Articles about my grandfather almost always begin with superlatives such as “the father of the Slovene comic strip”, “a giant of the seventh art”, “the Slovene Walt Disney”. Naturally, I agree with them, since I had the privilege of experiencing his creative journey at first hand. It is a similar privilege, now that he is no longer with us, to see what a powerful impression he has left among people in Slovenia. Regardless of what generation they belong to, almost everyone knows him and continues to read him. Young readers experience his works for the first time with wonder and enthusiasm. Older readers turn to them to reawaken memories of their youth and to introduce them to their own children and grandchildren.
My grandfather Miki Muster created stories that remind us how important it is to maintain a sense of joy in ourselves and believe in good. He retained his childlike enthusiasm and curiosity throughout his long life. I believe that people in Slovenia appreciate this, which is the reason why, for generations to come, we will continue to reach for his books, abandon ourselves to fantasy and lose ourselves in the worlds he spent decades creating on the page.
My family and I are following with pride all the events that this year will mark the centenary of his birth, and we are happy that another of his unforgettable characters has now been given its own space on a postage stamp. These opportunities remind us of the enormous legacy entrusted to our care and, at the same time, bring back memories of our father, grandfather and great-grandfather, who was and remains for us a model of fearlessness, creativity and goodness.
Maša Muster
