View source for Tytus, Romek i A'Tomek

[[File:Tytus Harcerz.jpg|thumb|right|150px|"Tytus becomes a Scout" volume I]]
[[File:Tytus na wyspach nonsensu.jpg|right|thumb|150px|"Tytus on the expedition to the Nonsense Islands" volume XIII]]
[[File:Tytus de Zoo - action of solidarity with Ukraine.jpg|thumb|Tytus de Zoo on a 2022 placard during a Polish demonstration in support of Ukraine, following the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] that year.]]

'''''Tytus, Romek i A'Tomek''''' (eng. ''Tytus, Romek, and A'Tomek'') is the longest-published and one of the most popular [[Poland|Polish]] [[comic book]], created by [[Henryk Jerzy Chmielewski]] (aka ''Papcio Chmiel'') in 1957 and concluded in 2009. It centers on Romek and A'Tomek, two [[Boy Scout]]s, and Tytus de Zoo, a [[Common chimpanzee|chimpanzee]] with the ability of human speech. 

It's considered one of the classic Polish [[children's comics]] and one of the most popular Polish comic books.

== History ==
The strip debuted in Polish magazine ''[[Świat Młodych]]'' in 1957, and the first book was published in 1966.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Laudański |first=Roman |date=2022-02-04 |title="Tytus Romek i a'Tomek" pod profesorską lupą, czyli komiksowi bohaterowie w uniwersyteckim świecie |url=https://pomorska.pl/tytus-romek-i-atomek-pod-profesorska-lupa-czyli-komiksowi-bohaterowie-w-uniwersyteckim-swiecie/ar/c13-16031339 |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=Gazeta Pomorska |language=pl-PL}}</ref> In 2006 the series was described as the longest-running Polish comic book series.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Żabski |first=Tadeusz |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7KBkAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Tytus,+Romek+i+A'Tomek%22+komiks+polski |title=Słownik literatury popularnej |date=2006 |publisher=Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego |isbn=978-83-229-2767-0 |pages=265 |language=pl}}</ref>

Henryk Jerzy Chmielewski announced in May 2009 that the main ''Tytus, Romek i A'Tomek'' series will no longer be published, but special thematic albums, with new adventures, were still published periodically until the author's death in 2021.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-22 |title=Nie żyje Henryk Jerzy Chmielewski, słynny Papcio Chmiel |url=https://kultura.gazetaprawna.pl/ksiazki/artykuly/8074863,nie-zyje-henryk-jerzy-chmielewski-slynny-papcio-chmiel.html |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=kultura.gazetaprawna.pl |language=pl}}</ref> By 2017 the series consisted of 31 volumes, and six special albumes, as well as a number of episodic short strip and media tie-ins, some of which were collected into dedicated albums.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Grzegorzewski |first=Krzysztof |date=2017 |title=Obraz wartości PR L w komiksie Henryka Jerzego Chmielewskiego Tytus, Romek i A'Tomek (analiza ksiąg z lat 1966–1987) |url=https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=671472 |journal=Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia Litteraria Polonica |language=Polish |volume=41 |issue=3 |pages=159–180 |doi=10.18778/1505-9057.41.11 |s2cid=149482197 |issn=1505-9057|doi-access=free |hdl=11089/25248 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

== Contents ==
The story centers on Romek and A'Tomek, two [[Boy Scout]]s, and Tytus de Zoo, a [[Common chimpanzee|chimpanzee]] with the ability of human speech. The trio is aided by two adults, Professor T. Alent - a friendly [[mad scientist]], and personification of Chmielewski himself, comic book author Papcio Chmiel. The boys participate in various adventures, some embedded in the realities of Poland at that time, others completely unrealistic. As scouts, they go to camps, take part in joint ventures organized by the [[Polish Scouting Association]], and even participate in military exercises; at other times they travel through mysterious, existing or non-existent lands, sometimes funny and ridiculous to the point of absurdity; often they travel in time and witnesses important events.<ref name=":2" /> 

Many adventures in ''Tytus, Romek i A'Tomek'' have speculative or [[science fiction]] elements, some are outright parodies of the established genre. The subjects and background themes in all of the books reflect the culture and atmosphere of the time they were drawn and printed. For instance, the early books are dominated by [[Scouting]]-related themes and community service, while the 1990s-era books subtly point out the social, economic and cultural changes that occurred in Poland at that time.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> The dialogues often feature a unique mix of youth slang, slang from the pre-World War II Poland, words from other European languages as well as Chmielewski's humorous [[neologism]]s which contain political themes and satire.

