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Cuban Comics in the Castro Era

C-Línea, no. 1

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The Ups and Downs of Titles and Publications
Comics were officially sanctioned by the Castro government after the revolution, though there were many publications that had already been serving Castro and the revolution before its victory. Many important anti-Batista comic strips and weekly comics supplements were published in magazine titles such as Mella and Revolución. These titles allowed cartoonists to develop and improve their work to then move on to other pro-Castro magazines after the revolution. Titles like Palante, Pionero, Granma, and Juventud Rebelde became the comic cornerstones of the new government. Most of these titles did not only have comics, but also included features, activities, and puzzles that provided lessons on geography, anthropology, and politics. They dealt with the theme of independence, pre-Columbian life, science fiction, adventures and fantasies and educational themes.
While comics were becoming more popular in the 1960s, it was the 1970s and 1980s where they truly became mainstream. They were supported by the Unión de Periodistas de Cuba (UPEC) Humorists Section and the Unión de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba (UNEAC) Visual Arts Section. The opening of the Museo del Humor (Humor Museum) and a biennial international cartoon festival also bolstered Cuba's acclaim. Many of the most well-known titles opened in these two decades, only to be shuttered in the 1990s due to shortages in ink, paper, and other supplies. These shortages came about because of an economic downturn during that period and embargoes leveled at the country by the United States. The Período Especial, the ‘Special Period” in Cuba was an economic crisis that began in 1991 primarily due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the commercial agreements it had with its allies. Publishers prioritized educational materials like textbooks eschewing what they considered secondary materials such as comics. This left few outlets for Cuban cartoonists. Below are only some of the examples of various publications produced in Cuba during this seismic shift in government and culture.

Zig Zag started in 1938. It initially supported the revolution but was later looked upon as unfavorable to the government as its humor and satire was decidedly nonpartisan and it was shut down in 1960. The popular “El Loquito” was a regular character. Many Zig Zag staff fled to the Miami and rechristened the publication as Zig Zag Libre, a paper highly critical of the Castro regime.
Mella was an important anti-Batista, clandestine, political magazine published from 1953 to 1965. It published strips and comic supplements, the supplements being so popular that Mella was purchased by many only for the supplements and the magazine simply being thrown away. The parody and satire of American created Mad Magazine was an influence. During the Batista era, it featured the long-running comic, ‘Pucho y sus Perrerías’ featuring a dog in a bitter mockery of his dictatorship. After the revolution, it continually mocked the United States, targeting its intelligence community, educational system, and classist and racist system. It also parodied American superheroes like Superman with the character ‘Supertiñosa.’
Palante was first published in 1961 as a weekly humor magazine. Today, it is the oldest of the satirical newspapers that are published in Cuba. The name comes from the then popular slogan “We are socialists, palante y palante [going forward].” It has been an unabashed supporter of the government. Ediciones en Colores, the publishing house of Palante, also launched 4 monthlies, ¡Aventuras!, Muñequitos, Din Don, and Fantasticos.

El Pionero monthlies was founded in November of 1961. The seminal magazine has influenced subsequent magazines and journals and sill exemplifies the ideas of Socialism in Cuba. Juan Padrón Blanco's popular character, 'Elpidio Valdés,' was first published in Pionero in 1970.

Pásalo 1972

C-Línea, launched in 1973, was a journal dedicated to the study of comic art, the first attempt to do so. It lasted until 1977, publishing only 14 issues. The journal’s mission was the study and analysis of Latin American comics and the promotion of new authors. It was an attempt to bring prestige to the national comics industry.

Dedeté started as a bi-monthly humor magazine in February of 1979. It was edited by cartoonist Migue (Miguelito) and won numerous international awards. It closed down in November 1990 but later became a weekly page in Juventud Rebelde rather than being a standalone title.

Zunzún, was first published in October 1980 and is still published today. It was named after a type of species of hummingbird from Cuba. It was viewed as a literary journal for children aged 9-10.
Bijirita began as a quarterly Magazine in February 1985. While Zunzún was meant for older children and teens, Bijirita was meant for those under the age of 5. It was difficult to write because it needed to make complex topics easy to understand for young readers.
El Muñe, was first published in 1985 as a weekly tabloid and later sporadically produced. It was intended more for adults.
Cómicos was first published in December 1985, as a monthly comic book and later sporadically produced. It was intended more for adults.
Mi Barrio, was first published in September 1996 despite the island’s paper shortages. It is supported economically by the Comités de Defensa de la Revolución (CDR) and the Unión de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba (UNEAC).
La Picua

Pablo was intended more for adults.
Artists and Characters

Cruz, Roberto Alfonso, 1937-
Oliver, Jorge, 1947-
Padrón, Ernesto.
Sosa, Luis Lorenzo, 1937-2001.
Suárez, Orestes, 1950-

Historietas de Elpidio Valdés, 1985
2       Historietas de Naoh, 1985
3       Historietas de Capitán Plin, 1985
4       Historietas de Mowgli, 1986
5       Matías Pérez, 1986
6       Gómez General en Jefe, 1986
7       Timur y su Pandilla, 1986
Historietas, Supertiñosa, Virgilio Martínez Gainza, 1988 February
7       Historietas, Nobi, Roberto Alfonso Cruz, 1988 February
8       Historietas, Manuel, Manuel Hernandez, 1988 March
9       Historietas, Matías Pérez y otras Aventuras, Luis Lorenzo, 1988 March
Historietas, A solas con el enemigo (final)Yury Dold-Mijáilik, 1989 January
14       Historietas, Yeyín, Ernesto Padrón, 1989
15       Historietas, Aventuras de Sherlock Holmes, vol. 3, Domingo García, 1989
16       Historietas, Yakro, Orestes Suarez, 1990
Zunzún, Pepi Martí, colectivo de Zunzún, 1988
15       Las Adventuras de Cucho, 1984
16       La Historia de Elpidio Valdés, 1987
   6       Yarí, Roberto Alfonso Cruz, undated
7       Aventuras de Yeyín, Ernesto Padrón Blanco, undated
8       El Tesoro del Capitan Plin, [2 posters], undated
9       [Compilation of 5 Historieta Titles] 1974-1976
Ronin, nos. 507-516, 1974
Capitán Fabrico, nos. 552-560, 1975
Matías Pérez Contra Kuantrespit, nos. 660-674, 1977
Plutonia, nos. 580-608, 1976
Matías Pérez, nos. 613-621, 1976