Comics in Latin America are a complex cultural phenomenon, arguably as complex as the region itself. While the origins of the artform lie elsewhere, its development in Latin America is tied to the attempt of reflecting the realities (whether social, cultural, economic, or political) of the different countries in the area, rather than reproducing the imagery and themes of mainstream US and European comics. In some cases, Latin American comics (more commonly known as
historietas) have transcended their geographical context and become huge successes in the US and Europe (Quino’s
Mafaldaand the works by Rius come to mind). In other cases, the work of certain authors was seen as subversive and had harsh and even fatal consequences for them, most notably the exile of Ariel Dorfman from Chile…
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Citation: Centeno-Pulido, Alberto. "The Latin American Graphic Novel". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 19 October 2016 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=19444, accessed 23 November 2024.]