Andrija Maurović

Andrija Maurović, often called the father of Croatian and Yugoslav comics, was born on 29 March 1901 in Muo near Kotor, then part of the Kingdom of Dalmatia (now Montenegro). He died on 2 September 1981. After studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, he began working as an illustrator and comic creator for local publications. In 1937, he co-founded the magazine *Mickey Strip*, which serialized much of his work. His best-known creation is the *Stari Mačak* (Old Mickey or Old Tom-cat) series, a nickname that stuck with him throughout his career. Maurović developed a distinctive realistic, rough style marked by strong black-and-white contrasts and dynamic perspectives that gave his panels a fluid sense of motion. He collaborated with writers and other artists on titles such as *Oko*, *Posljednja pustolovina Starog Mačka*, *Sedma žrtva*, and *Trojica u mraku*, with his credited work spanning from 1935 into the early 1980s. Though his influence was profound in the region, his legacy rests on his pioneering role in establishing a local comic tradition. He did not receive major international awards, but his foundational status in Yugoslav comics remains undisputed.