Prague, Czech Republic – Branko Jelinek’s graphic novel, Oskar Ed – Můj nejlepší přítel (Oskar Ed – My Best Friend), dominated the 2025 Muriel Awards, securing four accolades including Best Comic Book, Best Drawing, Best Script, and the Czech Academy of Comics Award, presented jointly to author and publisher Lipnik. The awards were announced Thursday evening at a ceremony held at Prague’s Atlas cinema, hosted by Tomáš Chlud.
Jelinek’s winning work, a 300-page graphic novel, continues his exploration of the titular character, Oskar Ed, following previous installments. The narrative follows Ed on a seemingly aimless journey, residing in a peculiar hotel and wandering through subterranean spaces, perpetually threatened by an amorphous entity interpreted as a metaphor for anxiety, fear, or hopelessness. Critics have noted the comic’s deep dive into the protagonist’s subconscious.
“It’s a monumental work, incredibly detailed in both drawing and script, offering a truly exceptional reading experience,” said Pavel Kořínek, Chairman of the Czech Academy of Comics, according to Vltava radio.
Jelinek, who balances his artistic pursuits with a separate profession, expressed gratitude for the recognition, acknowledging his wife’s long-standing patience with the project. “She’s been patient with Oskar Ed for many years,” he remarked, adding that he dedicates his free time to the comic, drawing even as his family sleeps. He described a blurring of lines between himself and his creation, stating, “I think we’re merging. The differences between us have probably faded over the years.”
The Muriel Awards too recognized Tereza Verecká and Mikuláš Podprocký for Best Short Comic, their work adapting the testimony of Jaromíra Kočnarová for Paměť národa (Memory of the Nation). The comic recounts the experiences of an eight-year-old girl whose family, members of the resistance in the Beskydy mountains, sheltered a Soviet partisan during the war. Podprocký described the project as “quite complex, even though it was a short comic.”
Kateřina Šardická, Dan Krátký, and Tomáš Kopecký received the award for Best Comic for Children for their first installment of Stella a strážci závoje (Stella and the Guardians of the Veil). The jury praised the comic’s originality, suspenseful plot, and lyrical artwork. Šardická acknowledged the collaborative effort involved, stating, “It was a lot of work, but it was a lot of fun creating the comic.”
The award for Best Translated Comic went to Centrala for Nirvána je tady (Nirvana is Here) by German author Mikael Ross, translated by Michaela Škultéty. The thriller, which draws on manga and film noir aesthetics, follows two Vietnamese immigrants who uncover a severed finger and grow entangled in a mystery. Martin Svoboda was honored for his translation of Daniel Clowes’s Monika, published by Trystero.
Maxmilián Hrstka received the Magnesia Award for Best Student Comic for Ulrich, a dark story blending magic, urban fantasy, and romance. The award recognizes students of the Faculty of Design and Art of Ladislav Sutnar at the West Bohemian University in Pilsen. Hrtstka thanked his instructors for their guidance.
Roman Šantora and the Jaroslav Foglar Scout Foundation were recognized for their contribution to Czech comics through the revival of the magazine Rychlé šípy (Quick Arrows) and the associated series. Lubomír Hlavsa, a veteran comic artist, was inducted into the Hall of Fame.