of a swashbuckler flair, flowing silk sash, maybe a sleeker weapon that explodes on impact. Forgive me; I am making artistic connections as a non-Ukrainian.

2

u/Fluffy_While_7879 9d ago

> Molot to be rebranded as Ukraine became independent

This is a valid point actually

1

u/LeadNational1460 8d ago

So does Molot become Hromobii and start wearing orange at that time? Or earlier, do you think?

3

u/Alikont 9d ago

The main question would be why is he fighting crime in US instead of fighting russians in Ukraine right now. Unless you have a satisfying answer to that, everything else kind feels strange, we even have a term for that.

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u/LeadNational1460 7d ago

шароварщина. Yes. In America, this is looked down upon and called "stereotyping" here, and I don't want to do that nor belittle Ukrainian culture. I do want to make these characters modernized, albeit Marvelized versions that both honor your culture (as much as a foreigner like myself could try), worth rooting for by superhero fans at large *independent of the war* and worth looking into as stories and people beyond their modernized superpowers, and hopefully, at least one that Ukrainians can like.

That's a tall order for me. This is why I am here, asking Ukraine.

Your concerns are very valid given this dark time.

1

u/LeadNational1460 8d ago

I fought with this question in superhero design. I decided that the VERY nationalistic conditions of World War II created an unwritten code to not use superhumans internationally. This code has weakened since 2001, but the raw power of superheroes is on the nuclear level for the most powerful of them, and so Hromobii is fighting, if at all, on defense I think. This is a difficult subject to fictionalize.

0

u/[deleted] 9d ago edited 9d ago

[deleted]

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u/Alikont 9d ago

Where, in russia?

0

u/FrozenHimbeer 9d ago

Companies who are making videogames about war, they try to avoid to make games based on active conflicts or they put imaginary scenarios (sometimes pretty obvious).

3

u/Alikont 9d ago

Well, we have quite a few games on Steam (including russian) who openly reference current war. The russian game is even allows you to play as a russian FPV pilot that kills Ukrainians and is sold on Steam with zero issues.

2

u/uti24 9d ago

I mean in current context what will Ukrainian hero be doing?

Like fighting crime?

1

u/LeadNational1460 9d ago

Based on the dozen or so inspirations that have poured out from Ukraininans within the hour, this number of superhumans could be fighting as multiple layers of superheroes, from street crime, to rooting out corruption, saving people from accidents and national disasters (Vernydub and Vernyhora are GREAT in this role) to battling supervillains like my Diamona or Black Magnus on Ukraininan soil.

1

u/uti24 9d ago

In current situation every body abled men in Ukraine now is subjected to some other kind of service, often unwillingly, sometimes forced under tortures will this hero address that?

How come he didn't got subjected?

Or it's more like fantasy fantasy Ukraine situation?

1

u/LeadNational1460 8d ago

It is definitely more of a fantasy Ukraine situation in my writing, with the separation between human war and superhuman domestic crinefighting being both thoughtful against escalation and very awkward, with not a little resentment.

2

u/Pipija_Banana 9d ago

I suggest a superhero lady by the name of May Shashlyk.

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u/LeadNational1460 9d ago

Please explain this one. I do need a female superheroine among them, now that the floodgates of ideas are open.

5

u/_masssk_ 9d ago

They are sad-joking about our president words 'we all are gonna make BBQ in spring' before the war (May - month, Shashlick - basically BBQ)

3

u/Pipija_Banana 9d ago

Thank you for taking the effort to explain it :)

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u/LeadNational1460 8d ago

Am I even allowed to chuckle at that? It's a bit of dark humor.

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u/i_getitin 9d ago

Amazing brother, the war needs more superheroes !!

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u/LeadNational1460 8d ago

Humankind needs more superheroes everywhere, in war or in peace alike. Unfortunately, there are likely Ukrainian supervillains too.

2

u/i_getitin 8d ago

Keep it coming, comic book heroes are just as important as weapons and food on the front lines.

Thanks for your support !

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u/LeadNational1460 7d ago

Thank you for saying so. I regret personally that war often creates a grave understanding of the fragile and precious peace between men. I am trying to balance the very real war, atrocities, and death that your people are in with the ugly realities of a fictional world that I created before this happened. I know which one matters more, and it hurts to think I am trivializing or brushing aside either fear, death, or the impressive human spirit that fights to overcome it.

