‟Zeszyty Komiksowe”
Issue 22, October 2016:
Comics – Theory
Table of contents
Dear Readers,
Polish scientific reflection about comics is still plagued by insufficient knowledge of
Western sources on the subject. These shortcomings are visible and more and more often
pointed at. This is largely caused by difficulties in accessing some classic texts, for
example David Kunzle’s books – until very recently, that is, because they are now part of
the Poznań University’s comics library collection. Insufficient language skills are also,
let’s be honest, to blame – although English is now widely spoken in Poland, reading
scientific articles does not come as easy as one might hope.
Translating foreign articles about comics can be really worth it. The prime example are
Bernard Toussaint’s ideas (or maybe: their interpretations by Polish scolars) that are
still widely popular in Poland. (As far as it goes, obviously, considering the role comics
play in the culture of our country).
This issue of ‟Zeszyty Komiksowe” aims at filling this gap, at least partially. We have tried
to select a couple of classic texts and to complete the picture with a few modern articles,
showcasing the current research tendencies on the other side of the pond. We have also thrown in
a number of interesting interviews and, for good measure, an article by one of the best known
Polish comics scholars, Wojciech Birek. All of it has been, as always, illustrated by artists
inspired by this topic. Topic that will be continued in the next issue where we will publish
a fragment of Harry Morgan’s Principes des littératures dessinées
about – what else! – the relations of text and image in comics.
Scotta McCloud’s comics would not look as good as it does without the help of professionals
from Dymkołamacze.pl.
We hope you will enjoy this issue of ‟Zeszyty Komiksowe”,
Michał Błażejczyk and Michał Traczyk
Table of Contents
Design: Dennis Wojda
Cover art: Karolina Sroka
Comics – Theory
Comics:
Crossover
By Jakub Babczyński
The Early Comic Strip.
Narrative Strips and Picture Stories in the European Broadsheet from c.1450 to 1825.
Introduction
David Kunzle
(translated by Ewa Lipińska, dot to dot translations)
This is a licensed Polish translation of David Kunzle’s introduction to his groundbraking book.
(c) University of California Press, 1972.
Comics:
Reinventing Comics: How Imagination and Technology Are Revolutionizing an Art Form
(pages 44-52)
By Scott McCloud (translated by Michał Błażejczyk)
Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers.
Comedy at the Juncture of Word and Image.
The Emergence of the Modern Magazine Gag Cartoon Reveals the Vital Blend
Robert C. Harvey (translated by Przemysław Kołodziej)
This is a licensed Polish translation of Robert C. Harvey’s article published as part of
The Language of Comics. Word and Image, ed. Robin Varnum and
Christina T. Gibbons, Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2001.
Comics:
Particular Theory of Comics
By Michał Rzecznik
Questions of ‟Contemporary Women’s Comics”
Paul Williams (translated by Przemysław Kołodziej)
This is a licensed Polish translation of Paul Williams’ article published in
The Rise of the American Comics Artist. Creators and Contexts,
ed. Paul Williams and James Lyons, Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2010.
Comics:
Theory of Comics Not For Loosers
By Mikołaj Tkacz
Widen the Research Field
Interview with Bart Beaty conducted by Tomasz Żaglewski
and translated by Michał Błażejczyk
Bart Beaty, one of the most prominent North-American scholars of comics, talks about his
vision for studying this art form, calling for a broader and more inclusive approach to the
choice of titles subjected to critical analysis as well as for research more anchored in
the social context.
We Need Visual Literacy
Interview with Nick Sousanis conducted by Tomasz Żaglewski
and translated by Michał Błażejczyk
Nick Sousanis is best known as the author of the second serious ‟comic book about comics” since
Scott McCloud’s
Undestanding Comics. In this interview he talks about
his theoretical approach to comics, the relationship between
Unflattening
and Herbert Marcuse’s work, and about visual literacy and its crucial role in modern education
(Sousanis includes the drawing of comics in his university courses).
Comics:
My Lecture about Comics
By Mikołaj Tkacz
Those Annoying Ellipses…
Punctuation as a Typographical Means of Expression in Comics
Wojciech Birek
The author, one of the leading Polish comics scholars and translators as well as a practitioner
of the art form, subjects various typographical elements (such as the ellipsis, exclamation
point or question mark) to rigorous analysis with the goal of understanding how they are used
in comics to generate meaning.
Comics:
Theory
By Tomasz Niewiadomski
Ex hibitions, Big and Small
Wojciech Łowicki
Wojciech Łowicki is a curator of art exhibitions and an art dealer, and this is the story
of his adventure with comic art. More specifically – it tells anecdotes and describes
peculiarities related to setting up art exhibitions, while exploring the actual purpose
of doing so. Łowicki has been involved in two types of art exhibitions: one for an audience
consisting of people already strongly connected with the comic art scene and another –
for a much wider audience, i.e. people who are yet to be given the chance to understand
and appreciate comic art.
Into the Depths
Marek Starosta
Review of the exhibition of modern Polish comics ‟Magma”,
organized by Galeria BWA and Association of Artists ‟Contur”, presented during the
Strasbulles festival in June 2016.
Comics:
The Dot in Comics
By Mikołaj Tkacz
World in The Dark. The Girl in Red
Katarzyna Smyczyńska
The Girl in Red (art by Roberto Innocenti, text by Aaron Frisch)
is a modern version of the timeless Red Riding Hood story – with the City replacing the dark,
scary forest. The City is full of dangers, violence and degenerated humans; it is filthy and
uninviting. Like the original, this story does not end well. This version breathes new life
into the classic story, making it scary again and questioning the premise that humans are
fundamentally good.
Narration about Narration
Tomasz Żaglewski
Review of Kamila Tuszyńska’s book entitled Narration in Graphic Novels
Life, Life Is…
Michał Traczyk
Review of Richard McGuire’s comics entitled Here
Dad, Are You Batman?
Przemysław Zawrotny
Review of Dominik Szcześniak’s comics entitled Worms
Śledziński Must Be Followed
Przemysław Zawrotny
Review of three recent comics by Michał Śledziński
List of Comics Published by Polish Authors
Tomasz Kontny
