The two big themes of Spanish historical comics since the Passage have been the Civil War and different regional stories that fit nationalist myths. It is therefore surprising that there is renewed interest in some characters from our imperial past. Lezo is built from the epic. Blas de Lezo is a survivor of thousands of wars to whom in any other country several movies would be dedicated. Here we continue with Lope de Aguirre and the wrath of God. The writers – Ángel Miranda, Guillermo Mogorrón, Ramón Vega and Miguel Ángel Abad – jumped over prejudices and saw the great adventure that could be told through their biographies. It’s nice to see classic naval battles told in reverse. The good guys are no longer the brave sailors of the British Navy, and the Spanish inquisitors are no longer the insidious enemies. Here we are told how the treacherous Albion fought to take away our dominions. Or you try because the results are not up to par. The drawing has power, but there is a lack of care in detail, performances and composition. It’s hard to understand what’s going on in many scenes, which is inexcusable due to such complex battle choreography. The characterization of the characters makes an effort on the main characters, but many of the secondary characters that would have provided a more human dimension are blurred.
Soy la Malinche is better off. While this almost reverent approach to a heroic military figure in Lezo is almost unheard of in the Spanish comics panorama, Alicia Jaraba’s approach is a usual one within the framework of gender, a postcolonial perspective and great respect for the indigenous people. The main problem with transferring Malinche’s life to comics is that there is already a masterpiece on this subject: Jean-Yves Mitton’s Quetzalcoatl. Frankly, continuous archaeological findings always allow us to offer new interpretations of historical facts. But Mitton’s story has an overwhelming power; It builds a strong female character who survives and faces the greatest oppression in the middle of hell, with scenes of overwhelming brutality such as her escape from the massacre in the Great Pyramid or her escape. She met Hernán Cortés. Beyond its historical accuracy, it was a fascinating story, a narrative that was hard to beat.
The approach is very different here. First, epic and overly violent or dramatic situations are avoided. It dovetails with what little is known about Malinche: that she was the daughter of a chief, sold into slavery, and eventually given as a gift to Cortés and his men. The premise here is that any relationship with another culture can be violent or friendly; We change hosts or words. And when we don’t know the words, the most common thing is wafers. Hence the importance of translators who can understand others. This whole part is really well written, it’s not for nothing that the author has a degree in philology. The way she expresses languages, both known and unknown, or only halfway, and the heroine’s growing awareness of her powers as the “speaking woman” are excellent, moving and very convincing. In other passages the approach remains a bit Disney-like soft. Above all, the relationship with the grandmother as the transmitter of tradition and wise advice ultimately becomes predictable. I also miss some of the nuances that dissolve in a very broad spectrum in the relationship with the mother.
It’s a bit disappointing that a story filled with such wonderful events tries to avoid them. Ultimately the balance is positive. The graphics are minimal and shaky, serving as a vehicle for narrative and differentiating the characters well. It is very climatic, accompanied by a magnificent color. There are no drawbacks in the graphics department. As for the script, it manages to reveal Malinche’s personal journey within, her doubts and at the same time her certainties. The scene where he discusses with Cortés the importance of his gods, which are as precious as those of the Christians, seemed to me particularly well written. And that’s not the only time the quality of the writing is appreciated. A very reputable and recommended business.