That isn't very much support at all, and so I just hope that I can represent your people well enough through some superheroes that fit my world with good Ukrainian style, adding some real-life history, good and bad, to frame them in experience and outlook as humans that you may and may not like in their variety.

The world has always been a messy business of ego and empire. To Ukraine's credit, I think most people on this subreddit understand and are willing to help my faraway writing's efforts, as silly as they are, hopefully for a story and characters that are equally messy, but might turn out all right.

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u/_masssk_ 9d ago

I would search maybe inside cossacks like 'kharakternik' (характерник) - there is a legend about cossack Sirko that he was a warewolf. You know some kind of folk deep scary magic. Maybe a witch. There is something in Ukraine - nature heped us many times. This land has some old magic in it :)

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u/_masssk_ 9d ago

2

u/_masssk_ 9d ago

Also think about Mavka. There was a cartoon for kids about Mavka, it is a kind of a girl who is a spirit of the forest.

Female character is realy suits Ukraine

1

u/LeadNational1460 7d ago

Boy I really wish I could use Mavka, but this is much too recently a popular hit in Ukraine and the namesake of a resistance movement in this war. I wouldn't want to denigrate either one of these.

This is why I wish I had a Ukrainian on my side to help me avoid more pitfalls than I have (Kuvalda was a TERRIBLE idea by me).

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u/LeadNational1460 7d ago

I have read up on the Характерник (is this correct?) and old, mystical legends are often brought forward as comic book superheroes. Upon reading, that's a LOT of mystic powers for one superhero to have!

2

u/Speedvagon 9d ago

We already have one. His name is Kotyhoroshko.

1

u/LeadNational1460 8d ago

Oh, absolutely! The knobbed iron mace is a must. I think the difference between Hromobii and Kotyhoroshko and his friends seems to be that Hromobii is a geopolitical, institutional symbol, while Kotyhoroshko and his team reads much better as a domestic crinefighting and inspirational superhero team for the people.

2

u/LongGroundbreaking57 8d ago

Not most unique but most iconic Ukrainian symbol also good for the name Trident

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u/LeadNational1460 8d ago

Wait a minute... if I advance the old Soviet Molot into Hromobii, refine the Axe character into a more Ukrainian vibe and add a trident wielding super? Why, that means that Hromobii would have a team of his own!

2

u/LongGroundbreaking57 8d ago

Sounds interesting.

If you'd want more aggressive super hero you can imagine usage image of the Svytoslav Horobriy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sviatoslav_I

Who is also our historical ancestor.

Small issue with using figures from period of the Kyivan Rus that russians also claim them as their own, but that is a complicated matter to explain why it's not entirely true.

Horobriy that is the Brave if you translate it.

2

u/LeadNational1460 7d ago

Your concern about Свѧтославъ Игорєвичь (is this correct?) as the earliest ruler of the Kievan Rus', and his appropriation by the Russians, is wise, and an obstacle in clearly using a representation of him. I think it is wise to avoid using him as a superhero, for precisely the reasons that you mention.

It is a good thought though, but I don't want to go back THAT far in real life, very human, Ukrainian history.

1

u/LeadNational1460 8d ago

A Trident is a common Ukrainian symbol? If so, there should be a Trident wielding superhero who has his headquarters somewhere along the sea.

3

u/LongGroundbreaking57 8d ago edited 8d ago

Trident is our official coat of arms, and it has history that is come from Kyivan Rus. Specifically the one we use as our coat of arms is a symbol of the Volodymir the Great.

https://ukraine.ua/stories/trident-tryzub/

Actually if you'd like to call it in Ukrainian maner you can use Tryzub, that is a Ukrainian word for Trident

2

u/LeadNational1460 7d ago

Based on your suggestion, Тризуб reads as the coat of arms trident, while Тризубець reads as the weapon itself.

Тризуб would then be a good name for a nationalistic hero (as Громобій was supposed to be in this Ukrainian man who used to go by the more Soviet superhero name of Молот. It may be that the name and style of Тризуб is superior to Громобій based on the thematics of his story and development, and he simply changed his power hammer for a power trident in this development, most likely during the Orange Revolution. In this option, Молот becomes Тризуб, and there is no Громобій.

