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You probably don't know this bearded bandit fella, do you? Well, this is Loupežník Rumcajs, and he's a legend here in Czechia. Václav Čtvrtek created this character and Radek Pilař drew him with his iconic artstyle. This guy's just cool. He's guardian of the forest, he has a bee swarm in his beard, a pistol loaded with acorns, he possess great strength but he's also shrewd and often outsmarts his foes rather than fight them.
I personally hold Václav Čtvrtek as a genius. He created many series for children that are absolute classics nowadays, he was heavily inspired by folklore and fairy tales, some uncle or someone of his used to tell him some hero-journey stories. I doubt anyone not Czech know any of his works, here, they're basically culture. Loupežník Rumcajs is definitely his most famous one, and I think the best as well.
Rumcajs works as a shoemaker in town of Jičín, but the mayor banishes him and closes his shop. Rumcajs leaves Jičín to forest of Řáholec, and becomes a bandit. There he has many adventures, helping the forest creatures and townsfolk of Jičín, fighting against mayor and Jičín nobility, he even faces the emperor (Čtvrtek went really wild on this one
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). Oh yes, and he drowns a dragon. He marries maid named Manka, and have a son Cipísek, who live with him in a cave.
I have a very notable quote that I would like to share with you. At one point, Rumcajs and Manka get a chance to return into Rumcajs's shoemaker shop, and they do so. The prince of Jičín, however, uses this opportunity and sends elite woodcutters from Italy to destroy forest of Řáholec, in order to get revenge. Rumcajs learns about it, stops making shoes, loads his pistol, puts on his iconic red hat, and goes to the rescue! With help of wild beasts, he drives out the woodcutters. After the battle, he says this:
"It seems there is still not enough justice in this world. And so, the one who wanted to live as shoemaker, has to become a bandit once again."That's... That's really deep. Genial...
I was quite sad when I read that Rumcajs has not english translation. I think he deserves more attention... Also all these books and animated series for children reminded me of Noggin the Nog... Heh, I think I have pick for the next tribute!