The Witcher is already an inseparable element of the Polish fantasy scene. How does The Witcher, a character created almost twenty years ago by Tomasz Samojlik, have to do with it? Today he is back after this period. Has it changed over time?
Where did the Witcher come from?
In 2003, fans received the comic book The Witcher: Two Towers of the Pension Fund , which was a cartoon satire on the political and economic situation at that time. Tomasz Samojlik mercilessly threw elements of the Polish dark-garden into the fantasy world and mixed them with parodies of well-known heroes – for example the Witcher himself, the almost faithful bard Katarakta, or the typical witch Dżenifer. The humor of the comic was at a high level, but its character meant that the comic was directed rather at a mature reader. Now, after many years, the Kultura Gniewu publishing house has decided to return to this world, but the Witcher is no longer the same monster slayer.
What’s going on here?
Kira is a girl whose father-inventor created a machine that makes it possible to travel to another world. Unfortunately, the unfortunate man fell victim to his own work and disappeared from Earth, the inhabitants of which soon experienced apocalyptic scenes. For many years Kira grows up locked in a bunker with her robotic nanny, but one day she decides to go in search of her father. Due to her stubbornness, she goes to the world of magic, where she will have the opportunity to encounter many fairy-tale creatures. The first volume of the series, i.e. the Sweet Scent of a Monster at Twilight, is a cheerful and sad comic book for children, and not a rather mean political commentary as the prototype.
The author is also a man
Samojlik is a well-known creator of comic books for children on the Polish market. His comics about the adventures of animals amuse and educate children at the same time, but with numerous quotations and borrowings from famous works of cinematography or literature, they also bring joy to adults. The Witcher is no different in this respect – the author successfully parodies not only other people but also his own works. It is true that the first volume can be read in trim, but the question arises, what will the author go to in the next parts? You have to wait!
Is it worth it?
The action rushes very quickly, more characters appear, and monsters die like the Vietnamese after meeting John Rambo. Spherical, colorful monsters performed by Tomek Samojlik look grotesque and cute at the same time. At a time when darkness hides in every corner of other stories, The Witcher presents a candy-like variety of horror. Children will be delighted with the imaginative visions, while the older ones will appreciate the mastery of the author who illustrates the whole world with single lines and circles.
Graphically, The Witcher looks extremely good, like all comics of this creator. A simple, transparent line allows you to easily follow the next scenes, and skillfully placed colors only complement the work. Kultura Gniewu presented this album in the same graphic design as other Samojlik comics, i.e. in a small format, with a hard cover and with high-quality paper and print.
