Historietas del tebeo, 1917—1977: Exploring Spanish Comic Book Evolution at the ABC Museum

This exhibition at the ABC Museum of Drawing and Illustration explores the evolution of Spanish comic books, known as 'tebeos,' from 1917 to 1977. Through original drawings and magazines, it showcases the genre's development, its beloved characters, and its significance in Spanish graphic culture and heritage.

The exhibition "Historietas del tebeo, 1917—1977" at the Museo ABC delves into the rich history of Spanish comic books, spanning almost the entire 20th century. It presents a historical journey through the adventures and characters that defined generations of Spanish children and have become key elements of the nation's graphic culture and heritage, including figures like Pulgarcito, Mickey, El Capitán Trueno, and Mortadelo y Filemón. The exhibition is structured around 300 works, comprising 180 original drawings and 120 magazines. It traces the origins and consolidation of 'tebeos' as a literary genre, explaining their appeal to young readers through various genres such as western adventures, romance, and superhero narratives, while also defining what constitutes a 'tebeo'. The specific date range of 1917-1977 is chosen because 1917 marks the birth of the magazine *TBO*, which profoundly influenced the terminology of the medium, and 1977 saw the emergence of *Totem*, a magazine that represented a definitive shift towards adult comics, publishing European and Latin American narratives that matured the medium in the 1960s and 1970s. The exhibition is further organized into three distinct parts: a chronology highlighting the industry's progression and context, an exploration of "Genres, Characters and Authors" (including humorous, adventure, romantic, official, and adult comics), and "Intimacies of the Tebeo," which examines formats like annuals, foreign editions, graphic novels, and rare, singular publications.