The Eternaut: A Nerdventures' Review!
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- čas přidán 10. 09. 2024
- Here's one that was a long time coming! Today we are discussing The Eternaut, a famous Argentinian graphic novel which just made it's way to the US last year. Now, 50 years after it's original publication let's see what the fuss is all about and why this story of humanity's struggle has resonated with so many.
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It's so nice seeing someone from the US appreciate this comic! I'm a huge fan of The Eternaut (I just visited the outside of Oesterheld's house two days ago, were he wrote the story and also where it starts. It looked different that in the comic though, maybe it had something to do with part of it having been blown up). Just a couple of things.
1) It's been almost exactly 60 years, since its release, not 50 (Sept. 4th, 1957).
***SPOILERS AHEAD, BTW***
2) 25:46. Us not knowing what were all those things that The Eternaut saw and did is not exactly a problem of the framing. Oesterheld could have used the same framing and just skip the dialog about Juan saying he's been to so many places or seen so many things. I actually think the choice of framing is great because it ties into real life. Let's keep in mind that all comics/novels/movies/shows/etc should be reviewed taking in consideration the moment in which they were released. For example, If you were to explain why Ocarina of Time is one of the greatest games ever made, you wouldn't compare it to current games because it just doesn't hold up as well. You would compar it to other games from the time in which it was released. Same thing with The Eternaut; you have to imagine being a kid in the late 50's, reading this story one day a week for 2 years and then, when you finally get to the ending, it turns out that this story you've been reading was actually a warning for you, with its writer claiming that he had actually been visited by The Eternaut (who, by the way, is living somewhere in the city right now) and the invasion is two years away. Can you imagine the impact to the reader back then?? I think it's brilliant meta-fiction, and it's a real shame for us that we can't get the same experience that those kids back then did.
Also, that twist of the entire story being something that was goign to happen in the future could very well be anticipated by readers today, but I wonder how common would that have been in 1959 Argentina.
But, much like your review of The Eternaut, just because I'm disagreeing with a couple of things, that doesn't mean I didn't like it =) It was really nice seeing someone from a different country and who speaks a different language read this comic that is almost 60 years and taking the time to think about it and making a video. Cheers all the way down from Argentina!
PS: And yes, Solano Lopez's drawing are fucking incredible. He's great at conveying emotion with facial expression's. That frame in which the Hand says "I'm afraid so, human. I'm dying" (or something along those lines, since I haven't read the English version) always gets me.
you have to take into consideration that his was written in the 60s and it's the most important argentinian comic. that's why its considered a master piece
One of the best, there is plenty of good comics
For me, The Eternaut has served as inspiration for the movie "12 monkeys". I'm not talking about theft, nor about a free adaptation, but at some point it has been an inspiration among others.
The idea of deadly snow, the idea of man wandering in time, I see traces present in both stories.
And I do not think this is innocent, we know Terry Gilliam's past as an illustrator. And also the movie has music by Astor Piazzolla, an Argentine musician. if Gilliam immersed himself in the Argentine culture until arriving to Piazzolla, he can calmly have reached The Eternaut. What's more, in Europe it's a classic for decades.
I think wrapping a series up as a whole is a better idea honestly. It's more comprehensive and interesting in my opinion. Obviously that"s why i watched the full 36 minutes. And then purchased the book off amazon. Thank you for the video.
I think that the introduction that you've made for this video was really interesting. I would like to see more videos where you speak about a topic like that.
I'm Italian and I can relate to the first part of the video. I saw a lot of american youtubers buying only american comics and to me this is crazy and it's impossibile to belive that The Eternaut wasn't published in the USA before 2015, it's like if told you that Watchmen it's unpublished in Europe.
But onestly I'm subscribed to your channel because you show us not only superhero comics but also stuff like that, but you are the exeption.
I also think that the problem is bigger: it's not just the fact that a lot of European comics isn't published in the USA but something else, because sometimes I had to buy an american version of an italian comics that is out of print (for example Lorenzo Mattotti's comics) and this comics are mostly unknown for USA readers.
And I'm not talking only about italian author (I'm not a patriot ahaha) but also other author like Miguel Angel Martin, or american author like Don Rosa.
Hi! I'm from Argentina, nice review. I clicked really fast when I saw you reviewed an argentinian comic!
Great review. Just to add to the context: Oesterheld founded a Publishing company about a year before that, called "Frontera" (Frontier/Boundary) to edit a monthly comic magazine of the same name, and later on he added "Hora Zero" (Zero hour) as a weekly supplement, which was the one featuring The Eternaut. Oesterheld wrote all the scripts for the 7 comics from the main publication and all the scripts for the 11 comics for the supplement, featuring about 8 different cartoonists, including Hugo Pratt and Alberto Breccia, so by the time he was writing episodes for The Eternaut he was concurrently writing episodes for several other stories. So I guess this imposed a big deal of time compartment to himself as the only writer that he, as the publisher, had to keep the interests of their readers of the different stories published at once, that would include readers of stories about WWII, mystery crime, general realistic adventures, and sci-fi.
