The Eternaut: A Classic Sci-Fi Comic from Argentina
If you are a fan of science fiction comics, you may have heard of The Eternaut, a seminal work from Argentina that has been hailed as a masterpiece of its genre. But what is The Eternaut, and why is it so important? In this article, we will explore the plot, the history, the themes, and the legacy of this amazing comic, as well as how you can read it in English or watch it on Netflix.
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What is The Eternaut?
The Eternaut is a science fiction comic created by writer Héctor Germán Oesterheld and artist Francisco Solano López. It was first published in weekly installments in the magazine Hora Cero Semanal between 1957 and 1959. Since then, it has been reprinted, remade, translated, adapted, and celebrated as one of the most influential comics of Argentina and Latin America.
The plot and the characters
The story begins with Oesterheld himself as a narrator, who receives a visit from his friend Juan Salvo, a mysterious man who claims to be a time traveler from a dystopian future. Juan tells Oesterheld his story, which he records as a comic. Juan was an ordinary man who lived in Buenos Aires with his wife Elena and his daughter Martita. One night, while playing cards with his friends Franco and Favalli, a strange phenomenon occurred: a deadly snowfall that killed anyone who touched it. Juan and his friends managed to survive by wearing homemade diving suits, but soon they realized that they were facing an alien invasion. They joined a group of human resistance fighters who tried to stop the invaders, who used various weapons and creatures to enslave humanity. Along the way, Juan met other characters, such as Pablo, a young boy who became his sidekick; Mosca, a charismatic leader; and Elena's brother Alberto.
The history and the context
The Eternaut was created during a turbulent period in Argentina's history, marked by political instability, social unrest, and military coups. Oesterheld was a progressive writer who was critical of the authoritarian regimes and the US imperialism that affected his country and region. He used science fiction as a way to express his ideas and to challenge the status quo. He also drew inspiration from other sources, such as Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, HG Wells' The War of the Worlds, and Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles. Oesterheld collaborated with López, a talented artist who gave life to his vision with realistic and expressive drawings. Together, they created a comic that was both entertaining and thought-provoking.
The themes and the symbolism
The Eternaut explores various themes that are relevant to its historical and cultural context, as well as to universal human values. Some of these themes are:
Survival: The main challenge that Juan and his friends face is how to survive in a hostile environment where everything is against them. They have to use their ingenuity, their courage, and their solidarity to overcome the obstacles and the dangers that they encounter.
Resistance: The comic also portrays the struggle of humanity against an oppressive force that seeks to destroy their freedom and dignity. Juan and his allies represent the spirit of resistance that defies tyranny and injustice. They fight not only for themselves, but for their loved ones and their ideals.
Identity: Another theme that emerges in the comic is the question of identity. Juan is an ordinary man who becomes an extraordinary hero thanks to his circumstances. He also undergoes several transformations throughout his journey, both physically and mentally. He has to face the loss of his family, his friends, and his world. He has to question his own identity and his role in the cosmic scheme.
Time: The comic also plays with the concept of time, as Juan is an eternaut, a traveler of eternity. He experiences different temporal realities, from the past to the future, from the linear to the circular. He also witnesses the effects of time on himself and others, such as aging, memory, and destiny.
The comic also uses various symbols to convey its messages, such as the snow, which represents death and isolation; the diving suits, which represent protection and adaptation; the aliens, which represent imperialism and exploitation; and the maniobra, which represents manipulation and deception.
Why is The Eternaut important?
The Eternaut is not only a great comic, but also a significant cultural and political artifact. It has been recognized as a masterpiece of Argentine and Latin American literature, as well as a landmark of science fiction and graphic narrative. It has also been a source of inspiration and influence for many artists and activists, both in Argentina and abroad.
The cultural impact and the legacy
The Eternaut has been widely praised by critics and readers for its artistic quality, its originality, its complexity, and its relevance. It has been considered as one of the best comics of all time by various publications and institutions, such as The Comics Journal, Time Magazine, and the Angoulême International Comics Festival. It has also been studied and analyzed by scholars from different disciplines, such as literature, history, sociology, and philosophy. It has been included in several anthologies and collections of comics, such as The World Encyclopedia of Comics, The Comics Library, and The Graphic Canon. It has also been exhibited in several museums and galleries, such as the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes and the Centro Cultural Recoleta in Buenos Aires.
The political relevance and the resistance
The Eternaut has also been a powerful symbol of political resistance and social justice in Argentina and beyond. Oesterheld was a victim of the military dictatorship that ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983. He was kidnapped and disappeared in 1977, along with his four daughters and his son-in-laws, who were also involved in the leftist guerrilla movement. His fate remains unknown to this day. His comic was banned and censored by the regime, but it was also circulated clandestinely by his fans and supporters. Many people saw in The Eternaut a reflection of their own reality and a call to action against oppression. The comic became a rallying point for human rights movements and democratic transitions. It also inspired other artists to create works that denounced violence and injustice, such as Juan Sasturain's novel Manual de perdedores (1987), Fernando Pino Solanas' film Sur (1988), Ricardo Piglia's novel La ciudad ausente (1992), Alberto Breccia's comic Mort Cinder (1996), Juan José Campanella's film El secreto de sus ojos (2009), and Pablo De Santis' novel El enigma de París (2010).
