Funky Koval

Cover of Funky Koval #1 from the 1980s, Poland.

Funky Koval is a 4-part Polish science fiction/detective story/political fiction genre comic book published in Poland in the 1980s. It gained a cult following and is recognized as one of the best Polish comics. All comics debuted i Fantastyka, a Polish sci-fi magazine, and were later released as color albums.

Development

The initial scenario for the comic about the adventures of a space detective was created by Wiktor Żwikiewicz and Jacek Rodek, however Żwikiewicz soon afterward withdraw from the project, and was replaced by Maciej Parowski; Rodek and Parowski are credited as the main writers for all volumes. The drawings were done by Bogusław Polch. Both the writers and the artist were familiar with and inspired by a number of Western works, from French Métal hurlant to American Star Wars, and intended to bring this style of science fiction aesthetic to the Polish readers. The initial title for the project (and main character) was Punky Rock, but it was renamed to Funky Koval following Polch's suggestion.

It was first published in November 1982 on four black and white pages in the second issue of Fantastyka, a Polish sci-fi magazine, and continued to be published in this format for many years. The first episodes were more of the independent 'comic short story' format, as the writers wanted to experiment with different ideas. Later, the comic moved to more lengthy, novel-like plots, following urging by Polch who argued for more consistency.

Release history

In 1987, the comics were released in albums, colored and with some additional panels to allow easier transition between various stories. The first album, Bez oddechu (Breathless) contained collected the episodic stories published in Fantastyka in 1982-1983. The second, Sam przeciw wszystkim (Alone against everyone), released in 1988, collected the stories published in 1985-1986; and the third, Wbrew sobie (Against oneself), released in 1992, the ones from 1991-1992.

Gossip and semi-official promises about that new parts of the comics have been circulating for many years, but no official announcement have been made until 2010, when it started to be serialised in the SF monthly Nowa Fantastyka. The fourth part was titled "Wrogie przejęcie" (Hostile takeover) and it was released in a stand-alone album in 2011. A 6 page-short independent story was also published in 2011.

The first two albums were released in the Komiks-Fantastyka imprint. Two more complete, single-volume editions were released by Prószyński i S-ka in early 1990s and 2010s. Klasyka Polskiego Komiksu - Funky Koval, collecting the first three albums in one book, was released by Egmont Polska in 2002, and Funky Koval. Wydanie kolekcjonerskie. 4 tomy, collecting all four albums, was released by Prószyński Media in 2014.

The first album was also translated to Hungarian (in 1986).

Art

Sample page from Funky Koval #1

A notable feature of the comic is the art of Bogusław Polch, known for his unique style and minute attention to details. He was known to put much more details into his drawings than could be actually printed in the comics; many of his panels are rich with tiny details - for example, in one panel showing Koval's room the reader can see names of the books and magazines on his bookshelf (they include works by Philip K. Dick, Stanislaw Lem and the 'Fantastyka' magazine). Many gadgets have logos of known companies (such as Sharp and Sony), and their characteristics shapes - of videophones, guns, spaceships or flying cars - are also one of the trademarks of that comic book. Polch also based faces of many of the series characters on those of his co-workers.

The art in the third series is different from that in the first two: in the third series Polch experimented with more simple style, sometimes bordering on caricatures. This change proved to be a disappointment to some fans used to his earlier, more detailed and realistic style.

Plot summary

Cover of Funky Koval #2 from the 1980s, Poland.

The plot resolves around the figure of former military pilot and now space detective, Funky Koval, who with his friends and colleagues forms a private detective agency "Universs" and solves various cases in the futuristic world of the 2080s. His investigations range from corruption in the police and government, through fighting cultists and terrorists, investigating missing spaceships and illegal slave camps, to the mystery of the Drolls aliens, who seem to have a much more advanced technology than the humans, and whose plans for the humanity - if any - remain a mystery.

Reception and cultural impact

At first, the reception of the comic was lukewarm, with many readers of Fantastyka questioning whether the magazine should devote space to a comic. After some initial misgivings, however, the series became highly popular. Adam Rusek called Funky Koval "one of the most famous heroes in the history of [Polish comic books]". This comic is considered a classic, and gained a cult following in Poland, partially due to the high quality of drawings and plot, and partially due to many subtle connections with the real world of the 1980s Poland (martial law in Poland, Jerzy Urban, Polish Round Table Agreement). Although some of those elements are no longer easily read by modern audience, the comic is still seen as one of the best Polish sci-fi works, and has influenced more recent works. It helped launch a dedicated comic supplement to Fantastyka, Komiks-Fantastyka; its success has been credited with helping to create a market for serious comics in Poland. Likewise, Funky Koval helped to popularize action and adventure genres in Polish sci-fi, as well as partial nudity (female toplesness) as acceptable in Polish comics.

Michał Cetnarowski, discussing the series in Nowa Fantastyka in 2007, noted that the second album is considered the best, as the first was indeed too episodic, and the third, too complex. He also observed it was a milestone in the development of Polish comics, a homegrown work in the "Western" style, focusing on action and adventure, but also with complex world building in the background. Cetnarowski also praised Polch's artwork, which was much more detailed than most other art found in contemporary comics, and praised innovative, detailed backgrounds. Cetnarowski does not that the comic has its faults, such as too many author's notes on the margins, trying to explain or narrate various aspects. The plot is sometimes too chaotic, and deux ex machina problem can be seen on several occasions.

In 2010, Tomasz Kołodziejczak, also discussing the series in Nowa Fantastyka, called it "a great comic", nothing that the story holds well even after twenty years, and it certainly would benefit from being continued.

Movie

In 2008 Polch told the press than an American producer that has bought the rights to the trilogy. The movie is based on Bez Oddechu. In 2011 it was announced that the movie is to be produced by Josi W. Konski and Roland von Ciel with a $37 million budget, with the planned release as early as 2012.

See also

• Science fiction comic

External links

• (in Polish) "Klasyka polskiego komiksu: Funky Koval" - review
• (in Polish) Kosmiczny Detektyw - review
• (in Polish) Funky Koval - review
• (in Polish) FUNKY KOVAL ŻYJE! - article from Świat Komiksu 29, wrzesień 2002
• (in Polish) Mam mnóstwo własnych pomysłów - Interview with Polch
• (in Polish) "Official Fansite"
• Funky Koval Movie website
• "IMDB "