El Barroso

First Page of El Mayor Laguna; “El Barroso”
Cielosur Editora magazine, whose first issue appeared in February 1968, primarily featured comics of the eponymous character created by Enrique Rapela (the magazine's editor), who had begun appearing in Patoruzito in the mid-1950s. It also included reprints of Raúl Roux's "Lanza Seca" series, works by the duo Sergio Almendro and César Spadari, such as "El Mayor Laguna," one-shot comics based on episodes and figures from Argentine history, and sections dedicated to disseminating legends and themes from our traditions. Initially published in landscape format, it switched to portrait around 1971. The exact date of its discontinuation is unknown, but we estimate it was shortly after Rapela's death in 1978. César Spadari: The Great Militant Cartoonist. El Mayor Laguna: Spadari was a tremendous illustrator who excelled in the gaucho and fort-themed genres. His most famous character in this field was Major Laguna, written by Sergio Almendro. His time at El Huinca magazine: Spadari actively collaborated on the magazine directed by Rapela. He not only drew the pages featuring his own character (Major Laguna) within the magazine, but also illustrated memorable covers, such as the emblematic Issue No. 38 from March 1971. The Shared Legacy: Both artists shared a vision of the 19th-century Argentine southern frontier that combined adventure with genuine anthropological research. Thanks to their talent and the archive of army sources they accessed, they ensured that the panels of El Huinca and its associated publications became true historical records of the clothing and life of the forts in the Buenos Aires countryside.

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