Kajko i Kokosz

Kajko i Kokosz (Kajko and Kokosz) is a notable comic book series by Janusz Christa, published in Poland between the 1970s and 1980s. It is centred on a story of two Slavic warriors named Kajko and Kokosz, loosely resembling both Asterix and Obelix, as well as two personalities from Christa's earlier series on Kajtek i Koko (set in contemporary and science-fiction background). The series consists of 20 volumes, as well as a number of shorter stories published in various magazines. In 2006 a short animated 3D movie was made.

The series was largely popular in Poland and has been re-edited several times. It was also the basis of several computer games. Recently, several volumes were translated into other languages including Kashubian and Silesian, as well as a dialect used by highlanders from Podhale.

Main characters in the series include castellan Mirmił, hypochondriac ruler of the village of Mirmiłowo, where Kajko and Kokosz serve as warriors; Lubawa, dominating wife of Mirmił; small dragon Miluś; benevolent witch Jaga; her husband, the good bandit Łamignat (Bonebreaker), and the antagonists of the series: military knight order of Zbójcerze (Banditknights), based on the Teutonic Knights, led by Hegemon, with his second in command, Hitler-like Kapral (Corporal) and Schweik-like Oferma (Loser).

The stories are written in tongue-in-cheek manner and contain light satirical elements, usually puns concerning reality of living in Communist-ruled Poland with characters sometimes mentioning labour unions, bureaucracy, commodity shortages and similar themes.

For years fans accused the series of plagiarism, referencing its similarities to the series Asterix. The titles share a similar art style, character designs, and even employ similar jokes. While the related series Kajtek and Koko had debuted years before Asterix's first publication, the characters' incarnations as Slavic warriors Kajko and Kokosz post-dated Asterix's success. For years Christa maintained that the similarities were a coincidence. Some have described as significant the fact that the last "Kajko and Kokosz" book was published the same year as the first Polish translation of an Asterix book appeared.

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Wikipedia