Gandhi: the Beast Within. An Anthropological Perspective of the Comic Book View of the Symbolic Figure of Gandhi

Abstract

The present article analyses the symbolic images of Gandhi from the Comic-book titled Gandhi: the Beast Within. The traditional north American and Indian superheroes comics universe offers stereotypes of characters that respond to an identity or ideology generating a cultural identification space from the actors who hold the power. The characters are based on the projection of an oversized image which respond to human traits which are mythologized. Hulk, the Marvel Comics Publishers character, stands out and it is used as a referee for the publication of the comic where Gandhi is parodied and caricaturized. The uses of Hulk, as a referee, and the stereotypes and traits long over the narrative are elements that we have taken to put in context in order to analyse the symbolism of the figure of Gandhi beyond the historical and social identification with non-violence.

Keywords

• gandhi
• symbolism
• comic
• superheroes
• anthropology
• power