Superjhemp Statue

Mersch is a commune in the center of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, 30 minutes from Luxembourg City by car. As you walk down the main street from the castle, you might notice a statue of a character with a big nose, a beret and a cape. This is Superjhemp, Luxembourg’s superhero, watching over the library on the other side of the street.

Superjhemp is a comic book superhero who was created in 1988 by the scriptwriter Lucien Czuga and the cartoonist Roger Leiner. Despite being a true anti-hero, he achieved tremendous success in Luxembourg because his comics are full of references to the country. Superjhemp defends an imaginary country called “Luxusland” (or “Luxusbuerg,” as the locals sometimes call it), and draws his strength from Kachkéis, a runny local cheese.

The first collection, De Superjhemp géint de Bommeléer (The Superman Against the Bomber), makes explicit reference to the case of the bombers who carried out a series of attacks in Luxembourg between 1984 and 1986. The population was profoundly affected by this series of attacks. Thanks to all these references, the comic has become a staple of national literature and Superjhemp has become the country’s national superhero, on par with Superman in the U.S.

Many Luxembourgers are unaware of the reason for the statue’s presence in such a small town. In fact, it is a tribute to Roger Leiner, who lived in the village of Rollingen (southeast of the commune of Mersch) from 1987 until his death in 2016. The statue was unveiled on June3, 2023, in the presence of Prime Minister Xavier Bettel. The sculpture was created by the Polish-born artist Katarzyna Kot.