The Polish Komiksy (Poland’s comics) like many others are tied to freedom of the press. From commentary on the border wars, what it takes to survive oppression, and the release of hard truths. Now the only challenge is getting them to the right audience.
Polish Komiksy Origins
After the country gained its independence, the first comics pretty much shared the building blocks of the press. You know, stuff like political commentary cartoons or copied foreign strips to try and follow the leaders. Probably the best reflection of this was Przygody bezrobotnego Frącka. Excuse me don’t speak Polish! Google translate calls this: Adventures of the Unemployed Fronck (yeah not perfect). It was a long-running comic that reflects the times, including Poland’s Great Depression and the border wars with the future Nazis and Soviets.
But the kind that start Polish komiksy as people know them are Przygody Koziołka Matołka (basically a goofy Billy Goat on a quest for shoes) and competitor Małpki Fiki-Miki (Fiki-Miki the Monkey). Even if some people argue that these are more like children’s picture books.
Surviving The Soviets
Like most comics, the Polish ones had a period of suppression. This came from the Soviets, probably because Przygody Wicka Buły w Raju (Wika’s Adventures in “Paradise”) had anti-Soviet tones. The Soviets even went to media for their own Seduction of the Innocent.
So the Polish had to hide their comics under the “picture story” label for stuff like Tytus, Romek i A’Tomek. It helped the comic run for over 60 years by teaching kids lessons while having absurdly fun adventures; that’s what you get with two scouts and a chimpanzee. Although they were still used for propaganda. Or in the case of Stary zegar make them appeal to the commies. So much for the “rotten capitalism” label.
Thankfully by the end of the Polish People’s Republic, the kids’ only label lessened and Soviet changes were removed. Not that there weren’t subtle comments on reality like in Antresolka Profesorka Nerwosolka. I. Don’t. Know. What. That. Means.
Plus being publicly available meant you had ads interrupting the pace of your comic.
Polish Komiksy Make The Leap
By the 80s fantasy comics became so popular they had magazines dedicated to them. Need an example; how about the very first Witcher comics? I mean, the original short story did come from Poland. Along with Geralt was Funky Koval, an adult sci-fi private dick.
When all the institutional oversight was all over, underground comics rushed out to claim the spotlight. That is until imported superheroes and manga showed up. So in the 90s, these people had to organize into new publishing houses; usually under a creator’s name like Roberta Zareba. This new independent status allowed people to see the realities of living under the Soviet regime. As well as many other stories.
How Well Did They Do
During the 2000s, comics got their own collection in libraries which gave rise to workshops and art festivals. Now there are more than a few comic creatives getting development on their own series. Some are even getting recognition that older comics had. Frankly there are so many of them, I’d rather just show you the lists.
- Best Polish Graphic Novels/ Comic Books/ Najlepsze Polskie Komiksy
- Polish Comics Books
- Comics Polish Books
In fact, check out my source for this info to learn even more: A Foreigner’s Guide to Polish Comics. As for anything you might find stateside, well since Amazon absorbed Comixology, the most you can hope for is Marzi.
Frankly anyone’s best bet is in the webcomics to find the most Polish Komiksy.
In any case thanks for coming to the end and as always, remember to look between the panels.