By Héctor Germán Oesterheld was a prolific writer and cartoonist argentine, born July 23, 1919 in Buenos Aires. His legacy is intimately tied to the history of comics in argentina and Latin america, driven by her talent narrative and its commitment to social justice.
His work, a vast and diverse, ranging from stories of science fiction to stories of court more realistic, always imbued with a strong humanist and a social critique incisive. Among their creations, the most famous are The Eternauta masterpiece of the genre that narrates the invasion of an alien race to Earth, and Sergeant Kirka series of space adventures with a strong political tone.
Oesterheld he was also a pioneer in the participation, even in some cases in the creation of comic books as Misterix, Zero Hour and Borderthat turned into spaces of experimentation and dissemination of new ideas. Your editorial, Bordermarked a before and an after in the industry of argentina, publishing the works of authors such as Alberto Breccia, Hugo Pratt, and Solano López.
The Summit: The Eternauta:
However, the highlight of the career of Oesterheld came in 1957 with the creation of “El Eternauta”, a science fiction epic that remains one of the most influential in the history of comics in argentina. Together with the illustrator Francisco Solano López, Oesterheld created a story that is exciting about an alien invasion and the struggle of a group of survivors to survive in a devastated world.
Political Commitment:
In addition to his work in the field of cartoon, Oesterheld was a political activist committed. During the 1970s, Argentina went through a period of political turmoil and repression, and Oesterheld joined the movement Montoneros, fighting against the military dictatorship that ruled the country.
Demise and Legacy
Tragically, the political commitment of Oesterheld took him to a destination bleak. In 1977, during the military dictatorship, Oesterheld and his four daughters were kidnapped and disappeared by the military government of argentina. Although his body was never found, it is presumed that he was murdered by his political convictions in 1978.
Despite their disappearance, the legacy of Oesterheld endures through his works, which continue to inspire generations of readers and artists. “El Eternauta” remains a masterpiece of the comic argentine, and the courage and the commitment of Oesterheld with social justice remains an example for all those who seek a more just and equitable world.
The life and work of Héctor Germán Oesterheld are a reminder of the importance of the resistance and the struggle for a better world, as well as a tribute to the creativity and talent of one of the great masters of comic argentina.
