Many newspapers became almost legendary because of their political comics and vignettes that were published during this era and during the subsequent Mexican Revolution (1910-1920).Īs a result of the harsh government repression, the political cartoon ('caricatura política') practically became the only means of free expression in those turbulent years. Political satire was quite a strong movement during the Porfiriato (1884–1911). Revolutionary times Īnother important influence has been the work of José Guadalupe Posada whose satirical cartoons helped create a political identity of visual art. The only genre to survive, and even thrive, was a unique form of adult pulp comics.Indeed, Mexican intellectuals such as Ilan Stavans agree that centuries-old pre-Columbian codices and other ancient documents could be seen as primary sources of the comics culture in the country. That, combined with the perception that comics were only for kids, nearly wiped out indigenous comic books in Mexico. Titles such as Pepín, Fantomas, and Memín Penguín sold millions of copies during this era. But in the 1980s, American superhero comics poured into Mexico. From the 1930s through the 1970s, Mexico had a thriving comic-book industry with many genres. The dominant role of adult comics in Mexico is relatively new. Sensacionales are trashy and exploitative, but they also represent a genuinely popular indigenous medium. Most are sold cheaply at newsstands, either new or second-hand (similar to Italian fumetti).Īdult comics have a unique place in Mexican culture. The pocket size books generally have approximately one hundred pages and are famous for portraying voluptuous women on their covers. ‘Sensacionales’ or ‘La revisit vaquero’ are very low quality black and white comics printed in tones of sepia featuring about four panels per page in a four square diagram. Published by Editorial Toukan (and running to over 800 issues), the far from politically correct artwork and stories in Relatos de Presidio feature gory scenes of death and torture involving victims from both sexes. Relatos de Presidio (‘Tales from Prison’) is a popular “sensacionales” Mexican comic with horror and crime themes aimed at adults.

Relatos de presidio comics