The books are educational, but won its intended young audience because they are also full of adventure, humor, mystery and even subversive anarchism. This, together with the main character, a monkey that tries to become human, made them popular among kids and teenagers. The popularity of the series was also helped by the artistic design - they were very colorful, and more vibrant than the black and white TV or most of the other media Polish children were exposed in the early second half of the 20th century.<ref name=":0" /> Over the years, the series became less rigid, as Chmielewski was able to go beyond a number of constrains imposed on him by the publisher.<ref name=":2" />

The books have been described as having lasting popularity larger than many other Polish comics, and one of the reasons for that is that while Chmielewski had to follow some dictates of [[propaganda]] and censorship, and include some, mostly educational, themes, he was able to do it in a way that was subtle and not overbearing. In fact, some of the humor in the series can be interpreted as a veiled critique of the community authorities. Nonetheless some elements of propaganda, such as critique of capitalism and the [[United States]], can be found in early books.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Szwajkowska |first=Anita |date=2017 |title=Tytus, Romek i A'Tomek z perspektywy komunikatywizmu |url=https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=671482 |journal=Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia Litteraria Polonica |language=Polish |volume=41 |issue=3 |pages=181–197 |doi=10.18778/1505-9057.41.12 |s2cid=186939194 |issn=1505-9057|doi-access=free |hdl=11089/25249 |hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

== Reception ==
It's considered one of the classic Polish [[children's comics]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 20 Best Polish Comics for Kids |url=https://culture.pl/en/article/the-20-best-polish-comics-for-kids |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=Culture.pl |language=en}}</ref> and one of the most popular Polish comic book series.<ref name=":2" /> It has been described as one of the most important achievements of Polish comics already in 1979.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fPfZAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Tytus,+Romek+i+A'Tomek%22+komiks+polski |title=Literatura ludowa |date=1979 |publisher=Polskie Towarzystwo Ludoznawcze. |language=pl}}</ref>{{Rp|page=142}}

==Characters==
[[File:Plakieta HJ Chmielewski Łódź Nawrot 8 2010.jpg|thumb|A plaque on the house in [[Łódź]] that Chmielewski lived in, showing his cartoon face (Papcio Chmiel) surrounded by Tytus (in the center), Romek (left) and A'Tomek (right).]]
Main:
* '''Tytus de Zoo''' – a [[Common chimpanzee|chimpanzee]] and the main character of the series. Tytus speaks and thinks like a human being and even attends public school together with his {{not a typo|two human}} friends. However, his animal heritage clearly shines through – he is presented as wanting to attain humanity, but usually falls short during the hilarious adventures.<ref name=":0" /> In the first story drawn by Chmielewski for the ''[[Świat Młodych]]'' magazine, Romek and A’Tomek find Tytus in a rocket (which at the time was part of the [[communist]] anti-American propaganda) as Tytus tells them he was abused by the foreign scientist. In the book version, however, Tytus came to life from a blot of ink the creator Papcio Chmiel accidentally spilled on the floor (this unusual origin fits the slightly surrealistic nature of the books).{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}} Tytus, however, many times mentioned (as well as visited) his "homeland" '''Trapezfik<ref name=":2" />''' (which is a reference to Tytus' love for physical activity and Polish wordplay of "[[trapeze]]" and "tumble").
* '''Romek''' – a tall, blond and slim Boy Scout.<ref name=":2" /> He often teases Tytus with ever-more creative and insulting comments and is pessimistic about Tytus' attempts to gain knowledge and attain humanity.
*'''A'Tomek''' – the leader of the trio. A short, overweight boy in glasses. He is very intelligent, mature and often the most honorable and well-mannered one. A'Tomek is the leader of the group and the source of most ideas on how to approach the process of "humanizing" Tytus.<ref name=":2" /> His name is Polish [[wordplay]], suggesting atomic energy and in fact is nicknamed "A'tom" for short by others (there is a Polish name Tomek, a diminutive form of Tomasz (Thomas)).
* '''Professor T. Alent''' – a helpful if mad scientist and one of few recurring characters in the series beside the main trio.<ref name=":2" /> He designs and builds various machines, often flying ones that help the boys during their adventures. Also, he has many lab mice, which are often seen playing in his hair. His name is a wordplay, suggesting talent.
*'''[[Henryk Jerzy Chmielewski|Papcio Chmiel]]''' – the creator of the series often appeared in the books portraying himself as a fatherly figure to the boys and Tytus and is often shown to have God-like powers (he has been shown making paintings come to life or appearing out of nowhere in the middle of the story and intervening in the adventures).<ref name=":2" /> The name "Papcio Chmiel" literally means "Papa [[Hops]]", however in this case "Chmiel" is an abbreviation of his last name.<ref name=":2" />
Supporting:

* '''Szympansia''' – Tytus' wife (a chimpanzee as well) brought to life from a painting by Papcio Chmiel. She appeared only in four stories.

