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Hansi Engelmeier




Engelmann Alias: Engelmann


Other distinguishing features: Angel wings
Race: Meta human


Occupation: Super-hero and editor at a women's magazine
Legal status: German citizen
Marital Status: Married
Identity: Secret
Base of operations: Moloch Grossstadt


Story: Hansi Engelmeier was in a nuclear accident at a catholic private school, which turned him into the hero Engelmann. As a hero he was controlled by the story department, who decided to give him a secret identity as a woman (Mrs. Engelmeier) at a magazine for women. They also gave him an arch enemy, der Gender-Bender, and made him have all sorts of strange adventures. In the end, after he got fired by the story department, he got sick and died.


Skills & abilities: Flight capability


Continuity: Engelmann
Publisher(s): Carlsen Verlag GmbH
First app.: Engelmann - "Der Gefallene Engel"
Creator(s): Nicolas Mahler
Country of origin: Germany Germany


Background notes: The graphic novel about Engelmann (Angel Man) is a satirical comment on both the modern super-hero genre and the industry. Like other heroes his destiny is dictated by the story department, but unlike other heroes, he knows about the story department, and has meetings with them. He is thus aware of why his life makes no sense and why strange things happen, e.g. the story department want to cash in on the Lord of the Rings franchise and next we see Engelmann with long blond hair and long soft wings, and his arch enemy Gender-bender is suddenly a magical fairy. Like other super-heroes he tries to help people, along with his friend Captain Analpho, fight with his arch enemy, der Gender-bender, and generally find his place in life as a super-hero, with a secret identity as a female. His demise is the result of insufficient sales, and not being able to find an independent publisher.

The humor is black with a lot of in-jokes, and for those who do not know the genre and the industry, it probably makes little or no sense at all. As a part of the joke, it seems, a compact cassette, limited edition (one copy), with the sound track for the series was made for the Fumetto Comix-Festival 2010, containing themes for Engelmann.


Examples (click to enlarge):



Related links/characters:
- Captain Analpho
- Gender-bender, Der
- Kantinenwart, Der