One of the most ambitious Czech comics ever written, Oskar Ed fuses a poignant family drama with fantastical scenes playing out in the mind of its young protagonist.

Comics

Bored during a car journey with his dysfunctional parents, Oskar escapes into surreal dreams and fantasies reminiscent of the films of Lynch and Cronenberg. This imaginary universe created by Oskar parallels, warps and transforms the real world, unveiling the strained relationship with his parents and forgotten family secrets. Although it is built on the framework of a small, intimate story, this comics presents a monumental narrative played out on several time levels and in several spiritual worlds culminating in a devastating finale. Branko Jelinek’s art style, incorporating fine lines and elaborate backgrounds on both multi-panel pages and disturbing full-page visions, complement his multifaceted story. Hailed by critics as one of the most important Czechoslovak comics of the past decade, Oskar Ed: My Greatest Dream vividly illustrates the manner in which a child perceives and processes family disagreements, and demonstrates how trauma and dreams may have a great deal in common.

Branko Jelinek (1978), a cartoonist, computer graphic designer, artist and scriptwriter of Slovak origin living in the Czech Republic. He graduated from the School of Applied Arts in Košice and from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design Bratislava. He is acclaimed for his award-winning cartoons from the Oskar Ed series, for which he also writes the scripts. Typical characteristics of his artistic style are hatching and sharp lines, and his graphic books are known for their psychological elaboration and distinct features of characters.