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The artistic innovation and the style
The Eternaut was also a groundbreaking work in terms of its artistic innovation and style. Oesterheld and López created a comic that was different from anything that had been done before in Argentina or elsewhere. They combined elements of pulp fiction, adventure stories, horror tales, social realism, political satire, philosophical speculation, and cosmic wonder. They used a narrative technique that mixed first-person narration, dialogue, captions, flashbacks, flash-forwards, parallel stories, metafictional devices, and intertextual references. They developed a visual style that was realistic but expressive, detailed but dynamic, dark but colorful. They created a comic that was both entertaining and meaningful.
How can you read The Eternaut?
If you are interested in reading The Eternaut, you have several options available. You can read the original version or the remake, the English translation or the publication, the Netflix adaptation or the streaming. Here are some details about each option:
The original version and the remake
The original version of The Eternaut was published in 1957-1959 in Hora Cero Semanal, a weekly magazine that featured various comics and stories. It consisted of 362 pages, divided into 106 episodes. It was later reprinted in several formats and editions, such as books, albums, and newspapers. However, some of these editions were incomplete, altered, or censored. The most faithful edition to the original is the one published by Ediciones Colihue in 2007, which includes a facsimile reproduction of the original pages, as well as an introduction, a biography, and a bibliography.
In 1969, Oesterheld and López decided to remake The Eternaut for the magazine Gente. They wanted to update the story and the style, as well as to make it more accessible to a wider audience. They simplified the plot, changed some characters, added some humor, and reduced the length to 175 pages. However, they also introduced some changes that altered the tone and the message of the original. For example, they made Juan Salvo a more heroic and less human figure, they eliminated some of the political and social criticism, and they gave the story a happy ending. The remake was also interrupted by the censorship of the military dictatorship, and it was never completed. It was later reprinted in several editions, such as books and magazines. The most complete edition is the one published by Ediciones de la Flor in 2000, which includes an introduction by Juan Sasturain.
The English translation and the publication
The Eternaut was translated into English for the first time in 2015 by Erica Mena, a poet and translator who had been fascinated by the comic since she discovered it in Argentina. She worked on the translation for several years, with the help of Oesterheld's family and López's son. She also wrote an introduction and a glossary for the English edition. The translation was based on the original version of 1957-1959, and it preserved its format, style, and content. It was published by Fantagraphics Books, a prestigious publisher of comics and graphic novels. The English edition received positive reviews from critics and readers, who praised its quality and its importance.
The Netflix adaptation and the streaming
The Eternaut was adapted into a live-action series by Netflix in 2021. The adaptation was produced by K&S Films, a Argentine production company that had previously worked on films such as El Clan (2015) and El Angel (2018). The adaptation was directed by Pablo Trapero, a renowned filmmaker who had won several awards for his films such as Carancho (2010) and El Clan (2015). The adaptation was written by Mariano Llinás, a celebrated screenwriter who had written films such as La Flor (2018) and Historias Extraordinarias (2008). The adaptation starred Rodrigo de la Serna as Juan Salvo, Julieta Zylberberg as Elena Salvo, Leonardo Sbaraglia as Favalli, Darío Grandinetti as Mosca, Luis Luque as Franco, and Pablo Echarri as Oesterheld. The adaptation followed the main plot and the characters of the original version, but it also made some changes and additions to adapt it to the modern context and the audiovisual medium. It also incorporated some elements from the remake and other works by Oesterheld. The adaptation consisted of 10 episodes, each one lasting about an hour. It was released worldwide by Netflix in October 2021, and it received critical acclaim and popular success. It was praised for its production values, its performances, its direction, its script, and its fidelity to the spirit of the comic. It was also nominated for several awards, such as the International Emmy Awards and the Platino Awards.
Conclusion
The Eternaut is a classic sci-fi comic from Argentina that has captivated generations of readers and viewers with its thrilling story, its profound message, and its stunning art. It is a comic that reflects the history and the culture of its country and region, but also transcends them with its universal appeal. It is a comic that challenges and inspires with its vision of survival, resistance, identity, and time. It is a comic that you can read in different versions and languages, or watch on Netflix. It is a comic that you should not miss.
FAQs
What does "eternaut" mean?
The word "eternaut" is a combination of "eternal" and "astronaut". It refers to someone who travels through eternity, or through different temporal dimensions.
Who are the aliens that invade Earth in The Eternaut?
The aliens that invade Earth are called "Ellos", which means "They" in Spanish. They are a mysterious and powerful race that seeks to conquer and exploit other planets. They use different kinds of weapons and creatures to attack humanity, such as the Gurbos, the Manos, the Cascarudos, and the Insects.
What is the maniobra in The Eternaut?
The maniobra is a psychological tactic that Ellos use to manipulate and deceive humanity. It consists of creating false leaders and false enemies to divide and confuse the human resistance. For example, they create a fake president who claims to be fighting against Ellos, but who is actually working for them.
Is The Eternaut based on a true story?
The Eternaut is not based on a true story, but it is inspired by real events and situations that happened in Argentina and Latin America in the 20th century. For example, the snowfall that triggers the invasion is similar to the volcanic ash that covered Buenos Aires in 1954. The alien occupation is analogous to the US intervention and the military dictatorships that plagued the region. The human resistance is reminiscent of the popular movements and the guerrilla groups that fought for democracy and social justice.
Where can I find more information about The Eternaut?
If you want to learn more about The Eternaut, you can visit these websites:
: This website contains information about the comic, its creators, its editions, its adaptations, and its impact.
: This page provides a summary of the plot, the characters, the history, the themes, and the legacy of the comic.
: This page shows the trailer, the synopsis, the cast, the episodes, and the reviews of the adaptation.
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