Twenty Cartoons that Explain the World Better than Any Book

08 May 2014

Iñaki Berazaluce

Those of us who have no other communication tool than writing try – most of the time, in vain – to explain the world with a flood of words; words that flow into the Internet Ocean where billions of words already cohabit. Cartoon virtuosos, however, are capable of conveying an idea through drawing and without words, or with just a few.

This is a tribute from our admiration and envy to our fellow cartoonists, the maestros of synthesis, in the transmission of their ideas to the “infinity and beyond” of language. Football, Siscu Soro. This is no serious monastery, Quino. Until Death Do Us Part, El Roto. Creation, Alberto Montt. Ouch!, Gila. Macroeconomics, JR Mora. Ideological Greeting through Time Democracy, Forges. North and South, Eneko. “Cheer up, man. This is a party.” Spain’s “National Party”, Rodera. “I owe everything to my people.” “Well, return it then!” His Majesty, Chumy Chúmez. Chess, Ralph Sattic. “We are happy because we protect what is ours…” Ours, Miguel Brieva. “Take Bread!” Oreu. N.of Translator: “Pan” means “bread” in Spanish, but it is also onomatopoeia for a blow. April 23rd, Book Day. “Congratulations!” Book Day, Malagón. “Go on, go on… Any further requests?”. Docile, gullible, manipulable poor, simple, fearful Tabula rasa, Manuel Fontdevila. N.of the translator: Up the ladder, caricature of Spanish Minister of Culture, Jose Ignacio Wert. Redistribution, United for Revolution. Sinister Matador Contortionist bullfighter carries himself shoulder-high Sinister Matador, Mierdecitas. “Vote Gundisalvo. At the end of the day, what do you care?” Democracy, Mingote.