Funky Koval

Funky Koval is a Polish science fiction/detective story/political fiction genre comic book series published in Poland from the 1980s, collected in four volumes.

Both the writers and the artist were familiar with and inspired by a number of Western works, from French Métal hurlant to American Star Wars, and intended to bring this style of science fiction aesthetic to the Polish readers.

The initial title for the project (and main character) was Punky Rock, but it was renamed to Funky Koval following Polch's suggestion; the new name retained the music motif but also added a Polish element.

[1] In 2002 Polch discussed tentative plans to create a prequel (part 0 - Szalony pilot, Crazy pilot), as well as sequels (part 4 - Aż na koniec świata, To the end of the world, and 5 - Dom wariatów, Madhouse); while Maciej Parowski suggested another working title for a sequel, Bez litości (No Mercy).

Many gadgets have logos of known companies (such as Sharp and Sony), and their characteristics shapes - of videophones, guns, spaceships or flying cars - are also one of the trademarks of that comic book.

[1][2] Polch also based faces of many of the series characters on those of his co-workers (while the writers adapted their names, and included themselves there as well, as Jack Roddey and Matt Parey).

[1][2] Adam Rusek [pl] called Funky Koval "one of the most famous heroes in the history of [Polish comic books]".

[1] Michał Cetnarowski [pl], discussing the series in Nowa Fantastyka in 2007, noted that the second album is considered the best, as the first was too episodic, and the third, overly complex.

He also observed it was a milestone in the development of Polish comics, a homegrown work in the "Western" style (also set in the West), focusing on action and adventure, but also with complex world building in the background.

[1] In 2010, Tomasz Kołodziejczak, also discussing the series in Nowa Fantastyka, called it "a great comic", nothing that the story holds well even after twenty years, and it certainly would benefit from being continued.

[13][19][20] In 2011 it was announced that the movie is to be produced by Josi W. Konski and Roland von Ciel with a $37 million budget, with the planned release as early as 2012.