Tadeusz Baranowski, legendary Polish comic book artist and creator of Diplodok, dies at 81

A giant of Polish comics

Tadeusz Baranowski, one of the most original and influential figures in Polish comic book history, died on 7 July 2026 at the age of 81. The news was announced by the International Festival of Comics and Games in Łódź, with which the artist had been associated for years. Baranowski was a graphic artist, illustrator, and author of cult series that defined the childhoods of multiple generations.

It is hard to find words to convey this terribly sad news. Yesterday a great artist passed away, a master of comic art, a virtuoso of humor and play with form, creator of legendary characters that will stay with us forever.

Career and iconic works

Born in 1945 in Zamość, Baranowski graduated with honours from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw in 1969. He began his career as an illustrator for the comic "Ten przeklęty Barnaba" by Janusz Dąbrowski (or Jerzy Dąbrowski, according to another source) in the magazine "Świat Młodych". Soon he was creating his own stories, marked by absurdist humour, linguistic play, and a distinctive graphic style.

His most beloved characters include the dragon Diplodok, Professor Nerwosolek, Kudłaczek and Bąbelek, and the superhero parody Orient Men. His first album, "Na co dybie w wielorybie czubek nosa Eskimosa", appeared in 1980. Many of his lines entered everyday Polish speech, such as the exchange between Indian chiefs: "Ależ wodzu, co wódz!"

International recognition and later years

Baranowski's work reached beyond Poland. His comics were published in the prestigious Belgian magazine "Tintin", and he collaborated with Grzegorz Rosiński as a colourist on the Thorgal series. He also designed characters and sets for the animated feature "Filemon i przyjaciele" (1991). Two earlier animated shorts based on his work, "Przygody profesorka Nerwosolka" (1984) and "Kosmiczne przygody profesorka Nerwosolka" (1986), had already brought his creations to the screen. In 2024, the feature film "Smok Diplodok" was released, adapted from his comics.

After turning 60, Baranowski returned to painting, producing over two hundred canvases. In 2007 he was awarded the Bronze Medal "Zasłużony Kulturze Gloria Artis" for his contribution to Polish culture.

Tributes and legacy

The festival organisers recalled his devotion to readers, noting that even in recent years he would appear at the Łódź Comic Centre to see exhibitions and meet friends. "A man devoted to his fans, spending hours on autographs and conversations, has left us," they wrote. Condolences were extended to his wife, Ania Baranowska, and all his loved ones. Baranowski remains one of the most important and beloved authors in the history of Polish comics.