The 20 Best Polish Comics for Kids
Perhaps Łauma, Dobrzyk and Kubatu are not as popular as Pan Kleks, Tytus and Kajko – but Poland is again producing interesting comics for children and teenagers that could eventually be as successful as the communist-era classics. Here’s a list of several that deserve a mention.
After 1989, Poles stopped producing comics for younger readers and began concentrating on graphic novels for adults. But there have been changes in recent years, and Polish children’s comics are experiencing a whole new lease of life. The country’s largest publisher, Egmont, took note of this and launched the Janusz Christa children’s comics competition, which has resulted in a number of books.
This is a good time to look back on some of the best contemporary comics for children and young people. Have you heard of these titles? Perhaps you could add others to the list?
‘Forest Beekeeper and the Treasure of Pushcha’
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‘Forest Beekeeper and the Treasure of Pushcha’ by Tomek Samojlik, comic panel & cover, photo: Centrala / promotional materials
Samojlik transports his readers into a forest during the Tsarist partitions. It is home to Ignat the Forest Beekeeper, who lives in harmony with nature, but has to cope with bears trying to eat his honey – not to mention cruel mercenaries bent on chopping down the forest. This is Samojlik’s most ambitious (but extremely gory and frightening) comic… for kids who like to be scared. Available in English and in Polish.
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‘Detektyw Miś Zbyś na Tropie’ (Zbyś the Bear Detective on the Trail)
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‘Detektyw Miś Zbyś na Tropie’ (Zbyś the Bear Detective on the Trail) by Maciej Jasiński & Piotr Nowacki, photo: Kultura Gniewu / promotional materials
The titular hero was originally created by Maciej Jasiński as bedtime stories for his son. They became the basis for a script, illustrated by Piotr Nowacki, released as this book about Zbyś the Bear and Mruk the Badger, who are sent by the Queen Bee to track down some honey thieves. Younger readers will delight in looking for the stolen honey as their parents help them read the story. A second volume is soon to be published.
‘Kubatu: I Tak Nie Uwierzysz’ (Kubatu: You Just Wouldn’t Believe It)
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‘Kubatu: I Tak Nie Uwierzysz’ (Kubatu: You Just Wouldn’t Believe It) by Janusz Christy, cover & panel of the comic, photo: Egmont / promotional materials
A winner of the Janusz Christa comics competition, drawn by Przemysław Surma and scripted by Jakub Syty. A boy grows out of sleeping with his favourite toy that resembles a toucan. The toy is the eponymous Kubatu, sent by a mysterious wizard to look after the boy but he is forced to go back when no longer required. Finally, the boy decides to keep Kubatu, and incredible adventures ensue.
‘Lil i Put: Jak Przelać Kota do Kielicha?’ (Lil & Put: How to Pour a Cat Into a Goblet)
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‘Lil i Put: Jak Przelać Kota do Kielicha?’ (Lil & Put: How to Pour a Cat Into a Goblet) by Piotr Bednarczyk and Maciej Kur, panel & cover of the comic, photo: Egmont / publisher's promotional materials
This comic, drawn by Piotr Bednarczyk and scripted by Maciej Kur, is a humorous fantasy for young adults. The story fits into the genre perfectly, while adding many references to the classics. The titular heroes are rascals and layabouts who get into a range of scrapes. When they meet a girl studying magic, the real trouble begins…
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'Łauma' by Karol Kalinowski, comic panel, photo: Kultura Gniewu
Karol Kalinowski’s cult comic is aimed at younger readers. Dorotka moves to the countryside with her parents and discovers that her late grandmother was a witch. The girl gets sucked into disputes between forest creatures – upon whom the fate of the world depends.
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Kalinowski’s storyline blends in the beliefs of the Yotvingian people. The comic won multiple awards around Poland, was adapted into a play by the Studio Theatre in Warsaw, will be made into a film, and – after topping an Internet poll – a mural featuring Dorotka has been painted in Suwałki.
‘Między Dniem a Snem w Wilanowie’ (Between Days and Dreams in Wilanów)
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‘Między Dniem a Snem w Wilanowie’ (Between Days and Dreams in Wilanów) bySławomir Kiełbus, panel & cover of the comic, photo: MAAR / promotional materials
This two-volume comic series promotes King Jan III Sobieski’s Palace Museum in Wilanów, recounting the history of the palace and its exhibits, coupled with educational, ecological themes. Ewa Karska’s ideas are superbly illustrated by Sławomir Kiełbus, who has depicted Wilanów’s splendid architecture and gardens in near-photorealistic detail, allowing the book to act as a guidebook to the palace and park.
