Russian Superheroes: Slavic fairy tales in perfectly detailed sketches

Baba Yaga

Roman Papsuev

In his spare time, Russian illustrator Roman Papsuev draws sketches inspired by Russian fairy tales. Characters of Russian folklore are reinterpreted in modern gaming-fantasy style.

Ilya Muromets

Roman Papsuev

The first characters were based on the author’s feelings and fantasies. He began, of course, with Ilya Muromets — the main Russian epic hero and the strongest bogatyr or warrior: “On his belt hangs a bottle of dead water that heals wounds.”

Dobrynya Nikitich

Roman Papsuev

Dobrynya Nikitich is the second bogatyr, after Muromets. He does battle with evil snakes and dragons. Dobrynya is educated, well-read (as evidenced by the scroll in his bag), and belongs to a princely family, so his weapons and armor are rather luxurious.

Alyosha Popovich

Roman Papsuev

Alyosha Popovich is the third most important hero. The more the author got immersed in the subject, the more accurate his pictures became. He began to reread the tales and study the works of famous folklorists. 

Vasilisa the Beautiful

Roman Papsuev

“What I like most is when people look at my pictures and then begin to read the tales and understand why, for instance, Vasilisa the Beautiful has a doll in her bag or why Vodyanoy rides a giant catfish. This grassroots revival of ancient folklore through my humble project gives me great pleasure.”

Vasilisa the Wise

Roman Papsuev

Here is another Vasilisa, Vasilisa the Wise, also known as the Frog Princess. "If you look closely, you will see an arrowhead pendant hanging on her breast, with which she was shot."

Robber-Nightingale

Roman Papsuev

The Robber-Nightingale sits high in a nest atop nine oaks, sees far and wide, and whistles like a bird. "Sound is his main weapon. His whistles are like arrows, his screams are sonic blasts.”

Leshy

Roman Papsuev

Leshy, the forest guardian, is more radically minded than Lesovik, another woodland sprite. "His ‘dead’ right eye is usually larger than his normal left. His beard and hair are grey. His hands and feet are covered with fur. On the belt you can see trophies — the skull of a lost traveler, a drinking horn, a bast shoe. He collects them."

Tsarevna Nesmeyana

Roman Papsuev

The never-smiling Tsarevna Nesmeyana (Nesmeyana means “never laughs”). “Attentive viewers will note the horn and flask on her belt. Why? Because she's always in a bad mood and inclined to drink. When she laughs (and she laughs very rarely), it means that she is losing control,” says the author.

Alyonushka and brother Ivanushka

Roman Papsuev

This is an unusual interpretation of the fairy tale about Alyonushka and brother Ivanushka. According to legend, Ivan turned into a goat, his sister drowned, and a snake (which you can see on the chest of the heroine) sucked out her heart. The illustration makes the story more optimistic — the brother and sister not only survive, but become witch-hunters.

Tugarin Zmey

Roman Papsuev

The author sometimes faces criticism in social networks. That’s inevitable. People say: “It’s not like that in the original tales. Ivanushka turns into a boy at the end. There’s nothing Russian here."

Bolotnik

Roman Papsuev

“The tales are stamped in the subconscious from childhood. Parents read adapted versions, of course, with happy ends,” responds Roman.

Finist the Falcon

Roman Papsuev

"People with sufficiently developed critical thinking should understand that nobody knows how it ‘really’ was. We don’t understand the modern world, yet feel like experts on ancient times and mythology. History is too muddled to be able to claim “this is Russian, this isn’t Russian, etc." It’s just arrogant."

Koschei the Immortal

Roman Papsuev

"This project has no relation to real history or real life. These are just tales, trapped in a world of games. It’s a fun project. Don’t take it too seriously." 

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