The Czechness is a weekly webcomic series created by Carlos Alderete that features comic strips set in the Czech Republic. The strips humorously explore Czech history, culture, and current events through characters like Czechman, Jan Šiška, and The Invisible. The goal is to foster Czech pride and familiarize others with Czech culture through an original mythology presented in a comedic style.

1. 1 |THE CZECHNESS PRESS KIT www.TheCzechness.com
The Czechness: Heroes & Villains in the Land of Defenestration
Copyright 2016
Color or black and white webcomic strips involving Czech history, pop culture, and current daily life.
Written in native English.
Creator, Writer and Illustrator:
Carlos Alderete “Karlos A.”
Translations:
Jakub Dohnal
Tel: +420 777 549 592
E-mail: info@theczechness.com
Website: www.theczechness.com

2. 2 |THE CZECHNESS PRESS KIT www.TheCzechness.com
The Czechness: Heroes and Villains in the Land of Defenestration.
Short Description
As the heroicrepresentationof the CzechRepublic,sotoodo Czechmanand friendsstruggle forasense
of identityandplacementbothinCentral Europe andthe Union.
Series DescriptionandObjective
The Czechness isan ongoingwebcomicseries presentedinweeklynon-sequiturstrips.These brief,
comedicillustrationsrespectthe beloveduse of Czechwordplaytodeliversophisticatedpunchlines;to
inspire asense of ownershipandpride foranoftenmarginalizedCzechpopulation; topopularize a
heroicideal akintowhatSupermanhas done forgenerationsof Americanchildren,adolescentsand
adults;and, to arouse a feelingof cultural inclusionforthe thousandsof foreignnationals acquainted
withand livingin the CzechRepublic.
Central charactersinclude Czechman,anextremelypowerful superherowithempatheticallyaccessible
humanflawsandinsecurities. JanŠiška,the bumblingself-proclaimedreincarnate of the historically
importantCzech holy warrior,Jan Žižka.The Invisible,aheavilysmokinganddrinkinginvisible manwho
ishighlysophisticatedandregardedwithesteem.The Invisiblewill one daybe revealedtohispeersand
The Czechness audience aspartof the Roma culture;forrightor wrong,a trulydisparagedgroupacross
Europe. For a gentle flare of mischievous variety,PresidentTwo-Tailssatisfiesthe Czechtaste for
political satire andself-deprecationwhileblendingone of the mostrecognizable State symbols witha
classicone fromthe English-speakingworld:alionwithtwotails andThe Wizard of Oz’s CowardlyLion.
Female readerscanidentifywiththe heroismof,amongothers, CzechwomanandCaptain Canada; and
readerswill be delightedtofindidentifiable referencestoCzechwriterssuchasthe Karel Čapek-inspired
Robot Bartender and little greenterranautsof the amoral SalamanderSyndicate.
Othercharacters include the villanous Vodník,knowninSlavicfolkloreasa dangerouswatersprite.
Golem,a16th
centuryFrankenstein-likemonsterpopularizedoutof Prague legend. The Dragon, a Brno
tale of terror, whose archnemesis—the teenaged BrnoBoy—thwartsat everyturn.The Dumpling (and
wife,StrawberryDumpling),agassycreature of stickyconstitutionwhorepresentsregional cuisine and
heartdisease,iscounteredbythe German-Arabspeedsterknownas Autobahn.
Charactersyetto be introducedin TheCzechness universe are the KnightofOstrava, a white-clad
vigilante whostrikesfearintothe heartsof criminals;the GhostofVaclav Havel,an advisorto many of
the heroesof The Czechness.He alsowears Jedi-like clothing;Mr.Roboto,an Iron Man type of robot
hero;The Blue Champions, a manand womanpair whoare voted topowerby EU nations.Theyhave
blue costumeswiththe EU stars ontheirchests.Theyspeakinunisonandare the mostpowerful of all
the Europeansuperheroes. Theyalsoissue citationswhenEUstandardsare violated (e.g. callingCzech-
made cane liqueur,rum),whichisalove-hate complaintfromaverage citizensof the CzechRepublic;
One-hoovedDevilscreate comical mischief;and Sparta and Slavia superfootball hooliganswill actas
botha naughtypride anda jab at Czechsports obsession.
Additionally,the weeklywebcomicissupplementedbyweekly“companion”blogpostswrittenbythe
character, The Invisible. TheCzechness’ social mediasites are alsomoderatedbythe character,Jan
Šiška.