It'd be interesting to get the hands into the original Hora Zero and Frontera magazines, because I suspect that as the attention shifted from adding interesting action to one of the strips, he may have resourced on giving less text and more recapping or place description to the cartoonists of others, and vice versa, with the outcome you notice of the changes of pace and the pauses when we see the comic as a whole.
About the iconic of The Eternaut, well, as you said, it was sort of premonitory of Oesterhend and his family fate, and of many things as unfolded over time regarding the dictatorial government and the oppressive ambient lived by people, so Juan Salvo/The Eternaut became a symbol of resistance to oppression and to the kind of forces that keep the class warfare and the human exploit machinery rolling.
It also has this Half-Life feel to it with all these fantastical alien devices and creatures that the commoner has to resist.
Spoiler alert maybe:
Also, It is really similar that the "overlords" of the invasion are unknown beings that are never shown, that use the population of the planets before conquered to invade new ones.
It is said that the inspiration for Half-Life
was this comic
@@TheFlamboHD I would really be baffled if it wasn’t
Good God, what ultimately became of the writer is so tragic...i think I might pick this book up after checking it out at a bookstore. I like the psychological aspects of the story. The way the art is framed lends to the feel of paranoia. Everything is neatly framed in these small boxes, giving a sense of claustrophobia befitting of the premise.
And I agree about the packaging...the plastic sleeve is one too many layering.
Magnificent!! Been following the channel for awhile and I'm happy to see you reviewing this!! I was born and raised on that part of Buenos Aires where the events of "The Eternaut" take place, I see some of those places daily (some have changed a lot, naturally) and this comic book has a deep historical meaning to us, so it's a real trip to go back to it.
The remake is by Breccia, fantastic artist. Impossible-to-get edition.
Netflix signed a contract for making the serie.
Brgds
Nerdventures, You could do a mini review for each volume and then a final summary review of the entire storyline. Because let's face it. There are stories that start strong and fall flat, while other start very slow and end with a bang. I do enjoy hearing your thoughts about what you read.
The 50’s. That’s Cold War period.
Lived at the far en of the US “Backyard”, through the eyes of an Argentine comic artist political awakening.
And yes, Hector Germán Oesterheld, along with His daughters and sons in law are “disappeared” by the military regime, only survived by His wife, while Solano Lopez went into exile in Europe.
This is excellent book! A true masterpiece.
When you talk about how you don't get to see the things he sees in his travels and all that, there are actually a lot of short stories that are centered around that. None of them writen by Oesterheld, i think, but they're pretty good nontheless.
You get your typical stories about visiting alien worlds and all that, and some more grounded ones, for example in one story he travelled to Hiroshima the day the bomb fell, pretty heavy stuff.
And then there's also the sequel, where the framing device of the first book actually makes more sense, with Oesterheld being a character in the story and all that.
I got this a few months back after it got reprinted....I saw earlgrays review ....I wasnt disappointed.....great read.
Nice review. It's good that you are promoting comics that are off-mainstream for the US audience. As for the pacing, expectations and value of the Eternaut you need to take into account that this was done in the 50s. It's waay ahead of its time, considering other comics from that age. The depth of the characters, their flaws and virtues, their fear and despair.. feels very real and convincing, even if i was too bored buy the many captions and the slow pacing. Also, while we can view the Eternaut as a political allegory it's not what got Oesterheld killed. It's that his following work (the sequels to Eternaut, which i haven't read but are valued much less than the original) got more obviously leftist... sadly too much for the junta to tolerate. I see Fanta is preparing a release for Mort Cinder, you should definitely check that one too. Also check Munoz and Sampayo's work (also Argentinian), most notably Alack Sinner. A true gem, and an obvious influence on Frank Miller.
Half true... Yes, The 2nd Eternaut is more allegorical, and he also did a comic of Che Guevara, but he and his daughters were kidnaped ad then killed because of their activities, not because of his writing. The political group Montoneros were they belong was proscripted, out of the law, turned into a guerrilla party. Please don´t think I agree with their killing ! I´m just ponting that it was not just because of his writing.
The Breccia version is being released soon, apparently much more unique, going to be v interesting to compare the two
There's a version of Eternaut illustrated by Breccia??
Good review!
I can understand that last point you said it dissapinted you... But I think that end is simply FANTASTIC!!! And if you try to think as a 1959 argentinean reader, I think it would´ve been a blow mind at the time.
I think maybe when he started the story he came with the tittle "eternaut" an eternity voyager, but then, he got too much into the story of the invation and the losts of Juan Salvo than when you get to the end, it really doesn´t matter all other places he´s been, the important thing is his drama.
One thing that I liked to add is that in Buenos Aires it almost never, NEVER snows... I think it only did twice in history (one in 2007, very far from Oesterheld´s death).
And yes, It´s very refreshing to see an american enjoying other comics beside superheroes, welcome aboard!
Take a look at Mort Cinder, please!!!!
