In the heart of Łódź, a city already celebrated for its cinematic and industrial heritage, another creative force is quietly revolutionising the cultural landscape. The world of comics and interactive narratives has found a vibrant home here, culminating in a festival that draws thousands and an institution dedicated to celebrating this unique art form. I sat down with Joanna Birek-Fita, the general manager of the Centre for Comics and Interactive Narrative at EC1 Łódź, to discuss the city’s journey to becoming Poland’s comic book capital.
Our conversation, held in one of EC1’s state-of-the-art cinemas, revealed a story that perfectly encapsulates Łódź’s spirit of grassroots creativity and cultural rebellion. Joanna, who originally came to the city to study film but found herself drawn into the world of comics, embodies the kind of passionate dedication that has made Łódź a magnet for creative souls. As she explains the evolution of comics from simple adventure stories to sophisticated art forms, it becomes clear that this medium represents something much larger: the power of visual storytelling to challenge perceptions and create communities around shared passions.
A Festival Born from Passion
Łódź’s reputation as a comic book hub is intrinsically linked to the International Festival of Comics and Games, an event that has been a cornerstone of the city’s cultural calendar since 1991. The festival’s origin story reads like something from a comic book itself: a group of passionate art high school students, led by Adam Radan (who remains the festival director to this day), decided to organise the first convention for comic book creators. What began as a modest gathering has evolved into the largest event of its kind in Poland and one of the most significant in Central and Eastern Europe.
“It’s quite a big event,” Joanna says with evident pride, noting that the festival attracts approximately 20,000 visitors each year. This impressive attendance figure represents not just numbers, but a community of dedicated fans, creators, and curious newcomers who descend upon Łódź each September to celebrate the art of sequential storytelling.
Unlike many modern comic conventions that have shifted their focus towards film and television tie-ins, the Łódź festival remains steadfastly dedicated to the core art of comics. “Our goal has always been to focus solely on the art of comics,” Joanna explains, though she’s quick to note that the festival also embraces the interconnected worlds of video games and tabletop games. This focus on the medium itself, rather than its commercial adaptations, has helped maintain the festival’s authenticity and artistic integrity.
The festival’s international credentials are impressive, having hosted some of the most legendary figures in comic book history. Jean “Moebius” Giraud, famously dubbed the “Pope of Comics” for his revolutionary work in the 1970s and his involvement with Alejandro Jodorowsky’s failed Dune adaptation, graced the festival with his presence. Jim Lee of DC Comics, Simon Bisley, and numerous other internationally renowned artists have made the journey to Łódź, drawn by the festival’s reputation for celebrating pure comic book artistry.
This year’s lineup continues this tradition of excellence, featuring Korean artist Kim Jung Gi and a diverse array of talent from around the globe. But the festival isn’t just about international stars; it’s equally committed to showcasing Polish talent, providing a platform for local artists, video game journalists, and creators to share their work with an enthusiastic audience.
The festival’s growth from a small student initiative to a major cultural event reflects Łódź’s broader transformation. It demonstrates how grassroots passion, when nurtured by a supportive community and forward-thinking institutions, can evolve into something with international significance. The festival has become more than just an annual event; it’s a symbol of Łódź’s commitment to supporting creative industries and alternative art forms.
A Permanent Home for Comics
The success of the festival paved the way for the creation of the Centre for Comics and Interactive Narrative, a groundbreaking institution that represents a unique approach to celebrating and promoting the art of comics. Established in 2016 and opened to the public in 2023, the centre was born from a recognition that the festival’s impact could and should extend beyond those few days in September. As Joanna explains, the centre was created to “solidify this idea that this is the capital of Polish comic books, making the festival stretch throughout the whole year and celebrating this art all the time, not just for two or three days.”
The centre’s very name tells a story of strategic thinking and cultural diplomacy. The phrase “interactive narratives” is, as Joanna admits with a smile, “a very pretty way to say video games.” This linguistic sleight of hand was crucial in securing funding from parties who might have been less enthusiastic about supporting a video game centre but were more receptive to the idea of promoting interactive storytelling. It’s a perfect example of the kind of creative problem-solving that characterises Łódź’s approach to cultural development.