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Character Descriptions
Heroes
Czechman— The heroicrepresentative of Czechlands,comprisingof Bohemia,MoraviaandSilesia.His
powersinclude flight,superstrengthandspeed,heatvision,andprobablymore butwe don’treally
knowbecause he regardssuchdisplaysof powerasvulgarand Americaninnature.

4. 4 |THE CZECHNESS PRESS KIT www.TheCzechness.com
Jan Šiška — A self-proclaimedreincarnate of the militantHussiteJan Žižka(amace-wielding,precursor-
to-Protestantismreligiouswarriorfromthe CzechRepublic’syesteryear),Jan Šiškaisanythingbut
heroic.Sickat the site of blood,andbumblinglyclumsy, Šiška,atthe veryleast,he looks like Žižkaand
he’sCzechman’sbestfriend.

5. 5 |THE CZECHNESS PRESS KIT www.TheCzechness.com
The Invisible — Cursedbya supposedancientoffense,the Invisible liveslife anonymously,between
cigarettesandhalf litersof Czechbeer.Like Šiška,he doesn’ttendtobe veryhelpful inemergency
situations,buthe’salwaysavailableforadrinkwhenanotherheroneedsto“see”a friend.He’salsoan
avidblogger.. .

6. 6 |THE CZECHNESS PRESS KIT www.TheCzechness.com
Czechwoman— SistertoCzechman. . . whichisonlymentionedtoshow the relationshipbetweenthe
heroes,notbecause awoman’sworthmustbe qualifiedbyhersocial proximitytoaman. She’sa hero
for goodnesssake .. . butnot for the nextfew years,asshe’sjustbegunmaternityleavefromheroics.
Her powersinclude magic-assistedflightandsuperstrength.

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Captain Canada — A northernexpatwithastaff and tech inherenormousbootsthat helpinall kindsof
snowysituations.Like all Canadians,she’sincrediblypolite andunnecessarilyapologetic.Captain
Canada iscurrentlyenjoyinganextendedHeroicMobilityVisaandshe’sgota legitZivno,soif youneed
or knowanyone whoneedsEnglishlessons,she caninvoice you.Noproblem.
CzechoslovakianMan — This Communist-eraherodirectlypresidedoverthe protectionof
Czechoslovakianlandsuntilthe dissolutionof the Czech-Slovakstate in1993. The mantle of
CzechoslovakianHerowasretireduntil hisgrandchildren CzechmanandCzechwoman came of the
properage foradministering extrajudicial justice.
Brno Boy — A teenagerfromthe Moraviantownof hisnamesake,BrnoBoyis rumoredtobe a distant
memberof the Bohemianclanof heroes(Czechman,Czechwoman andCzechoslovakianMan),though
thisclaimisunsubstantiatedandonlyperpetuatedbecause of hislikenessinpowers. Czechman loves

8. 8 |THE CZECHNESS PRESS KIT www.TheCzechness.com
partneringwithBrnoBoy because the latterbears,withoutcomplaint,mostof the workload.He’salso
totallymute.
Villains
Vodník— In SlavicandparticularlyCzechlore,thisdangerouswatersprite
causesmischief aroundvillage pondsamongotherbodiesof freshwater,
breakingdams,meddlingwithfishermen,andensnaringthe soulsof
haplessyoungmaidensandchildren. .. This Vodník isthe same.

