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Current AffairsCult Czech comic Čtyřlístek turns 40
Three generations of Czechs have been raised on the adventures of Bobík,
Myšpulín, Fifinka and Pinďa – the stars of the comic Čtyřlístek.
This Friday, the now-cult comic celebrates its 40th birthday. I met the man
behind one of the most swapped items in Czech playgrounds of yore:
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ArtsDžian Baban & Vojtěch Mašek – Creators of an unusual Czech graphic novel about a man with a trunk
Comic books and graphic novels have increased greatly in popularity in the
Czech Republic over the last ten years, which saw release of both
mainstream and avant garde titles, both classic as well as lesser-known
authors. On the domestic scene artists also began to emerge, writers such
as Jaroslav Rudiš and illustrators like Jaroslav 99, who collaborated on
the celebrated graphic novel White Brook. In today’s Arts, another Czech
duo: screenwriters Džian Baban and Vojtěch Mašek, authors of a
phantasmagoric trilogy focusing on the adventures and misadventures of
Damian Chobot, one of the most unlikely heroes you’re ever likely meet.
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Czechs TodayComics publishing in the Czech Republic: from Garfield to the avant garde
In the past when Czechs thought about comics, classic children’s
publications like Čtyřlístek (Fourleaf Clover), about four animal
characters, or Fast Arrows – adventure stories for kids - came to mind.
But after 1989, conceptions of comics gradually changed as comics not seen
here before gradually entered the market. Soon, many grew instantly
recognizable to most teenagers: classic superheroes like Spider-Man, Batman
and others; on the other, newer genres also began to come in, edgier
so-called new wave productions, of which Art Speiglman’s classic Maus was
one of the most famous. What is being published now and how has the
audience come of the age? Find out in Czechs Today.
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Current AffairsSecond annual KomiksFEST under way in Prague
The second annual KomiksFEST, which claims to be one of the biggest
festivals of its kind in Central Europe, is currently in full swing here
in
Prague. Cinemas, theatres and galleries all over the Czech capital are
running posters, comics and cartoon exhibitions, while there are also film
and theatre performances inspired by comics. R.F. spoke with the programme
director and one of the founders of the festival, Tomas Matejicek, and
started by asking what led him to establish the festival in the first
place. More
Current AffairsFestival celebrates vibrant Czech comic scene
On Tuesday the first ever festival of comic art in
Prague - KomiksFEST2006 - officially opened at the Svetozor art theater,
just
a stone's throw from Wenceslas Square. Twelve locations around the city
will host KomiksFEST events, which run the gamut from exhibitions of
graphic art to movies and plays. The festival highlights the work of Czech
artists like Jiri Grus and Karel Jerie, and is designed to attract comics
lovers as well as the general public. More
Current AffairsNational Archive analysing new Milada Horakova documents
The National Archive in Prague recently received new material donated by
Jana Kanska, the daughter of Milada Horakova, the Czech resistance
movement hero in World War II found guilty on trumped-up charges of
treason and plotting to overthrow the government by Czechoslovakia's
Communist regime after the war. Famously, she showed tremendous courage
and calm during a preposterous show-trial that, in the end saw her
sentenced to death. Recent years have seen renewed historic interest in
Milada Horakova's life, and with new material donated by her daughter who
lives in the US, Jan Velinger was interested in learning more. He dropped
by the National Archive just a few days ago. More
Talking PointThe "four-leaf clover" comics
All kids in the Czech Republic know it - and most love it.
"Ctyrlistek", or a four-leaf clover in Czech, is a children's
comic magazine and a very popular collectable; you will find at least a
few copies in virtually every household. The comic book, which has been
around for more than thirty years, was named "Ctyrlistek" after
its four main characters: a human-like cat called Myspulin, a dog called
Fifinka, a pig named Bobik and a rabbit called Pinda. They live in a house
together and experience all kinds of adventures. Although they must be
well into their thirties, they still maintain their youthful appearance
and spirit. It is difficult to explain the "Ctyrlistek"
phenomenon to someone who has never waited for weeks for the latest issue
to appear and never queued for hours to grab the last copy in the shop,
like Czech kids used to in the years of socialism.
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One on OneJaroslav Rudis - creator of Alois Nebel, the star of the brutally beautiful 'White Creek' and its follow up 'Main Station'
In this week's One on One Jan's guest is Jaroslav Rudis, one of the Czech
Republic's most exciting new authors. He's one of the creators of a cult
graphic novel called White Creek, based on the exploits of a very unusual
Czech train dispatcher. The dispatcher, named Alois Nebel, appears to
suffer from delusions on his railway line. All the same, his visions cast
some of the events of 20th century borderland Czechoslovakia in sharp
relief, making for a thrilling read.
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ArtsAward-winning comics translator: "Modern comics are for intelligent people"
Last Saturday, hundreds of comics fans from the Czech Republic gathered at
the Mlejn Club in Prague for a day of discussions, lectures and friendly
chatting about what's hot and what's not in the world of comics. Part of
the daylong gathering, called comiCZcon 2004, was an award ceremony at
which prizes including Best comic writer, artist and publisher, were
awarded. Alan Moore's graphic novel "From Hell" was awarded a
prize for best publication in 2003 and was also voted best book by the
visitors of the gathering. As if that was not enough, "From
Hell", or in Czech "Z pekla", also received an award for
best translation. The awarded translator is Viktor Janis, and he came to
our studio this week to tell us more about last Saturday's gathering of
comics fans and about comic books in this country in general.
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