Cuban Comics in the Castro EraMain MenuCuban Comics in the Castro EraThe Art and History of Cuban Revolutionary PropagandaGilbert Borrego86338e624720b29eabebdb422c586d4de553bb47
Creators, Characters, and Creative Characters
1media/elpideo.jpg2019-09-06T09:02:05-07:00Gilbert Borrego86338e624720b29eabebdb422c586d4de553bb4733793101The Characters and the Artists that Created Themplain2019-10-21T11:46:26-07:00Gilbert Borrego86338e624720b29eabebdb422c586d4de553bb47Most, if not all, of the comic artists in Cuba at this time were supporters of the new government or were at least opposed to the Batista regime. They were eager to support their new leadership with the skills they had honed their entire lives. Using their artistry and creativity, they turned their humorous and adventurous comics into a new arm of the Cuban propaganda machine, an arm that was entertaining and easily digestible by the general public, especially children.
Many artists and creators did leave Cuba because of their political ideas, the lack of materials, or simply to pursue other opportunities. However, the artists who stayed in Cuba were, for the most part, devoted to the new government or at least to its Socialistic ideals and decidedly opposed to the United States. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the American embargo in place, the artists and creators had to be inventive to continue producing their art. They obtained materials from friends from other countries, scrounged the area for scraps, and even made their own materials from natural resources. However, despite these challenges their creativity never wavered.
Roberto Alfonso Cruz (Robe) is a cartoonist and is the creator of indigenous characters such as 'Yari,' 'Naoh,' and 'Guabay.'Most of his work was published in the magazines Mella, Pionero, Zunzún, and Cómicos. He won numerous awards over his professional five decades until his retirement in 1997. Jorge Oliver is a journalist, writer, cartoonist, graphic designer, director, and illustrator of children's literature. He is best known for his creation 'Capitan Plin' and has worked for Pionero and Zunzún. He has won numerous awards for his work. Ernesto Padrón Blanco is a Cuban graphic designer, illustrator, cartoonist, scriptwriter and director of animated cartoons. He has been the director of children's magazines like Bijirita and Zunzún. He wrote and drew the comic strip 'Yeyín' and wrote many scripts for Orestes Suárez Lemus.
Juan Padrón Blanco is a Cuban animation director and comics artist. He is best known as the creator of the extremely popular ‘Elpidio Valdés’who first appeared in Pionero in 1970. He worked for Mella and has won numerous awards.
Luis Lorenzo Sosa, a self-taught artist, joined Mella under Virgilio Martínez in 1960. he drew the first cover for Pionero and worked there for over 30 years until he joined Zunzún in 1990. He is best known for the science fiction series 'Matías Pérez' in Pionero. Orestes Suárez Lemus is a comic artist who began his career at Pionero and later worked at Pásalo and Zunzún. He created the science fiction character 'Yakro' for Historietas and worked with writer Ernesto Padrón Blanco. Virgilio Martínez Gaínza is known as the father of Cuban cartoons. He worked in the underground press, at Mella and Carta Semanal. He is known for the character 'Pucho', co-created with Marcos Behemaras, during the Batista era. He signed the strip with ‘Laura,’ to protect himself from the dictator’s government. he also created the Superman parody 'Supertiñosa.' He also produced work for El Sable, La Chicharra, DDT, and Pionero. He also designed many logos, and emblems for various groups and organizations throughout Cuba.
Santiago "Chago" Armada became an illustrator of the clandestine periodical El Cubano Libre in the 1950s. He created the comic character 'Julito 26' which he continued to draw after the Castro Revolution in the newspaper Revolución. Chago also collaborated on other periodicals such as Palante and created 'Salomón' during this time. He was also the founder of Granma in 1965, that ran for several years.
René de la Nuez published his first caricatures in his local paper at the age of 16. By 1956 he was a Zig-Zag contributor and there created the emblematic "El Loquito.' He also published other works in Revolución. Nuez has received over one hundred national and international awards for his artwork.
