• Culture Francisco Ibáñez dies at age 87, creator of Mortadelo y Filemón

The Royal Spanish Academy of Language never offered an armchair to Francisco Ibáñez, although few authors like the father of Mortadelo and Filemón have done more – and for longer – to popularize words in disuse and reincorporate them into the language of the street through the tasty sandwiches of their comics. Above all, nouns and adjectives related to the animal kingdom, which by the hand of the genius of the cartoon became celebrated insults with which to avoid Francoist censorship (first), distance themselves from cultural homogenization (later) and pass the filter of blissful political correctness (finally). Suffice it to recall the dust raised by journalist Carlos Herrera on his radio program in March last year when it occurred to him to call Chilean President Gabriel Boric hake after his inauguration...

"What is the secret of the success of Mortadelo and Filemón?", ask Albert Monteys and Manel Fontdevilla in one of the pages of the compilation Para ti que eras joven (Astiberri). Language is one of the keys mentioned by the couple. "That I descuajeringo only say the children raised on the basis of a lot of Mortadelo," they admit. These are just some of the terms that Ibáñez helped to spread as substitutes for other bad or hurtful ones. Continuing to use them is another way to pay homage to him.

Find out more

Comic.

Francisco Ibáñez, creator of Mortadelo y Filemón and master of picaresque literature, dies at the age of 87

  • Writing: LUIS ALEMANY Madrid

Francisco Ibáñez, creator of Mortadelo y Filemón and master of picaresque literature, dies at the age of 87

Comic.

Someday I'll be like Ibanez

  • Writing: PACO ROCA

Someday I'll be like Ibanez

A of Andoba. A of Acémila. A for Acorn Animal. A of Alfeñique. A for Anthropoid. The first letter of the alphabet already demonstrates the richness and expressive power of the relationship of the secret agents of the T.I.A., always at odds between them and victims, in turn, of the disqualifications of the Super or Ophelia.

B for Batracio. B for Berzotas. B of Bellaco. B for Burricie. The image of a donkey with a straw cap and the corresponding alfalfa sack under the snout was a classic in the balloons that Ibáñez used for decades as substitutes for insults, in which they lived with not too clean toilets, bombs about to explode and bold Chinese characters.

C for Halter. C for Kestrel. C for Calasancty Calva. C for Catastrophe with glasses. C for "Run, boss, run!" C for Nuclear Pig. The C was one of the letters that he used most to give titles to the adventures of his most famous characters: El cacao espacial, Clínicas antibirria, Contra el gang del Chicharrón...

D for Thug drones. D for Detritus. One of the most chanantes villains from Mortadelian -El bacilón- is a horrendous and mutant monster emerged from a cocktail of detritus, excrement, fumes and other pigs.

E for Smyrriau. E of scarecrows. That is, the birriosos heroes with cape in which they end up becoming Mortadelo and Filemón when they try to follow in the footsteps of Superman, Batman and company.

F for Fantoche. F de Flumencio Regúlez. F of F.E.A. (Federation of Associated Spies).

G of Ghaznavirus. G for Gañán. G for Gomeztroika, which is not a disqualifier, but almost.

H of Hotentote.

I of Imbecile. I of Idiot.

J de Jesús Gil. The politician and businessman makes cameos in Maastricht... Jesús (1993), El jurado popular (1996), La vuelta (2000) and La rehabilitación esa (2001). In El Señor de los Ladrillos (2004) he was replaced by builder Ladríllez Peñón, as he died while Ibáñez was drawing the adventure.

L of Longaniza. L of Lettuce.

M for hake. M of Majadero. M for Mastuerzo. M de Mendrugo.

N for Fool.

Or Orate.

P de Percebe (Rue del). P for Pollino. P for Papillary Party.

R for Ratero.

S of Sabandija. S of Leech.

T of Tarugo.

V of Vejestorio.

Z for Zascandil. Z for drone. Z for Zopenco.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Learn more