Jez Jerzy
Encyclopedia
Jeż Jerzy is a popularhttp://www.warsawvoice.pl/view/6897/ Polish comic book
title created by young artists - Rafał Skarżycki (script) and Tomasz Lew Leśniak (drawings).
The comic strip first appeared as part of a children's magazine called "Świerszczyk
". At first the strips were aimed at children with Jerzy the Hedgehog
having adventures in a fairy tale
land. In 1996 the strips were published in the magazine "Ślizg" in a "Adult version".
The adult version of the comic strip was a satire on politics and modern Poland. The comic makes fun of groups - like the police
, ecologists, the subcultures of skinheads or dresiarze - or individuals, such as politicians (Andrzej Lepper
and Grzegorz Kołodko). In the adult version, which has often been compared to South Park
, the characters often swear, drink alcohol and take drugs
. It is often violent and features scenes of nudity
. Jeży has become a part of Skate
subculture. The adult version is still running and many versions of the comic books were published both in and outside of Poland.
The “Adult Albums” :
Polish comics
Polish comics are comics written and produced in Poland. Very few of these comics have been published in languages other than Polish.- History :...
title created by young artists - Rafał Skarżycki (script) and Tomasz Lew Leśniak (drawings).
The comic strip first appeared as part of a children's magazine called "Świerszczyk
Swierszczyk
Świerszczyk is a Polish children's magazine published since 1945. Many popular Polish authors for children, such as Hanna Januszewska, Jan Brzechwa, Ewa Szelburg-Zarembina, Olga Siemaszkowa, Lucyna Krzemieniecka and Jan Marcin Szancer wrote for the publication, and Jeż Jerzy, a popular modern...
". At first the strips were aimed at children with Jerzy the Hedgehog
Hedgehog
A hedgehog is any of the spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae and the order Erinaceomorpha. There are 17 species of hedgehog in five genera, found through parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand . There are no hedgehogs native to Australia, and no living species native to the Americas...
having adventures in a fairy tale
Fairy tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...
land. In 1996 the strips were published in the magazine "Ślizg" in a "Adult version".
The adult version of the comic strip was a satire on politics and modern Poland. The comic makes fun of groups - like the police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
, ecologists, the subcultures of skinheads or dresiarze - or individuals, such as politicians (Andrzej Lepper
Andrzej Lepper
Andrzej Zbigniew Lepper was a Polish politician who was the leader of Samoobrona RP political party....
and Grzegorz Kołodko). In the adult version, which has often been compared to South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
, the characters often swear, drink alcohol and take drugs
DRUGS
Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows are an American post-hardcore band formed in 2010. They released their debut self-titled album on February 22, 2011.- Formation :...
. It is often violent and features scenes of nudity
Nudity
Nudity is the state of wearing no clothing. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic. The amount of clothing worn depends on functional considerations and social considerations...
. Jeży has become a part of Skate
Skateboarding
Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...
subculture. The adult version is still running and many versions of the comic books were published both in and outside of Poland.
Characters
- Jeż Jerzy (George the Hedgehog) – Main character; a talking hedgehogHedgehogA hedgehog is any of the spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae and the order Erinaceomorpha. There are 17 species of hedgehog in five genera, found through parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand . There are no hedgehogs native to Australia, and no living species native to the Americas...
and a skater. He likes to drink, smoke marijuana and have sex with human females (in some stories they find him attractive; in others, repulsive). He loves his trusty skateboardSkateboardA skateboard is typically a specially designed plywood board combined with a polyurethane coating used for making smoother slides and stronger durability, used primarily for the activity of skateboarding. The first skateboards to reach public notice came out of the surfing craze of the early 1960s,...
. It seems that he has enemies everywhere, including the police and politicians. He often breaks the fourth wallFourth wallThe fourth wall is the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage in a traditional three-walled box set in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play...
. - Stefan and Zenek – a duo of Jerzy's enemies. They represent the far right skinhead subcultureSubcultureIn sociology, anthropology and cultural studies, a subculture is a group of people with a culture which differentiates them from the larger culture to which they belong.- Definition :...