Тризубець would be a good name for an independent superhero from Громобій. If both characters exist, Громобій carries the legacy of Soviet occupation turned into Ukrainian independence, and a symbol of the long shadow the USSR cast over his home country that he still carries as the guilt of his former Soviet superheroic line, even though the current Громобій is not Молот and never was. In this option, Тризубець (or Тризуб) and Громобій could both exist, and, while both superheroes, they may not like each other. This is a more intricate story to write. Ukraine created Тризуб / Тризубець, but Громобій, and his successor, carry the shadow of a Soviet who came home to Ukraine decades ago.

I have no idea what the Ukrainian reaction to these situations would be.

I'm a writer. I think about complications as plot opportunities. My apologies in advance.

2

u/Lauffener 8d ago

There is a dog hero called Pez Patron who detects explosives IRL. They made a cartoon TV show about him

2

u/Inevitable-Bag-6089 8d ago

Bulava (a mace) was a symbol of hetman power in Zaporizhian Sich in 16-18 centuries (and there is presidential bulava now) and also is a brutal blunt weapon. Could be a quite symbolic weapon for your superhero too.

2

u/Inevitable-Bag-6089 8d ago

As for costume: if you use orange (or maybe copper?), avoid using repetitive orange and black stripes. This combination associates with the Ribbon of Saint George and is used widely by modern russian turbopatriots.

2

u/LeadNational1460 7d ago

I was thinking of a reflective gray color with electric orange circuitry glowing in the joints of his suit for Громобій, away from his more political orange armor over chrome joints of his predecessor in the 2000s. No black. Black is a villain's color in American comic book culture (along with purple and green), and I try to use it with caution and in balance where it appears on a hero.

Which color combination seems better for a Громобій of 2026?

1

u/LeadNational1460 7d ago

My imagining of Котигорошко *MUST* have one, and I find it unique as a weapon because of its story that only Котигорошко can lift it. I don't want to replicate this ability directly, as this bites on the superhero Thor, and so I may make this a control over magnetism for the modernized boy hero version. Is this reasonable? Or should it be mystic in nature?

1

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1

u/I_am1221325 9d ago

Idk about the name but make the trembita sound - his "batsignal" 🤣🤣🤣

1

u/I_am1221325 9d ago

Please don't make a ukrianian superhero flying, because no way he wouldn't use it for smuggling somewhere in chernivtsi or uzhhorod

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u/LeadNational1460 8d ago

Supervillain ideas perhaps? Although I don't want to refer to real life criminal events that have hurt people. That is why I rejected Kuvalda as a name on Ukrainian advice.

1

u/LeadNational1460 8d ago

I want to thank those who responded so far. As a writer, I will say that you have provided very good cultural reference that could be put into Marvel styled suits and capes, enough for a full bodied and wide array of mighty superheroes for Ukraine.

I hope to refine at least one of them into specific powers, statistics, and even a drawing to show you.

1

u/breadkiller7 8d ago

Lmfao make it a woman and call her киянка it’s like a big wooden hammer 

1

u/LeadNational1460 7d ago

I continue to be inspired by Ukrainian ideas and sources. I had no idea that Ukraine was rich soil for the superhero genre.

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u/Azag_Toth 7d ago

Mb Cossack?

1

u/mouchette_88 4d ago

bless your heart

1

u/LeadNational1460 4d ago edited 4d ago

I am now gathering the superhero ideas suggested: * Громобій as an adopted hero * Котигорошко (absolutely with his heavy iron bulava), Вернидуб, Вернигора, and Крутивус, as a team * The Характерник concept as an unnamed hero, probably the Ukrainian role of a Dr. Strange type * Шрам and Рябко as street level crimefighters * підкова, possibly with lower physical strength, but with luck on their side * велетень, able to grow to giant size * тризуб as the Ukraininan nationalistic superhero who is fighting on the front lines of the war

That's 11 Ukrainian superheroes, operating at varying levels of power in different places. I am editing this list to get the Cyrillic right.

We need some ladies in this list. Which ones should be female?

