Tianjin reacts to a homegrown superhero

A woman in a black T-shirt poses for a photo with Tianjin Hero022 at Trendy Tianjin Comic Con in North China's Tianjin city on July 24, 2015. [Photo/CFP]

Athens has its mythical protector, Athena, while North China's Tianjin municipality will have its own guardian, Tianjin Hero022.

Tianjin Hero022, the first cartoon superhero named after a city in China, was unveiled at Trendy Tianjin Comic Con, which began on Saturday and runs through Oct 7, 2015.

Tianjin hero022, whose name also reflects Tianjin's area code 022, is said to have been created as a spokesman for positive energy embodied in local culture. The character is a transformed, young and trendy Tianjiner who enters another world, accidentally acquires positive energy and becomes a superhero to protect the city.

The cool and fashionable hero aroused a heated debate online. An Internet user jokingly said, "Can the hero eat Jianbing guozi, a local but national popular snack that is a crepe-pancake wrapped around a fried fritter of dough, or youtiao?"

Another disappointed commenter said, "It’s nothing new, but just a combination of Batman and Ironman."

Tianjin Hero022 poses for a photo at Trendy Tianjin Comic Con in North China's Tianjin city on July 24, 2015. [Photo/CFP]

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