‘Ostatni Wynalazek’ (The Ultimate Invention)
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‘Ostatni Wynalazek’ (The Ultimate Invention), cover & panel, photo: Municipal Public Library in Lębork / promotional materials
Lębork was the home town of Paul Nipkow, an inventor regarded as a pioneer of television. Commissioned by the local library, Dominik Szcześniak wrote this comic about the adventures of three adolescents chosen by a mysterious scientist to prevent Nipkow’s invention from falling into the wrong hands… The book was stunningly illustrated by Rafał Trejnis.
‘Ostatni Żubr’ (The Last Bison)
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‘Ostatni Żubr’ (The Last Bison) by Tomasz Samojlik, cover & panel, photo: Kultura Gniewu / publisher's promotional materials
Dr Tomasz Samojlik is a scientist at the Polish Academy of Science’s Mammal Research Institute in Białowieża. Although he specialises in the smallest mammals, he knows a lot about the bigger ones, too. This comic about the forest and its king was produced for the 80th anniversary of the reintroduction of bison to Białowieża Forest.
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In reality, the original bison were hunted to extinction, but in this comic, one little bison calf manages to survive. His life is threatened by baddies who want to chop the trees down to build houses. Samojlik has crafted a fascinating, educational story that easily relates to the present day. The comic has been reprinted three times already, including a colour edition.
‘Podróże w Czasie i Przestrzeni w Celu Ratowania Ziemi’ (Travelling through Time and Space to Save the Earth)
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‘Podróże w Czasie i Przestrzeni w Celu Ratowania Ziemi’ (Travelling through Time and Space to Save the Earth), drawing, photo: Fundacja Nasza Ziemia / promotional materials
A two-volume series featuring three friends who travel in time with the help of a mysterious device. The kids are keen on ecology and use their jumps into the past to teach their ancestors how to protect the natural environment. Both volumes were scripted by Rafał Skarżycki; the first was illustrated by Tomasz Leśniak, and the second by Karol Kalinowski.
‘Porwani na Biosa’ (Kidnapped and Taken to Bios)
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‘Porwani na Biosa’ (Kidnapped and Taken to Bios) by Sławomir Kiełbus and Ewa Karska, cover & panel, photo: MAAR / promotional materials
Four children are abducted and transported to the planet Bios – which differs from Earth, since everything is ecological. They recycle their rubbish, their cars run on biogas, and everywhere is clean. Once our heroes return to Earth, they try to promote similar behaviour on their own planet… The comic was excellently illustrated by Sławomir Kiełbus and skilfully scripted by Ewa Karska, without being overly moralistic.
‘Ryjówka Przeznaczenia’ (The Shrew of Destiny)
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‘Ryjówka Przeznaczenia’ (The Shrew of Destiny) & ‘Norka zagłady’ (The Mink of Extinction), PAN Mammal Research Institute, comic covers, photo: Kultura Gniewu / promotional materials
Shrews are the smallest mammals in Poland, with such rapid metabolisms that they must eat constantly. Dr Tomasz Samojlik of the Academy of Science in Białowieża researches their lives and knows all about them. No surprise, then, that a shrew is the hero of this comic. Dobrzyk is rather daft and naive, but kind and helpful, and doesn’t think twice about saving the world. Two volumes have been released so far, the second titled The Mink of Extinction. The series has outstanding humour, lively action, and a clever plot. It should be compulsory reading, not only to learn about biology!
‘Rysiek i Królik: W Szortach’ (Lynx and Rabbit in Shorts)
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‘Rysiek i Królik: W Szortach’ (Lynx and Rabbit in Shorts), panel & cover, photo: Egmont / publisher's promotional materials
This humorous young-adult comic is another winner of the Janusz Christa competition. The titular heroes go to school, where they are tormented by the class bullies. After their lessons, they play video games (sometimes for too long), get into mischief, and start taking an interest in girls. Readers will probably quickly feel at home in the comic’s world, and the dynamic plot guarantees an enjoyable read.
‘Strażnicy Orlego Pióra’ (Guardians of the Eagle Feather)
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‘Strażnicy Orlego Pióra’ (Guardians of the Eagle Feather), comic cover & panel, photo: Mandragora / promotional materials
A series of comics for children, combining historical figures and facts with fictional events and characters. Four volumes were released before the publishers went bankrupt. Szara Drużyna (The Grey Team) tells the story of Princes Siemowit and Popiel; Wielkie Łuki (Velikiye Luki) shows King Stephen Báthory losing his sceptre before being imprisoned; Drzewo Peruna (The Tree of Perun) concerns King Mieszko I’s battles with the Germans; and Skarb Walezjusza (The Treasure of Henri de Valois) describes the newly crowned Polish king’s escape to France. All the comics were scripted by Wojtek Birek, illustrated by Arek Klimek and Sławek Kiełbus, and published in Polish and English.