1

u/LeadNational1460 9d ago

Oof. So that name is out. Is Molot better? This would mean his history would be more closely inherited from the Soviets, but that the Ukraine would make him their own.

2

u/Longjumping-Ad7478 9d ago edited 9d ago

It is better if he would use mace ( like Hawkgirl, but maybe bigger rather than Maul) . Mace kind of have big symbolism of power and rule in Ukraine. Regarding name in this topic there ara bunch of good names proposed. Because Molot is overly russian general soviet style nickname , I even heard some criminals with that nickname. Probably something realated to nuclear, because you know Chornobyl pretty famous Ukrainian disaster (Chornorad lol).

Ps. And you can give him superpowers nuclear poverplant related, like for example he can absorb and store radiation which boost his physical abilities and allow him to generate and use electricity. Which kind of also his weakness, because he need to absorb/eat radiation source from time to time.

1

u/zloiadun 9d ago

Yes, mace must be his weapon.

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u/LeadNational1460 8d ago

I think Kotyhoroshko and his mace are far more powerful than anything the Ukraine built for Hromobii to use.

1

u/LeadNational1460 8d ago

I deliberately avoided a radioactive styled Ukrainian character in light of the Chernobyl tragedy. However, if there has been enough time elapsed since then that a radioactive styled Ukrainian character would be okay among Ukrainians with that kind of connection, I would consider it. I just don't know how Ukrainians feel about that event today.

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u/Longjumping-Ad7478 8d ago

Well you said this character is in his late 30th... Chornobyl was 40 years ago and USSR fell 35 years ago. So logically, I can imagine his connection to USSR only that he receive power during event. Also during revolution 2004 he would be teen.

As Ukrainian I'm fine, there a bunch of other thing to bother us, and I mean STALKER is popular ukrainian game.

1

u/LeadNational1460 7d ago

I see. So it's NOT in bad taste today. Thank you for explaining this.

I am glad that you asked about these characters' connections in the Чорнобиль Soviet times. I have so far written the following of those two characters, still under Soviet control at the time:

Molot III / Громобій I (Ukrainian) debuted in late 1986, partly in response to the disaster. His first outing was an unannounced, radiation-shielded operation to explore the irradiated zone and the reactor. His presence became public accidentally, unlike Serp’s involvement later, which remained a Soviet secret for a while. He went home and became a Ukrainian superhero in 1991 and wore orange during the Orange Revolution. His health was fading by then and, in his doctors' words, “operating on borrowed time.” He retired in October 2007. He recovered his health by 2009, but Ukraine had a new Громобій by then, and the name and suit had been passed down. This man is still alive in 2026, recovered, still with well above human strength, but now working in civilian construction with no superheroic identity.

Громобій II (Ukrainian) took over for the first one in October 2007, right away, stepping into the suit and power hammer, growing occupationally into the role quickly, with good training and some difficult rookie experiences to learn from. This is the hero of this line today.

Serp II (Uzbek) held the office until 1987. He wasn’t part of the cleanup, and the reason for his exit is still open.

Serp III (Russian) took over in 1987 and joined the cleanup from 1987 to 1989, sent to investigate whether human life could survive on Ukrainian land. The Soviets and Serp III never admitted his presence or his mission there. Serp III died of cancer around 2006, crippled, bitter, and troubled mentally as the cancer spread to his brain. The current "Serp IV" (who was rebranded in 1991 and never carried the Serp name, probably female and named after the Russian term for "the Grim Reaper"), watched her mentor die, and remembers it in resentment, carrying grief and hatred with her against the world, wishing for the old Soviet ways that Serp III served. This character is the nemesis of the current Громобій.

This is the current writing, but it has been suggested that a Тризуб name would be more apt for Громобій and more nationalistic to replace the Soviet iconography directly, so his superheroic name (and weapon!) may change.

