Representation of Chinese heroes in Chinese and American graphic narratives

This article examines different ways of representing heroes in Chinese and American graphic narratives to explore the ideological configuration of two different cultures, and to analyse the profound impact of socio-cultural background on graphic narratives. This study focuses on Chinese lianhuanhua and American comics, as these categories are the representative types of their own culture and abundant in terms of heroic depictions. Several major differences are discussed in detail. First, China and the United States have different views on the concept of hero, which leads to distinct categories of heroes in graphic representations. Second, graphic narratives in the United States often Americanise Chinese heroes by giving them hybrid values and background. Third, the difference also lies in the ideological frameworks through which heroism, nationhood, and political authority are articulated. Fourth, formal features of lianhuanhua lead to differences in terms of narrative strategies and characterisation techniques. Fifth, in terms of artistic treatment, Chinese graphic narratives incorporate more traditional artistic techniques, such as ink wash painting and paper cutting, which align more closely with traditional Chinese aesthetics. Finally, heroes in American comics have achieved broader global circulation and greater audience recognition.