What makes the centre truly special is its uniqueness within Poland’s cultural landscape. “There’s no other institution in Poland, no museum, no gallery that works with comic books 365 days a year,” Joanna emphasises. “We are the only ones to do that.” This singular status brings with it both opportunities and responsibilities. The centre serves as an educational hub, exhibition space, and promotional platform, but it also functions as a gateway for newcomers to the medium.
The centre’s approach to audience development is particularly thoughtful. Rather than preaching to the converted, it focuses on attracting visitors who might not initially consider themselves comic book fans. “What’s our strength is the novelty of it all,” Joanna explains. “Even if they don’t have that interest at this moment, they will learn when they visit us.” This philosophy of gentle introduction rather than intimidating expertise has proven effective in expanding the comic book community beyond its traditional boundaries.
The centre’s exhibitions and programming reflect this inclusive approach. Alongside traditional comic book displays, visitors can explore the evolution of the medium from newspaper strips to modern webtoons – comics designed specifically for mobile devices that are read by scrolling rather than page-turning. This embrace of technological innovation demonstrates the centre’s commitment to representing comics as a living, evolving art form rather than a nostalgic relic.
Challenging Perceptions: Comics as High Art
One of Joanna’s most passionate subjects is the persistent misconception that comics are somehow an immature or lesser art form. This prejudice, she argues, stems from both historical associations and cultural snobbery that fails to recognise the medium’s sophisticated potential. “Real literature has to be just words, you know?” she says, mimicking the attitude of those who dismiss visual storytelling as somehow inferior to purely textual narratives.
The reality, as Joanna explains, is far more complex and interesting. Comics began as popular entertainment – “funny pages” designed for working people to enjoy after their shifts. But the medium evolved dramatically through the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, when creators began to explore its potential for mature, experimental storytelling. “It’s really for a lot of people, it’s quite experimental sometimes to work within comic books,” she notes, highlighting how the medium attracts artists from other fields precisely because of its creative possibilities.
This experimental nature is what draws filmmakers like Alejandro Jodorowsky to comics. As Joanna points out, comics offer creators complete creative freedom, unrestricted by budgets or practical limitations. “The only restriction is your imagination, essentially,” she explains. This boundless creative potential makes comics a fascinating laboratory for storytelling techniques that might be impossible or prohibitively expensive in other media.
The centre’s mission extends beyond simply displaying comics; it actively works to educate visitors about the medium’s artistic sophistication. Through competitions for press comic strips, exhibitions of graphic novels, and displays of cutting-edge webtoons, the centre demonstrates the full spectrum of what comics can achieve. The goal is to help visitors understand that comics encompass everything from simple newspaper strips to complex, multi-layered narratives that rival any literary work.
The Witcher: A Cultural Phenomenon with Łódź Connections
No discussion of Polish creative industries would be complete without mentioning The Witcher, and Łódź’s connection to this global phenomenon perfectly illustrates the interconnected nature of modern storytelling media. The franchise, which began as novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, has expanded into comics, television, and video games, with each medium offering its own unique interpretation of the source material.
“There’s so many connections between video games, comic books, and Łódź as the city,” Joanna observes, pointing to the mural of The Witcher in the city centre. This artwork, created by comic book artist Piotr Kowalski (known professionally as “The Belka”), who has worked with CD Projekt Red, represents the kind of cross-pollination between media that makes Łódź such a vibrant creative hub. The artist’s dual involvement in both comics and video game development exemplifies the fluid boundaries between these creative industries.
The city’s connection to The Witcher extends beyond a single mural. There’s a Witcher Square (though as Joanna notes with some frustration, “you can’t really tell unless you read the plaque”), and the centre itself features an exhibition dedicated to the franchise. CD Projekt Red, the company behind the acclaimed Witcher video games, maintains strong ties to Łódź through the Promised Land Art Festival, an event dedicated to 2D and 3D artwork for video games and special effects, held at EC1.
Joanna believes that Łódź could do more to capitalise on its Witcher connections. “If there’s any complaints I have about our city is that I believe there should be more of The Witcher in Łódź,” she says. Given the franchise’s global popularity and its roots in Polish culture, she argues that the city is missing an opportunity to become a pilgrimage site for fans. The comparison to other cities that have successfully leveraged their connections to popular franchises – from Game of Thrones filming locations to Lewis Carroll’s birthplace – suggests that Łódź could indeed benefit from embracing its Witcher heritage more fully.
