Tytus, Romek and A'Tomek


    author: Henryk Jerzy Chmielewski

On 22 October 1957 in the papers of "Swiat Mlodych" Tytus appeared for the first time. Earlier the comic had remained in the archive without any chances for publication until the Soviet Union launched the first "Sputnik". The story was about two boys, Romek and A'Tomek, who were named inversely than in the books - the taller was called A'Tomek and the shorter in the glasses - Romek.

Romek & A'Tomek
First meeting of the heroes.

The rocket visited by the heros unexpectedly took off so they were forced to start a space journey. Soon it appeared that there was also an experimental monkey Tytus on board. This was the beginning of the cosmic adventures fo three friends. The comic was published in "Swiat Mlodych" every few months.

Book I
"Tytus, Romek and A'Tomek" Book I.

The first book was published in 1966 and was written to order of "Wydawnictwo Harcerskie". They wanted a story with a camp, a race, rules of the road etc. The book sold very well and in the same year the second edition appeared. Each of the next stories was devoted to different theme. Papcio Chmiel repeated continously that he wanted to teach and entertain at the same time, but very often he was restricted by the editor and censorship. This restrictions did not finish even after 1989. One day Chmielewski was visited by the delegation of Catholics who agitated him to devote one of the books to protection of conceived life. Fortunately Papcio managed to convince them that monkey should not use these lofty words because - it would sound funny. Twenty four books were published until today. In the period of thirty years the comic changed a lot. The way of drawing, colors, the format of the books underwent changes the same as behaviour of heros. Very controversial was the decision of Chmielewski to draw first three books once again. The XXIV book is about joining NATO.

Tytus. Book V.
I think Book V will not be re-edited soon.

In 1985 the "Rozmaitosci" Theatre in Warsaw staged a musical based on adventures of Tytus, Romek and A'Tomek. The role of Tytus played Jerzy Kramaczyk. Next year the same play was staged in Lodz, Zabrze and Presov in former Czechoslovakia. In 1991 the "Nowy" Theatre in Zabrze staged "Tytus, Romek i A'Tomek i rock", which did not have too much in common with the comic of Papcio Chmiel. Also the cartoon about adventures of three friends was criticized by Chmielewski. Polish rockband "The Blenders" recorded a song about Tytus, Romek and A'Tomek - "The Banana and the tree" - which promotes a film based on the comic.



The list of all parts of the series you can find on Papcio Chmiel page.



Resources:
Pawel Dunin-Wasowicz: Pierwsze przygody Tytusa - "AQQ" nr 9/95.
Monika Hajduk: Na poczatku byl ogonek - "Gilotyna" nr 1/96.
Andrzej Niewiadomski: "Fantazja" rozmawia z Papciem Chmielem - "Fantazja" nr 3/91-1/92.
Wojciech Orlinski: Malpa w NATO - "Gazeta Wyborcza" 23 Jan 1998 /DL>
Tytus, Romek i A'Tomek

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