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Ternopol Ternopil
Chernobyl Chornobyl

Under the Russian empire and later the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), Russification was actively used as a tool to extinguish each constituent country’s national identity, culture and language. In light of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, including its illegal occupation of Crimea, we are once again experiencing Russification as a tactic that attempts to destabilize and delegitimize our country. You will appreciate, we hope, how the use of Soviet-era placenames – rooted in the Russian language – is especially painful and unacceptable to the people of Ukraine. (SOURCE)

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u/LeadNational1460 7d ago

I have read your post a second time, and your post script addition is *very* good superhero design. Perhaps this Ukrainian superhero succeeds where the older 1980s Soviet supers sent to investigate Chornobyl were overwhelmed and underprepared, turning radioactive input into electrical power output during battle against villains. I have two supervillains that would fit against him: Neutrino and Overkill. Neutrino's power blasts are a radioactive fuel for Overkill's powers (and helps to keel him alive), and Neutrino is a dangerous energy thrower in his own right, while Overkill grows to giant size to crush his foes. The hero's powers that you describe could cut the connection and this character could take down BOTH supervillains by themselves.

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u/Electronic-Yellow-87 9d ago

Hromobii is too pretentiously. Let’s be modest, call him Stepan Andriyovych.

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u/AkiAki1 9d ago

It's a superhero. It has to be pretentious

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u/LeadNational1460 8d ago edited 7d ago

To some extent, yes, which is why Hromobii reads better, but he should be called Hrim often by the colleagues who work with him, and by Ukraininans who like him.

I also do like assigning ethnic names to most of these superheroes who have these codenames in order to protect secret civilian identities that help them stay more human among the people. So, superheroes have two stories and two ways of looking at their world: the superhero and the far more humble person.

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u/CapableElk3482 9d ago

just call him mister Zelensky

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u/LeadNational1460 9d ago

Ahahahaha. I'm hoping to get some good Ukrainian symbology that suits a Marvel or DC Comics type adaptation. Besides, I need something a little more iconic than a turtleneck sweater. Those sweaters are nice though. I have one.

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u/Akerishe 9d ago

In terms of visual I'd suggest having either suit or tattoos styled after Ukrainian traditional ornaments/clothing

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u/LeadNational1460 9d ago

I looked up the 2008 cartoon of The Adventures of Kotyhoroshko, and I like the notched neck of the shirt and the puffier pants. That's a good look for a superhero. Exotic, functional, iconic.

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u/Durka1990 9d ago

What about the Ghost of Kyiv?

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u/LeadNational1460 8d ago

What is the Ghost of Kyiv?

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u/Inevitable-Bag-6089 8d ago

“The Ghost of Kyiv” is a legendary Ukrainian fighter pilot credited with shooting down multiple Russian aircraft during the 2022 defense of Kyiv. It later became clear that he was a collective symbol of Ukrainian Air Force pilots, rather than a single individual.

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u/LeadNational1460 7d ago

Many American comic book superheroes existed in World War II, and were definitely created as collective symbols and used as wartime symbols. Captain America and the early Wonder Woman were both very much written as wartime warriors. The Ghost of Kyiv could fill this role today.

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u/AutoModerator 8d ago

Russian aircraft fucked itself.

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u/LeadNational1460 13h ago

тризуб, in my universe, is now the Ukraininan nationalistic superhero who is fighting on the front lines of the war. I see тризуб as Ukraine's parallel to Captain America.

Is this acceptable? If so, I have some questions:
* What is his best origin? What or who gave him his Powers? Was he born with them?
* When did тризуб appear in Ukraine? Was he fighting for justice and peace before the war?
* What is his secret identity and his Ukrainian name? Is this character male or female?
* Is тризуб wearing the Ukrainian flag colors?
* I saw the тризуб symbol on a sky blue shield, but the trident symbol was gold, not yellow. Is this correct for the crest?
* If тризуб is wielding a trident, is it a melee weapon, does it fire energy bolts, or both?
* What other Ukrainian superheroes is тризуб friends with?
* Is тризуб under control of the government, does he have enough freedom to fight injustice as he sees fit, or is his role somewhere in between as a hero not of the government nor the army, but the whole of Ukraine?
* I would like to place his hometown (and perhaps the source of the trident) not in Київ, but Оде́са because of the maritime association of the trident.

Which of these questions are most important to the character and to you?

I believe that it is тризуб and his role that should be built first in my Ukrainian list of superheroes, given his importance now.

Thank you for your continued interest, and forgive me once more for my American assumptions and my attempted use of the Ukrainian language.