On April 14, 2012, Juan Carlos I had to undergo surgery for a spectacular hip fracture. Although the illness was more or less predictable in the case of a 74-year-old with an inert fondness for sports and risky activities, the reality was that it was an unexpected event that shocked Spanish society. The king’s accident occurred during a private trip to Botswana, and both the royal family and the Spanish government chose to keep it a secret, presumably to avoid revealing why the king was accompanied by his son, “personal friend” Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein. woman’s first husband and king of Syria Mohammed Eyad Kayali.
These events caused the Spanish monarchy to lose its prestige, which still hasn’t recovered ten years later. Given the suspicions that a large part of Juan Carlos I’s fortune is of irregular origin, in March 2020, Felipe VI decided to renounce his father’s legacy, an act that was purely witnessing, from the time Article 657 of the Civil Code was established. Since the right of inheritance was born at the time of the death of the deceased, there was nothing to give up yet.
A few months after this cosmetic measure, a comic book ‘Primavera para Madrid’ WizardNickname Diego Corbalan (Murcia, 1981) Published by Autsaider Cómics publishing house. Printed in black ink on gold paper as a symbol of the obscene illegal enrichment of some of the national elite, the volume, although purely fictitious, revolves around a complex plot of corruption that reminds many of the events that took place in Spain during these events. past years. For example, good relations between extramarital affairs of an apparently exemplary monarch, accident during a hunt in an African country, abdication in favor of his son, corruption of a political party with governmental responsibilities in various autonomies, or caste work. and the new ruler.
I wanted my next book to let me really wander through the places that appear in it. Make a comic about the mafia, but in Spain”
“My previous job was a mob comic called ‘The Gemini Method,’ and although I wanted to do another book on the same subject, I didn’t want it set in America. I wanted it to be a book that would really let me tour the places it was in. In short, a comic about the mafia, but in Spain“, explains Magius, reminds us how when it comes to inspiration, in addition to the problems of corruption. State of Madrid or interesting history Little NicholasOne particular case struck him in particular: “It was harassment against a doctor, a woman who was not leftist or radical, but related to the upper class and suddenly left alone in front of the upper and someone else. She was very close to the high institutions of the state,” he recalls.
What is king to you?
The significance of Magius’ work at ‘Primavera para Madrid’ is the ‘What is king to you?’ Expresses his views on the President of the Republic, through Spain, in editorials or artistic works.
“The call was made by the schools, and since my parents are teachers, they were the ones who introduced me to it. They told me to draw a drawing but I did something similar to a comic because it was an illustration divided into four parts with speech bubbles. Charles IIIa little more king and Juan Carlos I, as the representative of an institution that is good for democracy. Moreover, He valued the transition, the example of the King, and everything that was said and believed about him.. In fact, I believed that too”, Magius admits, as the winner of the competition, he was invited to travel to the capital with his family.
“It was very interesting as it was my first trip to Madrid. The reception was Saturday morning, so we were at the town hall on Friday afternoon. Alvarez del Manzano. we went the next day zarzuela and i met Juan Carlos I. He was alone without the queen or her children. Another boy from Murcia came with me, the second prize winner, and said that he saw the king as a bit lazy, that he was there as if he didn’t care, but he seemed like a nice person to me. He broke protocol and did those kinds of things that were always said about him. Then we went to the Senate on Saturday afternoon and I really enjoyed the whole experience because I’ve always loved politics,” he writes.
On April 21, almost thirty years after that first visit, Magius will return to Zarzuela to attend a luncheon organized by the king and queen on the occasion of the award of the Cervantes Prize to Cristina Peri Rossi. On that day, they eat all the national awards related to the books together with the monarchs. On this occasion, those whose drawings also pass through the palace gates, especially the concession Spring for Madrid between National Comics Award awarding every year ministry of culture.
“I was very surprised that they gave me the award. I got a call from a number I didn’t recognize. I answered and they said, ‘Wait a minute, Minister Iceta wants to see you.’ Spring for Madrid‘. When I finished talking to him, he thought it was a dream. It was a very strange feeling,” Magius recalls.
perception change
Although it may seem like very different situations, First Prize ‘What is king for you?’ and the National Comics Award for ‘Spring for Madrid’ can be read as follows: A metaphor for the evolution of the monarchy in Spain the change of the same perception in these years and on the citizenship side.
“When the Botswana thing happened, we almost didn’t believe it. The thing with Hugo Chavez a few years ago, the king said to him, ‘why don’t you shut up?’ it was very surprising because no one expected such an uncontrolled reaction from such a nice person, people defended him. Therefore, the negative assessment of the elephant issue, on the other hand, I think it surprised even Juan Carlos himself, who has hunted elephants and bears all his life “, says Magius, in addition to the Botswana elephant, Mitrophan, A four-year-old brown bear weighing 120 kilograms was shot by Juan Carlos I during a hunt in Russia in 2006. When the ‘Deia’ and ‘Gar’a newspapers repeated the information in the Russian media that the animal was drugged to facilitate the monarch’s work, the National Supreme Court prosecutor’s office filed a complaint against both newspapers.
Juan Carlos I has immunity here, but it’s very important that he sits on the bench in London after Corinna’s complaint.”
“They were eventually convicted, and almost all the media, most of which were aware of the king’s erratic behavior, were delighted with it,” Magius recalls. Now it is very easy to criticize the ruler, but before, it was very difficult to say anything, any truth. However, the advancement of the media and the advent of the Internet allowed us to read foreign newspapers and find out what happened in Spain because when you live in a country where democracy is said to work very well and nothing happens because we are in the European Union, you can believe it. However, if you compare what other countries think of Spain, you’ll get a better idea of what it really is. For example, there are many legal and judicial abuses. In this sense, Juan Carlos I has immunity here, but it is very important that he will sit on the bench in London upon Corinna’s complaint. I think it might even lead to a diplomatic confrontation.”
kid stuff
Just a few days ago, Isabel Díaz Ayuso mocked comics and went so far as to affirm that comics are nothing more than products for children. Faced with such an understanding of one of the disciplines that has produced some of the most interesting cultural artifacts of the 20th century, the awarding of the ‘Spring for Madrid’ National Award is the bold decision of a professional jury. It belongs to the Ministry of Culture and marks a clear difference in the perception displayed by the head of the Community of Madrid.
“What will Diaz Ayuso say? Paul Married He said the same thing, which shows the cultural level of some politicians we have. For them, comics are either for laughs or for children; or a Mortadelo or a Superman. Even if you explain it to them, they won’t listen to you because they are entrenched in their ideas. I think that’s why the right doesn’t show much interest in ‘Spring for Madrid’. If it was something they saw as a novel, movie, or culture, they would value it more, but they should think it was like ‘El Jueves’, but with less circulation,” explains Magius. The author just didn’t like it. much Felipe VI Y Letizia Ortiz They had already read the comic but said it would be helpful to improve some aspects of the institution they represent.
Maybe they’ll scold me when they see me, but I don’t think so. The characters I’m inspired by and might look like them don’t look so bad in the story.”
“Maybe they’ll scold me when they see me, but I don’t think so. The characters I’m inspired by and who might look like them don’t go that bad in the story. In any case, I think the ‘Madrid Spring’ can help them because if they persist in the mistake, it won’t be very good for them. because monarchy in itself means nothing. You have to put the head of state in the hands of someone who is honorable and honest, as well as social unity, because he or He is a man of God’s hand. It doesn’t work like that anymore”.