Just got back into town from my time at Montevideo Comics, a two day celebration of the comic arts in Montevideo, Uruguay. In addition to my time at the convention, I also lectured on storytelling and did Q&A at several classes on comics and animation.
I want to extend my thanks to the organizers who brought me out there, the American Embassy that oversaw my travel arrangements, and most of all the terrific fans who made me feel more than welcome in their country. I suppose I should even thank the pickpocket who tried to boost my wallet right out of my jacket while I was at a flea market Sunday, because my description of the incident–including how I nearly broke the guy’s elbow and he sprinted away empty-handed with nothing but a sore arm for his trouble–was a crowd-pleaser when I told it to the fans.
And I have to say, I was blown away by the variety and quality of the South American comic art. Marvel and DC need to take advantage of the superb talents on that side of the world. They should be sending editors down there to do portfolio reviews. Seriously. Because a lot of these folks deserve to have their talents on wider display.
PAD
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That sounds like a great trip, PAD. Did you have a translator for most of it or did a lot of people speak English?
Funny thing… while most of the people Peter came in contact with during his stay were comic fans (usually middle-class and upwards), most of them spoke enough English to at least make themselves understoond. He did have translators for the panels and classes… but in the Animation Campus class, when someone apologized for their broken English, he said “Stop apologizing for your English! You people speak better English than many US citizens!” It was a funny moment.
Argentina and, to a lesser extent, Uruguay, have been exporting superb talent for decades. Trillo&Altuna, Solano Lopez, Breccia and of course Juan Gimenez.
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I dont know if it ever got translated to english, but “El Eternauta” by Oesterheld and Solano Lopez is easily among the top 10 of most spanish-speaking comic aficionados. Quino’s Mafalda is a comic strip whose name was given to streets in cities around the world.
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Alvar Mayor, Mort Cinder, Perramus… honestly, the conytibution of that part of the world to comiccraft is amazing, given their relatively small influence in other areas.
I can’t find a translation for “Eternauta.” Is that like “Eternity-naut” or a name or something?
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By the way, do you know of any decent Spanish webcomics? I’ve found a few, but I could always stand some more.
Yes, basically like Cosmo/Astro/Tako-naut… the story involves time travel, hence the name. I’ve just checked and there is an english wiki page about the Eternauta that sure can be more useful than me.
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I myself dont follow that many spanish webcomics but there are many. I reccomend Aitor Eraña’s “Freaks” and “Area 66”. He doesnt update that often anymore (he got himself a gig with a weekly magazine) but his archives are very good. Moran’s “Eh tio!” is quite good if not visually appealing. Sarnago’s “Chica de serie B” and “Pollo Letal” are great (his other strips are also cool if somewhat pornographic).
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Ive recently stumbled upon Producciones Balazo, a mexican webcomis site and the level is really good. I am still halfway checking the links but most of what Ive seen is pretty A+.
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You can also check WEE (Webcomics En Español), a webcomic community that do ring promoting of spanish webcomic authors and print a yearly promotion digest.
Yes, it is the same as Astro/Cosmo/Tako-naut… the story involves time traveling hence the eternidad/eternity root.
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I dont follow many spanish webcomics but there are a lot. Id recomend Aitor Eraña’s “Freaks” and “Area 66”. Doesnt update as often anymore (he got himself a gig at a weekly magazine) but the archives are very good. Moran’s “¡Eh, tio!” is not visually great but it’s great at storytelling. Sarnago’s “Chica de serie B” and “Pollo Letal” are good, if a bit adult-oriented.
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Recently Ive stumbled upon “Producciones Balazo”, a mexican wencomic site… I am halfway through it’s links but so far it A+.
There is also the WEE community. Kind of a webring for spanish webcomics, with a lot of events and cross references to encourage readers who read one of them to try the others. They print a yearly themed digest and last year they celebrated their first Spanish Webcomic convention.
(sorry if this is a double post, I posted it and can’t see it now, so I’ll have to assume the Cyberspace Monster ate my first version of this post)
Jason, me again… sorry. 🙂 Not webcomics per se, but there are a few Uruguayan creators who have downloads of their stories in their websites. One is Nico Peruzzo (Ninfa Comics), who gave Peter a copy of his co-production with Dragon Comics, “Freedom Knights En Ciudad Frutuoxia”. His website is http: // ninfacomics. blogspot. com
Another place is G.A.S. Comics; a group I’m part of (shameless plug!), at http: // gascomics. blogspot. com
Everything is in Spanish, although my own comics at GAS (and in the future, all of them, if possible) will be available in English too. I’m currently working on translating one of my own stories, “Solo”.
You can also check Comics Del Uruguay, http: // comicsuruguay. blogspot. com/, a blog full of news (in Spanish) about comics in our country.
Hmm… perhaps the links are blocking my posts… I’ll edit them… remove spaces where necessary.
I will check them out too, for sure. Its a shame spanish-speaking countries not allways properly share the great talent they have. The big names allways get notice, but young artists could use the push of an enlarged transnational market. Webcomic-wise, its happening (WEE focus on language, not nationality, and I distinctively recall some argentinians in there), but not as much as it should.
I know some big name is from Brasil. I think it’s Gabriel Ba, but I’m not sure.
And I read once that Fabian Nicieza was from Argentina, but I think he moved to the US when he was a kid, so I guess he doesn’t count.
Where is Sergio Aragones from?
Sergio Aragones was born in Spain, his family exiled to Mexico when he was young.
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Brazil has a big comic book industry and tho it imports a lot from the USA and Europe, I havent see much of what they do come abroad…except for web based erotic comic books (not exactly webcomics but meant for pdf).
Note to self: do NOT attempt to lift PAD’s wallet at Shore Leave this summer.
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Not even as a joke.
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Not even. I will react instinctively and immediately and lash out without bothering to look who it is.
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PAD
Attention: All PAD public events are now BYOS — Bring Your Own Sling.
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‘Cause it don’t mean a thing if you ain’t got that sling.
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PAD
Sounds fun! (Of course I can’t help but think of George Carlin’s comments on the expression “more than happy,” something like “More than happy… How can you be more than happy? To me, that sounds like a serious mental problem. ‘Did you hear what happened to Dave?’ ‘Yeah, he had to be put in a mental hospital. He was [shudder] more than happy.'”)
Peter; thanks for your visit, and for your very gracious and interesting interview. I’ll be uploading it over the weekend and sending you the link. I’ll be closing that segment of my show with the Coheed And Cambria Song “Here We Are Juggernaut”, as you suggested… but I will be opening with a song called “Ðámņ Right I Got The Blues”, originally by Buddy Guy; but covered by a band called Route 49… there’s a familiar guy on drums there… 🙂
Best regards from this corner of the country. Take care, and I hope we can stay in touch, and that I’ll be able to interview you again someday.
Hi Peter!! I’m from Uruguay; your visit was such a pleasure for us, I went to the ORT Auditorium; maybe you remind me , i am the guy sitting next to the fella who shot you almost a thousand questions per minute ( that one who gifted you a photo of you both from Fantabaires 1999 )
We work togheter at Kef Sensei , that is a game developer studio; and he is the Lead Designer and I am Character Designer/illustrator.
We are interested for “keeping in touch”,if you want it of course.
Thanks for your kindness and knowledge!!!your visit was such a pleasure and have to repeat it!!!
Sorry for mi “rusty” english!!!
Martin
I was at Montevideo Comics during your talk, and I want to thank you for your visit. It’s not often we get a big name of the medium like you.
Only to say that you are awesome. I’m from the anime fan group, we dance together eye of the tiger and you are great.
Thanks a lot, you really rocks!!!!