9. 9 |THE CZECHNESS PRESS KIT www.TheCzechness.com
The Golem— Fashionedoutof hardenedclaytodefendthe persecutedJewishpopulationof 16th
centuryPrague,Golemquicklybecame arecklessanduncontrollable menace uponhisjiltingbyahuman
travelerfromHungary.Nowadays,he lurksaroundCharlesBridge frighteningtouristsandcausing
general mayhem.
The Dumpling— Anoversizedstaple of Czechcuisine made sentientbyunknownmeans.The
Dumpling’sgooeyconstitutionandferociousgashasbeenanongoinghazardto for local and
international financial institutions.Inotherwords,he’sabankrobberwithstickyhandsand disgusting
farts.
Devils— Don’tbe fooledbythe size of these one-hoovedlittle guys.Aswithall Central toEastern
Europeandevils,they’ll dragyour naughtychildrentoHell come Christmastime.The goodnewsisthat

10. 10 |THE CZECHNESS PRESS KIT www.TheCzechness.com
they’re mostlydisinterestedforthe other364 daysof the year.However,if mistakenforPokémons,
they will bite.
The Dragon — Arch nemesistothe teenagedBrnoBoy,thisreptiliancreature hasbeentormentingthe
people of Brnoand the surroundingregionforgenerations.Whatstartedoutasstealinganddevouring
livestock(andthe occasional villagechild),hasevolvedintoanorganizedcrime syndicate.
Artist’sStatement
What attractedme to thisprojectwasprimarilyaninterestincreatingsomethingthatwassimplynot
forcefullypresentinthe CzechRepublic:comics.Andwhatbetterwaytoacquaintthe worldwithCzech
culture andhistorythan throughcomedicpictures?Threadingcultureandhistoryintoarecurringfiction
will create anewmythologythatthe CzechRepublicwill nothave toshare withotherSlavic-speaking
nations.Thiscreative andoriginal ownershipwill,itismyhope,fosterasense of proudCzechnessfor
those whomay sometimesfeeloverlookedandunimportant inaworldof superpoweredeconomiesand
culture.
Creator Bio
KarlosA. is a 30-somethingAmericanwriterandartistlivinginthe CzechRepublic.
Translator Bio
JakubDohnal is. . .
Production notes/sketches
My original planwastocreate a graphicnovel andslowlydevelopthe same charactersyousee today
intomature personalities.Thatprojectisstill simmeringinthe backof my mind,butpullingthe trigger
was provingimpossiblesoIdecidedona weeklythree-panel formatsothatI would at leaststart.This
provedtobe the rightdecision,forIquicklydiscoveredthatmydebilitatingperfectionismwasn’t
satisfiedwithsolidblackdotsforeyesorstaticcharacters as you see below.Itwasboringandartistically
unfulfilling.

11. 11 |THE CZECHNESS PRESS KIT www.TheCzechness.com
I foundthat while limitingapunchline tothree panelswasafun challenge,Isometimeswantedtobreak
out of such confinementsandexplore the comic’sdynamism, bothinformandcharacter.
Many of the firstfewstripswere completedwhile loiteringatvariousCostaCoffees,butasthe comic
became more focused,corporate cafes became anexpensiveluxury.I’msure these businessesdon’t
missmy technologyexplosion(laptop,Wacomtabletandpen,andPhotoshop) overtheirtables.NowI
workmostlyat home,withtwocats weavingaroundmylegsor inmy office where IalsoteachEnglishin
a not-so-full-timecapacity.The coffee’sbetter,anyway.
Brand Image
RGB WebFormat

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CMYK PrintFormat
The Czechness: Heroes & Villains in the Land of Defenestration
Copyright 2016
Color or black and white webcomic strips involving Czech history, pop culture, and current daily life.
Written in native English.
Creator, Writer and Illustrator:
Carlos Alderete “Karlos A.”
Translations:
Jakub Dohnal
Tel: +420 777 549 592
E-mail: info@theczechness.com
Website: www.theczechness.com