This page has paths:
1media/backdrop.png2019-09-06T09:15:36-07:00Gilbert Borrego86338e624720b29eabebdb422c586d4de553bb47Cuban Comics in the Castro EraGilbert Borrego85The Art and History of Cuban Revolutionary Propagandavisual_path2019-10-21T11:05:00-07:00Gilbert Borrego86338e624720b29eabebdb422c586d4de553bb47
This page references:
1media/Salomon por Chago_thumb.jpg2019-10-15T13:45:13-07:00Salomón4Salomón was philosophical in character, contemplating society and one's place in it. Image from Revolución, January 9, 1963media/Salomon por Chago.jpgplain2019-10-16T08:17:50-07:00
12019-05-16T20:28:16-07:00Elpidio Valdés3Colonel Elpidio Valdés, with the skills of a samurai, is in charge of the peasant Mambi army, fighting for liberation from imperialistic Spain in the 1890s. He is arguably the most famous and popular Cuban comic character.media/elpideo.jpgplain2019-10-16T07:08:47-07:00
1media/loquito in zig zag_thumb.jpg2019-09-30T11:04:10-07:00El Loquito3'El Loquito' was created in 1957 to ridicule Batista's government.The character "was so crazy he could say what other people could not say." It included subtle Castro support and Castro himself gave input on the comic strip after he came to power. It was published regularly in Zig Zag.media/loquito in zig zag.jpgplain2019-10-16T07:14:52-07:00
1media/Julito 26_thumb.jpg2019-10-15T13:42:19-07:00Julito 263Julito 26, whose name was inspired by the beginning date of the armed struggle against Batiste in 1953, became the symbol of Castro's underground and was supported by Che Guevara himself. Image from Revolución, January 14, 1960media/Julito 26.jpgplain2019-10-16T07:32:11-07:00
12019-05-16T20:34:48-07:00El Capitán Plin2The oldest legend says that the Island was born of love between a cloud of fine air and the sea, in that little piece of land live Capitán Plín and his friends are a collective that believe the whole is more than the individual. Hard work benefits everyone.His main enemy, Rui la Pestex, believes in selfishness and would rather steal than work.media/plin.jpgplain2019-10-16T07:09:10-07:00
12019-09-18T12:42:57-07:00Matías Pérez2Matías Pérez was based on a real Portuguese merchant who lived in Havana in the mid-1800s. The real person apparently disappeared while flying a hot air balloon. The character ended up traveling into outer space, spending time with aliens on other planets, and helping them when possible. He would even time travel at times, even going to colonial Havana.media/matias perez cover.jpgplain2019-10-16T07:09:37-07:00
12019-09-18T12:39:06-07:00Cucho2Pucho, later known as Cucho, was a funny, unassuming puppy who was brave and funny and more than willing to fight when necessary. One of the things he was known for was urinating on Batista.media/cucho.jpgplain2019-10-16T07:10:09-07:00
12019-09-18T12:59:23-07:00Yarí2Yarí is an aboriginal Taino, who constantly struggles against the invasive Spanish conquistadors.media/yari.jpgplain2019-09-26T11:21:09-07:00
1media/Nuez_thumb.jpg2019-10-15T13:46:24-07:00Nuez strip2Nuez...on the second anniversary of the invasion of Playa Giron. Image from Revolución, April 1, 1963media/Nuez.jpgplain2019-10-16T08:22:51-07:00
12019-09-18T12:48:54-07:00Naoh1Naoh is a stone-aged hunter from the Ulharm tribe who faced multiple enemies and dangerous situations While struggling to survive and thrive.media/naoh.jpgplain2019-09-18T12:48:54-07:00
12019-09-18T12:55:57-07:00Supertiñosa1Supertiñosa is a parody of Superman in which he ridicules imperialism and capitalism.media/supertinosa cover.jpgplain2019-09-18T12:55:58-07:00
12019-09-18T13:00:27-07:00Yeyín1Yeyín is an explorer, pilot, and ecological police officer. Female protagonists were rare when she was created so she filled an important niche in the Cuban comic world.media/yeyin.jpgplain2019-09-18T13:00:27-07:00
12019-09-18T13:18:07-07:00Yakro1Yakro is a highly technologically advanced part-man, part-lizard. His ship crashes on Earth during the Neolithic era and he must interact with primitive humans.media/yakro cover.jpgplain2019-09-18T13:18:07-07:00
1media/Guabay_thumb.jpg2019-09-30T11:04:31-07:00Guabay1Guabay, like Yarí, is part of the Cuban Taina tribe. The difference is that Guabay represents the adult point of view.media/Guabay.jpgplain2019-09-30T11:04:31-07:00