Argentina has always fascinated me. Its literature, cinema, music, football! In a strange way, I felt a connection to a place I’d never been to and with people I’d never met. In 2003, I decided to spend a month backpacking through the country, to see up close what drew me so much—and Argentina didn’t disappoint me.
In the very first days of wandering around Buenos Aires, I stumbled upon a newsstand with a copy of The Eternaut, a classic argentine comic book. I bought it for, I think, 18 pesos. From then on, The Eternaut was my travel companion; every night I’d read a little in the hostels where I stayed and I read it voraciously! I knew absolutely nothing about the story beforehand, which was a huge advantage. Every page was a revelation, and I let myself be swept away by the plot!
Written by Héctor G. Oesterheld and illustrated by Solano López, The Eternaut begins with four friends playing cards when it starts to snow. From then on, the characters (and the reader) gradually discover that there is more to it than just a simple snowstorm. It is a science fiction story, yes, but like all good sci-fi, it says a lot about the issues and anxieties of the present—in this case, the present of 1957. That the story and its themes remain relevant today is a sign that humanity may not have evolved all that much since then.
Oesterheld would later recreate the series with artwork by Alberto Breccia and a greater focus on social and political commentary—a version I haven’t read yet. The military dictatorship that seized power in 1976 would take its toll on the creative duo. Oesterheld and his four daughters were “disappeared” due to their political activism, never to be seen again. Solano López emigrated to Spain, then Brazil, returned to Argentina in 1995, where he passed away in 2011.
For all its qualities, The Eternaut has become a landmark of argentine and global comics, culminating with the Netflix series starring Ricardo Darín in 2025. The first season covers about forty percent of the total story, and, just like in the comic book, I believe it’s best appreciated by those who are completely unfamiliar with the plot. Hopefully there will be one more season to conclude the story.
Rereading it now, I realize what draws me back to The Eternaut from time to time. It’s not just the fabulous black-and-white art, or the script which reads like literature, or its message of collective resistance to oppression. It’s the eyes. Solano Lopez was an excellent artist, but his storytelling through the characters’ eyes is, to me, unique. When I think of The Eternaut, I think of the eyes of its protagonists and supporting characters… the eyes… our eyes.