‘Tim i Miki w Krainie Psikusów’ (Tim & Miki in Prankland)
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‘Tim i Miki w Krainie Psikusów’ (Tim & Miki in Prankland), comic cover & panel, photo: Polskie Stowarzyszenie Komiksowe / sklep.gildia.pl / Timof i cisi wspólnicy / promotional materials
This book was published for Free Comics Day in Poland. Dominik Szcześniak (script), Piotr Nowacki (art) and Sebastian Skrobol (colourist) have created a multitude of characters and bizarre adventures intended for their children. In a room, the two titular street-urchin heroes discover a passage into Prankland, where fun is guaranteed – but the lads must also solve the riddle of their parents’ disappearance.
‘Tomek i Jacek: Piraci z Lua Lua’ (Tomek & Jacek, Pirates of Lua Lua)
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‘Tomek i Jacek: Piraci z Lua Lua’ (Tomek & Jacek, Pirates of Lua Lua), cover & panel, photo: Egmont / promotional materials
One more winner of the Janusz Christa competition. Michał Chojnacki has written a story of two anthropomorphic bears, who go on holiday to hot countries with their parents. Lua Lua beach holds a wealth of secrets for them to unlock. This tale filled with plot twists and extraordinary ideas was illustrated by Jakub Grochola, one of the most interesting, impressive creators of the younger generation.
‘Tymek i Mistrz’ (Tymek & the Master)
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‘Tymek i Mistrz’ (Tymek & the Master), comic covers, photo: Egmont / promotional materials
A six-volume series about the adventures of a wizard and his pupil, the teenage Tymek. This comic scripted by Rafał Skarżycki and drawn by Tomasz Leśniak, creators of Jerzy the Hedgehog, was first serialised in Gazeta Wyborcza’s Komiksowo supplement and later published in book form and digital format. Work is currently underway on an animated series based on the comics. Tymek studies magic with his Master, and they must fight an evil duo of sorcerers, Psuj and Popsuj. The action is set in mediaeval times, but the plot frequently contains contemporary references.
‘Uczeń Heweliusza’ (Heweliusz’s Apprentice)
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‘Uczeń Heweliusza’ (Heweliusz’s Apprentice), comic cover & panel, photo: Wojewódzka i Miejska Biblioteka Publiczna im. Josepha Conrada-Korzeniowskiego in Gdańsk / promotional materials
A comics competition was organised to mark the 400th anniversary of Jan Heweliusz’s birth, and it resulted in this book, scripted by Maciej Jasiński with art by Krzysztof Trystuła. The plot combines fictional elements and true history, and the main character is the astronomer’s boy apprentice. Jasiński’s sensational adventure story is brilliantly set in 17th-century Gdańsk, but not overloaded with facts. Combined with the attractive drawings, this is a European-standard comic that should satisfy even the choosiest of readers.
‘Wszystko Będzie Dobrze’ (It’ll All Be Fine)
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‘Wszystko Będzie Dobrze’ (It’ll All Be Fine), comic cover & panel, photo: Egmont / promotional materials
Despite only coming second in the Janusz Christa children’s comics competition, January N. Misiak created a complex book that is possibly more appealing to parents than teenagers. It is the story of a girl who sets off on a mysterious voyage after her parents’ divorce. Guided by a frog, her journey begins through a cupboard door. Even though the story proves to be extremely heavy going, the sensational art should appeal to all ages.
‘Zaczarowana Altana’ (The Magic Gazebo)
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‘Zaczarowana Altana’ (The Magic Gazebo), cover & panel, photo: MAAR / promotional materials
Little Lena is the heroine of this four-volume comic series written by Ewa Karska and drawn by Sławomir Kiełbus. Along with her friends, she sneaks into her father’s gazebo, where he keeps a time machine. The children use it to travel to Bydgoszcz throughout a range of time periods.
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‘88/89’ byPrzemysław Surma, comic cover, photo: Widnokrąg / promotional materials
A fine example of how difficult subjects can be handled simply, and how different the adult world looks through the eyes of a child. Michał Rzecznik’s script is set amid the fall of communism in Poland and the unforgettable 1989 elections, and the comic was exquisitely illustrated by Przemysław Surma.
Originally written in Polish, Nov 2014, translated by Mark Bence, Jun 2021