Marzi: Childhood in a Comic at the Heart of History

Telling one’s childhood story is an intimate and powerful exercise. Doing so through a comic book is even more daring. Yet, this is exactly what Marzena Sowa accomplished with Marzi, an autobiographical comic that immerses us in 1980s Poland through the eyes of a child. This childhood narrative, told with sincerity and skill, takes us through both an ordinary and historical daily life, following Marzi’s memories and the upheavals of a country in transition.

Marzena Sowa - https://www.instagram.com/marzenasowa_/

A Childhood Like Any Other… Or Almost

At first glance, Marzi’s story could be that of any child. A family living in a standardized apartment, playing with friends in the stairwell, weekends spent in the community garden, school, and catechism… But soon, we realize her daily life is shaped by the realities of a communist regime. Shortages, endless lines at empty stores, omnipresent official slogans. Even the simplest events have a social dimension: the sudden arrival of Russian refrigerators, leading to an entire neighborhood buying them overnight, or the mandatory May Day parade, monitored by the authorities.

Through Marzi’s memories, we experience a reality that we, as readers, perceive as a page of history, while for her, it was simply life. Solidarnosc, Pope John Paul II, the growing tensions between the people and the government—historical events unfold in the background of her childhood. Marzena Sowa masterfully conveys both the innocence of youth and the weight of a collapsing system.

An Autobiography in Comic Form: A Bold Choice

Telling a personal story through a comic is a demanding task. It requires structuring the narrative like a book while incorporating strong visual storytelling. The illustrations don’t just accompany the facts; they bring them to life, setting the tone and atmosphere. The duo of Marzena Sowa as writer and Sylvain Savoia as illustrator works perfectly: a simple yet expressive style, clear page compositions, and fluid storytelling. A particularly effective technique was including a photograph of the author alongside her drawn childhood memories, grounding the story in reality and helping readers relate.

This choice fascinates me because it raises an essential question for any biographical project: how does one share personal experiences without losing their intimacy? Writing about oneself is an act of exposure. It takes immense confidence in one’s story—and in oneself—to present it to the world. The sincerity of Marzi is a true lesson in sharing.

To Share or to Keep Silent?

I don’t know if it’s easier to tell one’s life story as an artist, but Marzi proves that a personal narrative can reach a much wider audience than one might expect. This autobiographical comic shows that history is not only found in textbooks but also in childhood memories, in the details of everyday life, and in the stories we choose— or choose not—to tell.

And you, would you be ready to share your childhood story?

📖 Where to read Marzi?

French version
English version
German version