In 2023, for the first time in history, Poles were listed amongst the 'Hugo' nominees - thanks to the Dark Horse comic book series "Cyberpunk 2077: Big City Dreams", shortlisted for the award in the "Best Graphic Story or Comic" category. Its captivating story was written by Poland's Bartosz Sztybor (CD Projekt Red writer and narrative manager, known eg. for "Witcher: Fading Memories") - with art by Filipe Andrade ("Old Man Logan", "Rocket Raccoon & Groot"), Alessio Fioriniello ("Paris Fashion Slam") and another Pole, Krzysztof Ostrowski.
Now, during the 'Hugo' awards gala in Chengdu, China - Poland's first nomination turned into Poland's first award. "It is quite a surreal feeling when you think that Lem, Sapkowski or Tokarczuk have not received this prize. And then suddenly, this most important science-fiction and fantasy award in the world goes to me and my wonderful co-creators" - Bartosz Sztybor said in an interview shortly after receiving the prize.
The awarded graphic story about a pair of young looters stealing cyberware in the futuristic Night City, is a part of the extended universe of CD Projekt Red's "Cyberpunk 2077" video game. The competitors in this category included - among others - the recent movie-related comic book adaptation of "Dune", and the latest volumes of the world renown series like "Monstressa" or "Saga".
"I have been reading about 'Hugo' winners since my early youth, and I never thought that I would join this extraordinary group" - Sztybor added. "What is even more amazing is that this year's co-nominees were some of the biggest names in American comics, whose work I learned my trade from. All of this is very ennobling - and makes you believe that it was actually worth it to create genre comics in Poland for so many years, even though it was so difficult to break through with them" - the author concluded.
Bartosz Sztybor is a Polish comic book author and a movie screenwriter, who has repeatedly won awards at the Łódź International Comic Book Festival over the years. Recently, for several years he has been making an increasingly successful career on the American and French market of graphic stories - mostly through comic books set in the universes of video games "The Witcher" and "Cyberpunk 2077", created by the Polish company CD Projekt Red.
The second Hugo-winning Pole from the awarded team is Krzysztof Ostrowski, who coloured the prized album. He is a popular graphic designer, comic book creator and animator - also known as the vocalist of the rock band Cool Kids of Death.
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Source: Instytut Książki, CD Action, Gazeta.pl