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''Mirko and Slavko'' (Serbian: ''Mirko i Slavko'') was a Yugoslav comic book series about two Partisan couriers, started in 1958 and ended in 1974. The creator and the main author of the series was artist Desimir Žižović "Buin". During the 1960s, ''Mirko and Slavko'' was the most popular comic in Yugoslavia, becoming the only Yugoslav comic to be adapted into a live action film during the existence of the country. ==Background and history== The creator of ''Mirko and Slavko'', Desimir Žićović "Buin", was born in the village of Gornji Branetići.〔 He spent most of the World War II as a member of the Chetniks movement. There were different testimonies about him joining the Chetniks: by some, he was recruited without his will, by others, he joined the Chetniks voluntarily.〔 It is certain that he spent some time near the headquarter of Dragiša Vasić.〔 At the very end of the war, Žižović joined the Yugoslav Partisans.〔 After the war, he returned to his native village, where he painted and sculpted.〔 He was spotted by Dečje novine editor-in-chiefs Srećko Jovanović as a self-taught, but talented artist, and got an opportunity to create illustrations for various publications for children.〔 In the late 1950s, the publisher Dečje novine published an edition of historical comics entitled ''Nikad robom'' (''Never a Slave''). The edition featured heroic stories from the history of South Slavic people:〔("Strip u Srbiji 1955-1972: Mirko, Slavko i Kekec", vreme.rs )〕 stories from Croatian–Slovene peasant revolt, First and Second Serbian Uprising, World War I etc.〔 In the late 1950s, Dečje novine decided to introduce a comic about Yugoslav Partisans. In 1958, Žižović created the first episode of ''Mirko and Slavko'' for the edition.〔 The story initially featured only Mirko (who was, reputedly, modeled after Žižović's son), while Slavko was added to the story later.〔 Žižović chose the names Mirko and Slavko because they were common in all parts of Yugoslavia.〔("Desimir Žižović Buin, autor najčiatanijeg YU stripa 'Mirko i Slavko' (1986)", yugopapir.com )〕 ''Mirko and Slavko'' episodes (as well as the other comics from ''Nikad robom'') were published as 32-page comics, with 16 pages printed in color, in the format of 14,5x20,5 cm.〔 Prior to ''Mirko and Slavko'', the comics from ''Nikad robom'' edition were sold in 35,000 to 50,000 copies.〔 However, stories of Mirko and Slavko was excellently received, and gradually upstaged all the other comics from ''Nikad robom'' edition.〔〔 The editors of Dečje novine decided to risk and print ''Mirko and Slavko'' in 120,000 copies, but soon found out that the demand for ''Mirko and Slavko'' is even larger.〔 At its peak of popularity, an episode of the comic was sold in more than 200,000 copies.〔〔〔("'Dečje novine' – simbol jednog vremena: Bilo jednom u Gornjem Milanovcu", mediaportal.rs )〕 Gradually, other artists started working with Žižović on the comic: they would usually draw minor characters and background, and Žižović would later add main characters.〔 Artists which worked with Žižović on ''Mirko and Slavko'' include Živorad Atanacković, Ratomir Petrović, Branko Plavšić, Milan Vranešević, Mile Rančić, Leo Korelc, Brana Nikolić, Nikola Mitrović "Kokan", Slaviša Ćirović, Stevica Živanov and others.〔 The stories were initially written by Žižović himself, and later by various writers; the most successful ones were written by journalist Žarko Vukosavljević.〔 Serbian cartoonist Aleksandar Zograf and comic book artist and historian Zdravko Zupan pointed out that ''Mirko and Slavko'' was not created with the purpose of political indoctrination of the youth, and that it was primarily an action comic.〔 During the 1958 - 1974 period, 72 ''Mirko and Slavko'' episodes were published. At the beginning of the 1970s, the comic lost in popularity,〔 and younger artists and critics pronounced ''Mirko and Slavko'' outdated.〔 In 1974, Dečje novine finally put out the comic.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Mirko and Slavko」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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