The Passionate Community: More Than Casual Interest
One of the most striking aspects of Joanna’s perspective on comics is her observation about the nature of comic book fandom itself. “You can’t just be a casual comic book reader,” she insists. “I don’t think there are people like that.” This isn’t meant as exclusion but rather as recognition of the medium’s particular power to inspire deep engagement. Unlike films, which everyone watches to some degree, comics demand a more active commitment from their audience.
This passionate engagement creates both opportunities and challenges for the centre. On one hand, comic book fans are incredibly dedicated, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic about sharing their love of the medium. On the other hand, this intensity can sometimes make the community seem intimidating to newcomers. The centre’s role becomes that of a cultural translator, helping to bridge the gap between the passionate core community and curious outsiders.
The challenge extends beyond individual preferences to broader cultural perceptions. Comics and video games both suffer from associations with immaturity, despite their evolution into sophisticated art forms capable of addressing complex themes and emotions. The centre’s educational mission involves not just introducing people to comics but also helping them understand the medium’s artistic legitimacy and cultural significance.
A City of Creativity and Rebellion
Ultimately, the story of comics in Łódź is inseparable from the story of the city itself. Joanna’s personal journey – arriving to study film but finding herself captivated by the world of comics – mirrors the experiences of many who come to Łódź and discover unexpected creative opportunities. “There’s something magical about it that it’s very difficult to describe,” she says, attempting to capture the ineffable quality that makes people want to stay and create in this city.
This “something magical” seems to be connected to Łódź’s identity as an underdog city, a place that has had to reinvent itself and fight for recognition. The city’s embrace of alternative art forms like comics reflects a broader cultural openness to experimentation and risk-taking. It’s a place where a group of high school students can start a comic book convention that grows into an internationally recognised festival, where a cultural institution can be built around celebrating a supposedly “niche” art form, and where creativity and rebellion are not just tolerated but actively encouraged.
The comparison to Manchester is particularly apt. Both cities share histories of industrial prominence followed by periods of decline and reinvention. Both have channelled their underdog status into cultural innovation, creating vibrant creative scenes that punch above their weight on the international stage. Both understand that creativity often flourishes not in centres of established power but in places where people have the freedom and necessity to experiment.
For visitors to Łódź, the Centre for Comics and Interactive Narrative represents more than just an interesting cultural attraction. It embodies the city’s commitment to supporting alternative forms of artistic expression and its belief that creativity can emerge from the most unexpected places. Whether you’re a dedicated comic book fan or someone who has never considered the artistic potential of sequential art, the centre offers an opportunity to engage with a medium that continues to evolve and surprise.
In a world where digital media increasingly dominates our attention, there’s something both nostalgic and forward-looking about comics. They represent a bridge between traditional print culture and interactive digital experiences, between individual artistic vision and collaborative storytelling. In Łódź, this bridge has found its perfect home: a city that understands the power of transformation, the importance of community, and the endless possibilities that emerge when creativity meets determination.
Further Information
For readers interested in learning more about Łódź’s comic book culture and related attractions, the following resources provide comprehensive information:
Key Institutions:
International Festival of Comics and Games – Poland’s largest comics festival, held annually in September – https://komiksfestiwal.com/en/
Centre for Comics and Interactive Narrative – Educational hub dedicated to comics and gaming – https://lodz.travel/en/tourism/what-to-see/ec1-the-city-of-culture/center-for-comics-and-interactive-narrative/
EC1 Łódź – City of Culture – Cultural complex housing the comics centre and other institutions – https://ec1lodz.pl/en/
Related Events and Companies:
Promised Land Art Festival – Digital and traditional art festival by CD Projekt Red – https://www.promisedland-artfestival.com/en
CD Projekt Red – Video game development studio behind The Witcher series – https://www.cdprojektred.com/en
Official Tourism Resources:
Lodz.Travel – Official tourism portal with comics festival information – https://lodz.travel/en/tourism/events-in-lodz/festivals/international-festival-of-comics-and-games/
Visit Lodz – Additional tourism information – https://visitlodz.com/center-for-comics-and-interactive-narrative/
Ged Brown spend 5 days exploring Łódź during the warm and bright low season month of August 2025. He clocked up 80k steps, recorded 4 deep conversations, and finally learned how to pronounce “Piotrkowska Street” on his final day in the city…
