Comics to teach about concentration camps

The daily Polska praises a project launched by the management of the museum at the former concentration camp Stutthof near Gdańsk which uses comics to teach children about the suffering of the camp's inmates: "Everyone can recall the Polish comic classics like 'Tytus, Romek, Atomek' and 'Thorgal'. However the new forms emerging from the world of comics are less well known to most Poles. This is why many of us are rather sceptical about comics that have historical themes. We doubt that cartoonists will be able to adequately explain such important matters as the death of Father Popiełuszki [killed by the communist secret services in 1984] or the drama of the Warsaw Uprising. These doubts are unjustified. ... Comics are drawn by true artists who are able to use their pencils and colours to convey many things and combine humour with suffering, without crossing the boundaries of good taste ... Therefore we need not fear them or criticise the museum. Comics are simply one means of communication among many, but one that is much more interesting and appealing to children than a book."

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