==Books==

There are 31 published albums called "books" and 8 collective books entitled: "The Gold Book of Adventures", as well as "Book Zero" and "Book of the 80s" containing reprints from "Youth's World" and other newspapers, The TVP (Television Poland) Book, and a collector's release "Tytus, Romek, and A'Tomek as Warsaw insurgents of 1944, drawn from the imagination of Papcio Chmiel".

*'''Book I''' (1966) - Tytus Becoming a Scout (birth and humanization of Tytus by joining the Scouts)<ref name=":2" />
*'''Book II''' (1967) - Tytus Gets His Driving License (the chief characters get a Rosalie (the figment of Papcio Chmiel) driving license, learning the traffic rules. The book also features the first fantastic vehicle, something that would become a trademark of the series, with each book featuring a different vehicle. For Book II, this is Rosalie the mechanic horse)<ref name=":2" />
*'''Book III''' (1968) - Tytus Becoming an Astronaut (the chief characters hijack a rocket (a space shuttle) and travel to the outer space, getting to know alien forms of life; vehicles - two rockets and a cosmic animal - Karbulot)<ref name=":2" />
*'''Book IV''' (1969) - Tytus Becoming a Soldier (the chief characters play army, as a reward for the pictures of the military they hold true military exercises; vehicles - a Rocketcar (conjunctive spelling deliberate, as in Polish version), a tank). Arguably this is the most propaganda-like book, glorifying the [[Polish People's Army]].<ref name=":2" />
*'''Book V''' (1970) - A Trip to a Quarter Circle of the World (the chief characters take a trip around a quarter circle of the world getting to know such places as Sweden, England, the Arctic, Cuba, Africa, [[Artek (camp)|Artek]] (USSR); vehicle - Bathtuboplane). The book also suffers from rather heavy propaganda, with United States depicted as dangerous (bank robbery) and [[Racism in the United States|racist]], unlike the friendly and peaceful communist Cuba.<ref name=":2" />
*'''Book VI''' (1971) - Tytus Becoming an Olympian (Romek and A'Tomek decide to put Tytus up to Olympiad, for this reason they train him in various sport disciplines; vehicles - Hornoplane)<ref name=":2" />
*'''Book VII''' (1972) - Tytus Improves on His D from Polish Geography (the end of the school year and Tytus is about to have to retake Polish Geography, so Romek and A'Tomek show him our country; vehicle - jetpack)<ref name=":2" />
*'''Book VIII''' (1973) - Tytus Becoming an Astronomer (Operation [[Frombork]], the chief characters help to clean one of the Copernicus cities, a magic apparatus takes them back to the past so they can meet the great astronomer in person)<ref name=":2" />
*'''Book IX''' (1974) - Tytus on the Wild West (Tytus jumps into a film about the wild west and becomes a cowboy, Romek and A'Tomek go to his rescue)<ref name=":2" />
*'''Book X''' (1975) - Nature Conservation (the chief characters try out a new vehicle which lands on a desert island because of a breakdown. Lack of petrol forces boys to advance through all the ages of humankind's development and to produce it, it pollutes the island's environment; vehicles - Milloplane, and in 1991 version also Grinderoplane)<ref name=":2" />
*'''Book XI''' (1977) - Monuments Conservation (stopping the ruins of a historic castle from being demolished, the chief characters meet a friendly ghost who takes them back to the times of old Poland, so they can steal the construction plans for this castle, taking part in an assault of Slygoldies on Jedzosław ( Pol.- Jedz- Eng.-eat; -sław - suffix in very many Polish old-fashioned names) vehicle - Ironoplane)<ref name=":2" />
*'''Book XII''' (1977) - Operation Bieszczady 40 (the chief characters set off on a trip to the [[Bieszczady Mountains]] in the course of Scouting campaign to build a camp site; vehicle - Hummingtopoplane)<ref name=":2" />
*'''Book XIII''' (1979) - Tytus on the Expedition to the Nonsense Islands (prof. T. Alent induces the boys to investigate the unknown Nonsense Islands inhabited by strange commonalty; vehicles - Slidoplane 1 and Slidoplane 2)<ref name=":2" />
*'''Book XIV''' (1980) - New Teaching Methods (Romek and A'Tomek establish a school for Tytus and try to teach him the ordinary subjects, a professor's T. Alent teaching machine comes with help; vehicles - Whistleplane)<ref name=":2" />
*'''Book XV''' (1982) - Tytus becoming a Geologist (Again, prof. T. Alent has the boys accomplish a mission - doing a research in the Earth's interior; vehicle - Screwer)<ref name=":2" />
*'''Book XVI''' (1981) - Tytus Becoming a Journalist<ref name=":2" />
*'''Book XVII''' (1985) - Music Education of Tytus<ref name=":2" />
*'''Book XVIII''' (1987) - Plastic Education of Tytus<ref name=":2" />
*'''Book XIX''' (1992) - Tytus Becoming an Actor
*'''Book XX''' (1992) - Second Expedition to the Nonsense Islands
*'''Book XXI''' (1994) - Tytus Among the Ants
*'''Book XXII''' (1996) - Tytus Becoming a Gangster
*'''Book XXIII''' (1997) - Tytus and Freakdrugs
*'''Book XXIV''' (1998) - Tytus in NATO
*'''Book XXV''' (2000) - Tytus Gets Married
*'''Book XXVI''' (2001) - The Honeymoon of Tytus
*'''Book XXVII''' (2002) - Tytus Becoming a Graffiti Artist
*'''Book XXVIII''' (2003) - Tytus Becoming an Internet User
*'''Book XXIX''' (2004) - Tytus Becoming a Gingerbread Baker
*'''Book XXX''' (2006) - A Quest For The Gigglefruit
*'''Book XXXI''' (2008) - Tytus Becoming a Football Fan