I loved FSLopez' work on Janus Stark, Joe Colquhoun's Charli'es War and Johnny Red is awesome too. I think JC is our (the UK's) greatest comic artist. Well worth finding. Mike Ploog thinks highly of him. FSLopes did erotic Comics....Don't tell anyone...
the battle in the football stadium of river !! ,yeeah , i love the eternaut , nice video
Gracias por tu vídeo! Saludos desde Buenos Aires 😄 Argentina!!!
Thanks for reviewing this comic. Is a very important part of our history. Beautiful edition from Fantagraphics!!
minute 8:00 the artist of the remake was alberto breccia, an uruguayan god of chiaroscuro
Definitely a great review. In the case of the framing Oesterheld used (as a storytelling device, using a first person account of a meeting with Juan Salvo, the Eternaut), you should consider that the author was later prosecuted and killed. The second part of the series was written while Oesterheld was escaping from the dictatorship, and then he was disappeared and presumably killed... On the other hand you should consider that it was written in 1957. If you pick other European and american comic of that era, you could get a understanding of how precursor it was back then.
Great review man, glad to see you talking about a book from my country.
another argentinian here! great review, keep up the good work. Saludos!
Is it complete edition? In Brasil it is about the same size but divided in 2 editions total plus 500 pages. Fanta edition have 377 if I remember right. Wish I could compare both.
I've just read this book and started searching form some reviews. I think it's nice and agree with you that it's not a masterpiece. It's fun and enjoyed the reading. I liked it for the art and for being made in the 60s context. I felt like reading a book, and some times i cought my self not even looking at the pictures at all... i've just kept reading and reading and the drawing came in second place.
As you mentioned, it was published weekly and, because of that, the author had to repeat a lot of information to help people remember what happened before. It's a great thing to do for a weekly series, but it's pretty annoying if you reading everything no stoping.
Nice review! great to see someone else's opinion!
It was a weekly comic strip in an Argentinian newspaper
Check out another great argentinian comic artist: Enrique Alcatena.
His art is crazy but in the cool way.
Diego Pagliarecci he's amazing. pd: what is the name of the character of your account photo?
Juan Perez it's freakazoid
Is there a Spanish version of this edition?
gracias por recomendarlo .. una obra de arte .. Saludos bro
I think the way you're doing the reviews is great that way. It presents the bigger picture. If you did one for each book, you might run into the issue of not being able to say much without spoiling, when reviewing latter runs, or being indecisive about wether you like something, because it might depend on what is yet to come (altough I don't think that would be too big of a problem).
Nice review. I enjoyed the book very much. I made a video after I got my copy. Sad fate the writer shared with his children.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILL!!!
what's November's book for book club?
happy birthday dude.
I think that reviewing a whole series/runs is better idea if you are reviewing let's say Gotham Centra omni. But in case of Y: The Last Man absolutes it would be better do separate video for every book.
I saw Doctor Strange the other day and actually really enjoyed it. Just mentioned because you were talking about being pessimistic and how the mystical elements and modern world mightn't mesh so well in your last Get A Cat, Get A Horse episode.
Nice! We are going to do an episode on it on the 13th of November I think. Are you in the UK, it's out there first right? I'm getting more interested as we are getting closer and people seem to be saying there is more in the movie than the trailer gives away. I'm not sure if the visuals they chose for the marketing were the best to show what it is...
Yeah, I'm actually in Ireland. It came out here and in the UK on the 25th. I'm not saying it was a masterpiece, or even the best MCU film to date, but I left the theatre thoroughly satisfied and wishing I could cast spells and do badass shit (of which there was much throughout the movie)
15:36 - in buenos aires does not exist the snow
Actually, it snows but very occasionally, every 80 years or more.
That's why it's obvious for the group that the deadly snow is nothing but an alien invasion outpost, and not a local natural phenomenon.
Personally I prefer full series reviews. I feel that it would be hard to watch a review of say Y the Last Man Absolute 3 without spooling the content for someone who has not read it. In that case I would most likely just watch the video covering the first book to get your impressions and skip the proceeding ones. Mine is a definitely a vote for full series reviews.
You lost me at “give Zack Snyder control of the marvel universe”. Those movies have grossed over $15B, they don’t need saving.
If you want to read a story from the big two that has some deeper level, I think you'd like Omega Men.
Yeah I plan on it, waiting for an OHC release of some sort!
The MCU is a big popcorn circus.
if its a long enough series (more than 60 issues) then yes do individual reviews for individual books
It is a masterpiece but you have to consider the year in wich it was done. Try to compare it to other comics from that era
After min 25 this bald guy los es his way...
Did I ever find it to begin with 😅
@@SequentialsDeluxe at the begginin yeahh
Talk about the whole series but show each book?....
Wow the more videos of yours I watch the less I like you! Haha. Actually my wallet & bank account dislike you but I really like watching your videos. I grew up reading Marvel comics and have wondered about buying these collected hardcovers. I'm sold! But I think I'm even more interested in reading things I may not have heard of such as the Eternaut, Moebius, etc. Great job. Keep 'em coming!