In A Blizzard in the Jungle, published in 2001, a group of Americans and North Koreans traveling on an airplane crash in an unnamed African country. The hero, a North Korean doctor, repeats North Korean proverbs every few pages, and stands in gallant poses similar to those of Kim Il-sung, found on statues familiar to all North Koreans.
North Koreans are depicted as wise and benevolent, whereas everyone else is oppressed by menacing underground mafias, Fenkl says.
The doctor urges the group to scale a mountain in this African country, symbolic of Mt. Paekdu near the China-North Korea border—the sacred birthplace of Kim Jong-il.
But when the Americans complain their human rights are being violated, they attempt to split ways and are devoured in a pit of alligators. Let this be a warning.
Given North Korea’s heavy involvement in Africa, it makes sense that North Koreans draw so many cartoons about the continent, Fenkl says. A little over decade ago, North Korea supplied the Democratic Republic of Congo with troops and advisors in exchange for access to Congolese uranium mines. It’s also provided aid and laborers for several African countries in recent years.
Another popular genre—one that’s become more common recently—is the mythic narrative. Often, North Korean comic books depict an actual historical myth, or re-work the story into a contemporary cartoon style.
One epic narrative is The Great General Mighty Wing, a graphic novel for children published in 1994. In it, Mighty Wing the honeybee fends off an army of invading wasps—curiously dressed like Japanese soldiers from World War II. After the wasps are pushed back, the queen bee declares a draught is killing off their once prosperous kingdom. Mighty Wing rallies the other honeybees to build an irrigation canal, bringing water to all honeybees.
Mighty Wing gained fame in North Korea thanks to the uncertainty the artists touched on. Kim Il-sung had died that same year and many North Koreans were uncertain of what hardships the famine would bring.
‘Mighty Wing, in some ways, was an iconic image,’ Fenkl says. ‘It was a brilliant move to use bees, or beol, as a symbol to resonate with the historical irrigation project, the Yeoldu 3,000 Ri Beol.’
Fenkl says his next project is to gather the best books in a single, easily accessible archive. ‘Generally, things with a high rhetorical value or high aesthetic value, in comic form, are what I want to archive,’ he said.
The project would certainly be groundbreaking—and could offer a valuable glimpse into a state and regime that is notoriously difficult for outsiders to understand.
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Todd
I would like to see some of these. Anywhere I can see them online?
Eugene
I notice a lack of creativity in the North Korean comics. It is most likely because of censorship and severe restrictions on freedom of expression. In the U.S., creativity is encouraged [to a certain extent] which allows the publishing of excellent comics like X-Men, Spiderman, Iron Man, and the Fantastic 4. My sympathy goes out to the North Korean people whos’ very imaginations are oppressed by their stalinist regime.
Jasper
So – any link to online comics book ?