== In other media ==
* In 1985, a theatre play based on the series was made, and several other plays were made since.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Tytus, Romek i A'Tomek |url=https://www.astrouw.edu.pl/~soszynsk/tytus.html |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=www.astrouw.edu.pl}}</ref>
* In 1989 and 1990 two episodes of an animated series were made for Polish public broadcaster [[Telewizja Polska|TVP]].
* A Polish band "Blenders" made a music video about Tytus, Romek and A’Tomek and used the original animated footage of the characters in it.<ref name=":1" />
* In 2002 an animated movie premiered entitled {{ill|Tytus, Romek i A'Tomek wśród złodziei marzeń|pl|Tytus, Romek i A'Tomek wśród złodziei marzeń}} (''Tytus, Romek and A’Tomek Among the Thieves of Dreams'').<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kokoszka |first=Anna |date=2013-06-24 |title=Produkcja polskich filmów animowanych, na przykładzie ekranizacji komiksów "Jeż Jerzy i "Tytus, Romek i A'Tomek" |url=https://ruj.uj.edu.pl/xmlui/handle/item/187588}}</ref> The film featured [[Marek Kondrat]] as the voice of Tytus and was directed by [[Leszek Gałysz]]. The movie wasn't based on any of the comic books and it had an original plot. Critical response was generally negative. Many fans criticized the movie for lacking the humour and the spirit of the original material, as well [[dumbing down]] the characters for the younger children and focusing too much on the main villain Prince Saligia (who wasn't character from the original stories) pushing Romek and A'tomek to the roles of secondary characters. [[Colonel Sanders]] makes a cameo in this movie as [[KFC]] was one of main sponsors of the production.
* A ''Tytus Romek i A’tomek'' computer game was made in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tytus, Romek i A'Tomek, Monkey's Adventures PC {{!}} GRYOnline.pl |url=https://www.gry-online.pl/gry/monkeys-adventures/zdf1f |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=GRY-Online.pl |language=pl}}</ref>
*An audio book base on the book "Wyspy nonsensu" was published in 2010.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{commonscat|Tytus de Zoo}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tytus, Romek I A'tomek}}
[[Category:Polish comics titles]]
[[Category:1957 comics debuts]]
[[Category:2009 comics endings]]
[[Category:Comics about anthropomorphic  monkeys]]
[[Category:Comics about anthropomorphic apes]]
[[Category:Fictional chimpanzees]]
[[Category:Scouting in popular culture]]
[[Category:Satirical comics]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1957]]
[[Category:Comics adapted into animated films]]
[[Category:Male characters in comics]]
[[Category:Comics adapted into video games]]
[[Category:Comics set in Poland]]
[[Category:Comics about talking animals]]