Spanish Superheroes under the Franco Dictatorship

Spanish comics, known as "tebeos" or "historietas, " flourished between 1940 and 1960 during the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco. The popularity of these comics can be attributed to their affordability and ability to provide children with a distraction from the hardships...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inInternational journal of comic art Vol. 25; no. 2; p. 118
Main Author Sarasola, Ignacio Fernandez
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Drexel Hill John A Lent, Ed & Pub 01.10.2023
Subjects
Catholicism
Comic books
Comics
War
Spain
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Summary:Spanish comics, known as "tebeos" or "historietas, " flourished between 1940 and 1960 during the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco. The popularity of these comics can be attributed to their affordability and ability to provide children with a distraction from the hardships of post-war Spain. The dictatorship influenced the form and content of the comics, with a period of indifference towards them until 1952. During this time, the government prioritized publications that supported the regime and restricted the availability of paper for other comics. From 1952 to 1966, the dictatorship began to regulate the content of comics, promoting religiosity, patriotism, and national history. The superhero genre had a limited presence in Spain due to the lack of access to American superheroes and the dictatorship's focus on Catholicism and national glory. The Catholic authorities viewed superheroes' extraordinary powers as sinful and contrary to their beliefs.
ISSN:1531-6793