Alan Ford [Satiričko kazalište Kerempuh]

After Alan Ford sold out quickly in March, the Satirical Theatre Kerempuh returns to Rijeka with its hit performance on November 25! The play, directed by Mario Kovač, is based on the cult comic Alan Ford, which has been entertaining and delighting lovers of the ninth art in Croatia and around the world for more than half a century. This darkly humorous and satirical portrayal of a group of poor secret agents who solve bizarre criminal cases provides an ideal basis for a play that deals with the absurdities and illogicalities of contemporary Croatian society. Although the comic is mostly set in New York, the themes it explores are universally recognizable and always relevant. Interestingly, despite the media dominance of superhero comics from DC and Marvel, supported by lavish and high-budget film adaptations, Alan Ford continues to sell well, and it also attracts a younger audience. The reason likely lies in its original ironic humor, characteristic of this region and mentality, thanks to the fantastic translation by Nenad Brixy. Given that the analysis of this comic is part of the mandatory curriculum in upper primary and secondary schools, we believe that Alan Ford serves as a bridge that can show students that comics do not have to be purely escapist science-fiction works, but can also be sharp and precise commentary on negative social phenomena—all through the lens of humor. Our adaptation places the character Superhick as the central antagonist—a charismatic thief who…