. They are racistRacismRacism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
and they hate everything they consider unpatrioticPatriotismPatriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
. - Zombie – a member of subculture called "dresiarze" who shot himself after Jerzy convinced him that he was gayGayGay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
. He later came back from the dead as zombieZombieZombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
to take revenge on the hedgehog. - El Dresso – often referred to as "Mały" (Tiny); a friend of Zombie who became a supervillain after his friend's death. In the Exorcist storyline, Zombie took over his body, as his own was destroyed.
- Kula and friends - a trio of bullies from the Dresiarze subculture who often try to beat up Jerzy. The leader's name is Kula.
- The priest – An exorcistExorcistIn some religions an exorcist is a person who is believed to be able to cast out the devil or other demons. A priest, a nun, a monk, a healer, a shaman or other specially prepared or instructed person can be an exorcist...
and a good friend of Jerzy. - Przemysław R – A serial killerSerial killerA serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
who after once failing to kill Jerzy, keeps coming back to seek revenge. In some ways similar to Sideshow BobSideshow BobRobert Underdunk Terwilliger, better known as Sideshow Bob, is a recurring character in the animated television series The Simpsons. He is voiced by Kelsey Grammer and first appeared briefly in the episode "The Telltale Head". Bob is a self-proclaimed genius who is a graduate of Yale, a member of...
from The SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
. - Pietia "the Scar" Pavlov – A Russian hitmanHitmanA hitman is a person hired to kill another person.- Hitmen in organized crime :Hitmen are largely linked to the world of organized crime. Hitmen are hired people who kill people for money. Notable examples include Murder, Inc., Mafia hitmen and Richard Kuklinski.- Other cases involving hitmen...
, often seen in the second book. - Yola – A very lusty girl, she sometimes dates Jerzy.
- Michał Puszka – A prison warden and friend of Jerzy.
- Authors – The authors occasionally appear in the stories in the role of Jerzy's parents (even though they are both male).
Albums
Albums of the “Child friendly version”- Jeż Jerzy: Dla dzieci (For Children)
The “Adult Albums” :
- Jeż Jerzy: The True Story – The book is not counted as part of official series and it had a very limited print run, many of the stories were reprinted in later albums.
- Jeż Jerzy: Nie dla dzieci (Not for Children) – 2002. A series of short stories
- Jeż Jerzy: Wróg publiczny (The Public Enemy) – 2002. A series of short stories
- Jeż Jerzy: Egzorcysta (The Exorcist) – 2003. A long story. The story is a spoof of The ExorcistThe Exorcist (film)The Exorcist is a 1973 American horror film directed by William Friedkin, adapted from the 1971 novel of the same name by William Peter Blatty and based on the exorcism case of Robbie Mannheim, dealing with the demonic possession of a young girl and her mother’s desperate attempts to win back her...
. In the story Jerzy is chosen by God to save the world from Satan's plot to take over. - Jeż Jerzy: Ścigany (The Fugitive) – 2003. Short stories
- Jeż Jerzy: Dokument (The Documentary) – 2004. A series of short stories, combined with a host telling the story of Jerzy's life.
- Jeż Jerzy: Ziom (Dude) – 2005. Short stories.
- Jeż Jerzy: In vitro – 2006. Two long stories. One features Jerzy being cloned and the other features Jerzy being imprisoned with his enemy Przemysław R.
- Jeż Jerzy: Człowiek z Blizną (Scarface) – published in 2007. It will be one long story and will centre around the Pieta "the Scar" character.
- Jeż Jerzy: Musi umrzeć (Must Die) - published in 2009, it centers around the motiv of death (i.e. Jerzy faking his own death to avoid paying bills).
Awards
One of the episodes of Jeż Jerzy won the Grand Prix of Comic Art Festival in Łódź in 1999. http://lambiek.net/artists/l/lesniak_tomasz.htmFilm
An animated film was released in 2011. The script was written by the authors themselves. The first teaser trailer can be viewed on YouTube.External links
Oficjal Page Jeż Jerzy- Tomasz Lew Leśniak (JJ script) on Comicpedia
- Strip Show, Warsaw VoiceWarsaw VoiceWarsaw Voice: Polish and Central European Review is an English language newspaper printed in Poland, concentrating on news about Poland and its neighbours. First released in October 1988, it is a general news magazine with sections on political, economic, social and cultural news and with opinions...
, 27 October 2004, mentions Jeż Jerzy comic