There have been queer comics before, but we are guessing that Lukasz Majcher’s new Power Bear is the very first for the queer bear community.  This superhero figure is no clean-shaved Superman or Captain America but a bearded and hairy seemingly-unassuming office clerk. 

It reflects a growing trend in pop culture which is more representative of the beauty and variety of body shapes in the real world. Plus  Power Bear is bringing body positivity and discussions of mental health to the queer community.

Berliner Majcher, embarked on a mission to create a protagonist who spoke to those feeling unrepresented in the superhero world, especially those within the LGBT+ community.  In his storyline ‘Max’ feels trapped in a “never ending cycle of meaninglessness” as he struggles to balance his relationship, work and a sudden decline in a family member’s health. During a shower scene, Max remembers how he was “full of energy” and would go about chores singing at the top of his lungs. “Nowadays, I hardly have enough strength to squeeze toothpaste out of the tube,” he says.

Majcher wanted to create Power Bear for a long time, but, it was only when he met his boyfriend Stefan that he truly found his inspiration.“[Stefan] felt flattered and at the same time also recognized as a fully valuable person who suffers from a disease [depression] that usually no one talks about,” Majcher says.?”

“I would like it to be a comic for everyone,” Majcher adds. “Max, the main character of Power Bear, struggles with his own traumas and depression. Each of us can identify with this problem, regardless of sexual orientation.”