SOON-TO-BE-RELEASED COMIC "SPOMENKO – THE STORY OF A CHILDHOOD"

The Association of Comic Authors and Enthusiasts of the Republic of Srpska, "Deveta Dimenzija," is set to publish a new comic album titled Spomenko – The Story of a Childhood, dedicated to the tragic fate of Spomenko Gostić, the youngest soldier of the Army of the Republic of Srpska.

PHOTO: Glas Srpske

The script for the comic was written by the talented Nikola Vidačković, while the artwork was created by Predrag Ikonić and Zdravko Knežević. The cover illustration is the work of Dejan Šijuk. As Predrag Ikonić explains, the idea for the comic emerged informally among members of "Deveta Dimenzija," with the goal of honoring real events from the last homeland war through the medium of comics.

"For a long time, we had the idea of creating a comic album based on real-life episodes from the last homeland war, aiming to highlight its senselessness. Zdravko and I often talked about Spomenko and planned to illustrate a short segment of his life. Then, our young scriptwriter and friend Nikola became involved, crafting a nearly 50-page story in one breath. I knew it would take a long time to complete such an album, but there was no turning back. The work on the comic lasted two years, with occasional breaks. It was a major undertaking, considering we all have regular jobs and families, and we work on comics out of passion whenever we find free time," said Ikonić.

The story follows the last year of Spomenko’s short life, covering all the known events—from his joining the army to his injuries and tragic death. However, Ikonić points out that artistic fiction has also played a role.

"As in any artistic work, there is creative freedom in this one too. We narrated the entire story through the recollections of two of Spomenko’s imagined comrades-in-arms, in whom many might recognize real individuals. For their visual representation, I borrowed the likenesses of my friends and colleagues, Mlađen and Radenko, who are also veterans of the homeland war. As a small homage to the legendary actor Gordon Kaye ('Allo 'Allo') and the fight against occupiers, I included a character of a tavern owner where part of the story unfolds. I participated in the war from start to finish and was just a few years older than Spomenko at the time. This project was drawn while reminiscing about my own experiences, fears, and hopes. We owe it to our fallen comrades, ourselves, and the history of the Serbian people to create comics like this and tell such stories. Many hesitate, avoid the topic, as it is sensitive and still fresh," emphasized Ikonić.

The comic features Ikonić’s signature artistic style, characterized by clean lines and pronounced dynamism, especially in war scenes.

The young and talented scriptwriter Nikola Vidačković penned a deeply emotional script without resorting to banality or sentimentality. He stresses that such an important and sensitive topic had to be approached from an anti-war perspective to highlight the tragedy that led to a premature death.

"First and foremost, I want to emphasize that the comic album Spomenko – The Story of a Childhood is not just another war story. On the contrary, at its core, it is an anti-war odyssey. As the title suggests, we remember a childhood first interrupted by conflict and then, to our great sorrow, by death. If anyone ever compares our work to another, I would like it to be with the Russian film Come and See. Of course, these are different media with different production possibilities, but the fundamental premise is the same—the horrors of war and its impact on children's lives. If I have managed to convey this message through my writing, then I have succeeded in my intent," said Vidačković.

According to the scriptwriter, there was no motivation behind writing and illustrating this story other than the authors’ personal desire to contribute to Spomenko’s immortal legacy and ensure that his name is never forgotten.

"The entire process of writing and illustrating this comic stemmed from a sincere desire to say a heartfelt thank you to Spomenko for his bravery and sacrifice. As I wrote in the album: 'Dear Spomenko, you deserved better, you deserved the best. I did the best I could—please forgive me.' Lastly, I want to use this opportunity to express our gratitude to all the sponsors who helped bring this project to life. Despite the fact that Peđa, Zdravko, and I never intended to seek financial compensation for our work, the printing costs were extremely high. Without the support of numerous sponsors, this project would have been difficult to realize," the scriptwriter emphasized.

Comic artist, publicist, and organizer of numerous comic workshops, Zdravko Knežević Knez, contributed to the album by masterfully inking the pages. However, he confesses that he wishes he had never had the need to work on such an album, as history often repeats itself in tragic ways.

"History repeats itself. It repeats everywhere, but especially in the bloody, horrifying absurdity of war. I see young Momčilo Gavrić clinging to the boots of a commander, saying, 'Sir, please don’t leave me. They’ve killed everyone—I’m all alone.' And then, 75 years later, I hear Spomenko saying, 'I have no one left.' As I ink these pages about the boy hero from the Ozren mountains, I hear the thunder of cannons, the whistling of shells, and see his glassy eyes staring at the sky. That blond-haired boy no longer walks his homeland, his paths now overgrown... But our memory of his heroism and sacrifice will live in our hearts forever. That is why we created this comic—it was the only way we could honor him and all the children lost to war. I believe that now he is in a better place, alongside Gavrić, Buha, Sirogojno, and all the other children taken by war’s fury..." said Knežević.

The comic was completed in December last year. According to the authors, the planned release date is March 20, the anniversary of Spomenko’s death. On this date, they will also visit his grave to pay their respects. The comic album will not be sold in bookstores or comic shops, as it does not have a set price. Instead, the authors plan to organize humanitarian promotions in various cities and municipalities of the Republic of Srpska. Visitors will be able to purchase the comic at a voluntary price, with all proceeds going to charity.

The printing of the comic was supported by the Office of the President of the Republic of Srpska, "Gross" d.o.o. Gradiška, the Municipality of Istočno Novo Sarajevo, the City of Prijedor, the Tourism Organization of Istočno Sarajevo, and several other sponsors.

The epilogue of the album was written by historian Georgije Vulić, a senior research associate at the Institute of Historical Sciences at the University of Istočno Sarajevo. The comic consists of 45 black-and-white illustrated pages, along with textual supplements, making a total of 60 pages in a hardcover edition.

Spomenko Gostić (August 15, 1978 – March 20, 1993) was the youngest decorated soldier of the Army of the Republic of Srpska. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Merit for the People. His story was also depicted in the 2016 documentary Spomenko on Eternal Guard by director Mile Savić, who also published the book Spomenko and Ozren the same year.