As always on time
Paneuropa is a series of issues published on the initiative of the European Commission and financed by the European Union for educational and information purposes. Subsequent issues are free and can be obtained in the form of an album or downloaded from the website as a pdf . Subsequent titles concern current global threats. Its main characters are characters known from the legends and myths of individual countries. We will find here, among others Twardowski, Basilisk, Athena, Ratcatcher or Romulus and Remus. While they possess powers worthy of the Avengers team, they are usually ultimately only support for ordinary people who solve a crisis. This is to show that we don’t have to be heroes to do good and fight for a better tomorrow. In previous issues, the heroes have already faced smog or a pandemicCOVID-19 . This time the creators really had a lot to choose from and decided to combine several threads. The main theme here is the war in the Middle East and the influx of migrants to Europe. In addition, much space has been devoted to the so-called fake news, racist and homophobic behavior. The main perpetrators of the whole commotion is Szarlej, the legendary evil ruler who, according to Silesian legends, spoiled a lot of miners’ blood. This time, however, he does not live in Poland, but works straight from Russia. Case? In no case! Especially since this time the comic does not end with a complete victory and is clearly heading towards the war in Ukraine.
Someone here is offended
For the screenplay for Paneuropa vs nightmares of the pastTomasz Kontny and Magdalena Lankosz answer. They both bluntly show how terrible hate is and what it can lead to. They stand behind emigrants and non-heteronormative people, tormenting all haters. The title will certainly become a thorn in the side of all extreme right-wingers, who will probably want to burn it at the stake and inveigh, as the EU is trying to inculcate “LGBT ideology” in us. But that’s their problem, and no one is forcing them to read it. Everyone else will certainly appreciate the interesting plot and twists and references to current events in the world. As with the previous numbers, however, it seems a bit too short to me. The fact that this time it consists of two parts, but there is still a certain lack of satisfaction here, and some fragments happen too quickly and seem to be greatly simplified. I mean even the final battle, which is a bit weaker compared to the entire introduction to the story. As for the characters themselves, I missed Twardowski, who had been a kind of leader of the group so far. I still regret that the creators did not decide to introduce Scandinavian heroes. However, a plus is due for adding Borowił (also known as Leszy) and the Holy Host of the Theban Army. Hades and Poseidon also make guest appearances. They all have an important role to play and we can get to know them a bit better. In the case of the latter, it is also a great punch in the nose for all those who claim that once homosexuality did not exist and it is only “modern fashion”. As for the characters themselves, I missed Twardowski, who had been a kind of leader of the group so far. I still regret that the creators did not decide to introduce Scandinavian heroes. However, a plus is due for adding Borowił (also known as Leszy) and the Holy Host of the Theban Army. Hades and Poseidon also make guest appearances. They all have an important role to play and we can get to know them a bit better. In the case of the latter, it is also a great punch in the nose for all those who claim that once homosexuality did not exist and it is only “modern fashion”. As for the characters themselves, I missed Twardowski, who had been a kind of leader of the group so far. I still regret that the creators did not decide to introduce Scandinavian heroes. However, a plus is due for adding Borowił (also known as Leszy) and the Holy Host of the Theban Army. Hades and Poseidon also make guest appearances. They all have an important role to play and we can get to know them a bit better. In the case of the latter, it is also a great punch in the nose for all those who claim that once homosexuality did not exist and it is only “modern fashion”. However, a plus is due for adding Borowił (also known as Leszy) and the Holy Host of the Theban Army. Hades and Poseidon also make guest appearances. They all have an important role to play and we can get to know them a bit better. In the case of the latter, it is also a great punch in the nose for all those who claim that once homosexuality did not exist and it is only “modern fashion”. However, a plus is due for adding Borowił (also known as Leszy) and the Holy Host of the Theban Army. Hades and Poseidon also make guest appearances. They all have an important role to play and we can get to know them a bit better. In the case of the latter, it is also a great punch in the nose for all those who claim that once homosexuality did not exist and it is only “modern fashion”.
A coherent vision
The graphic page of the new issue of Paneuropa was prepared by four cartoonists – Wojciech Stefaniec, Robert Służały, Rafał Szałapa and Monika Laprus-Wierzejska. Although their styles differ from each other, they all followed the writers’ idea perfectly and captured the adventure in such a way that it is even more enjoyable to read. The action scenes were also captured very well. Chorzow or Athens. It is also worth mentioning that in the frames we will find a few “eyes” released to the recipient. Because although the characters are fictional, they often refer to real ones. I have already mentioned the main opponent of the team and his resemblance to a certain dictator from the east, but I must also add one politician deceptively reminiscent of a man with a bow tie operating in one of the Polish right-wing parties.
I am waiting for more!
The Paneuropa series is growing more and more. There are still a few things to improve here, but it’s heading in the right direction and it’s a pleasure to read. The latest edition could be a bit more developed, but it’s still easy to get sucked into the story and feel a connection with the characters. It is a pity that we will probably have to wait for the next part (and the final!) until next year’s edition of the Festival of Comics and Games in Łódź.
