Inspiration and Evolution of Captain Torrezno
Santiago Valenzuela, the creator behind The Adventures of Captain Torrezno, has long been candid about the rough edges of early comic work. He notes that a certain neurotic impulse often fuels his best ideas, yet it also makes comics a tough business at times. Spanish publishers have begun reprinting the first volume with new attention to detail. Valenzuela reflects on the hands in that initial edition, acknowledging how much he has grown, and how many drawings he has redrawn to bring the project up to date. He is already planning the third and fourth volumes, hopeful that the new editions capture a consistent style that aligns with the most recent pages, while admitting there are still parts he would change if given the chance.
The first volume appeared in 2002, introducing a tale built from Valenzuela’s own short story about a man who builds a miniature world in his basement. He returns years later to discover that his creations have evolved, constructing cities and even using flags as identification or payment. The hero witnesses armies clashing within a religious conflict he never anticipated, and the narrative ends with a catastrophic explosion in his home caused by a propane accident. Although the author played the part of creator, the tale ends with a dramatic fallout rather than a triumphant finish.
Valenzuela began shaping the story for the comics medium, meeting characters who would play pivotal roles. He recalls an encounter with a peculiar figure, a mysterious drunken patron who performs small miracles, and a Captain Torrezno who feels misplaced in a world that does not quite fit him. The result is a clash of humor and alien perspective that provides comic effect and social commentary alike.
From that moment, two paths opened: staying with a traditional setting of bars and nightlife in Madrid, or crafting an epic with multiple reading levels. The work contains nods to academic culture and to broader popular culture, revisiting significant moments in human history through a personal lens.
Rather than focusing on convention, Valenzuela sought to translate the Marxist idea of tragedy followed by comedy into a vivid narrative. History is braided with whimsy, blending a Roman legion with German soldiers in a way reminiscent of children playing with toy soldiers. Sometimes the historical scale feels uneven, which is deliberate. A country without a strong comic book industry still houses passionate creators, and Valenzuela notes that true clarity comes from staying open to both humor and depth. Humor keeps the work grounded and relatable, preventing the work from tipping into pedantry.
All Writing is Set Down
More than two decades have passed since the first volume and multiple accolades have followed. The Adventures of Captain Torrezno now spans eleven volumes, with the latest installment titled Anamnesis appearing recently as part of a promotional campaign. The story explores the origin of the microcosm and teases a vast future that remains unwritten but suggests a gravitational pull toward what lies beyond.
It is clear that the author foresaw much of the series long before its publication. Before Far Horizons even reached readers, Valenzuela kept notebooks filled with ideas that would surface later. Some of these sketches nod to a parody of the Death Star and include cutaway views of ships, floating devices, and other imaginative elements. Although not everything was planned in a single, tight outline, he gradually filled in gaps and opened new threads that would later weave into future episodes.
Looking ahead, the twelfth volume is described as the continuation of a basement-era narrative that will unfold in two parts. The second segment will bring together microcosm and macrocosm in lush rural and coastal Galicia, where different groups of miniature people settle. The differences between the two scales gradually fade, giving way to a climactic finale set in another era and another galaxy. The creator believes Captain Torrezno has grown more sophisticated and will not simply revert to his old life. The journey is imbued with tragedy and transformation as the arc progresses.
Another important facet of Valenzuela’s approach is a commitment to traditional drawing methods. The fantasy world he builds requires highly realistic visuals, crafted with classic techniques and careful shading, rather than relying on computer-generated tools. Some peers advocate digital workflows for efficiency, but he remains wary that digital shortcuts can dull texture and hamper the tactile connection with the drawing tablet. Valenzuela emphasizes that the human hand remains essential to the artistic process.
When it comes to pacing and character work, Valenzuela favors variety. If a sequence depicts four pages in an elevator, he avoids making them visually uniform. The aim is to entertain the reader through subtle, varied panels and to honor a professional code of integrity. He acknowledges that some readers will crave closure, while others will appreciate the ongoing nature of serialized storytelling and the sense that the story continues beyond a single issue.