Accidental Ambassador Gordo: The Comic Strip Art of Gus Arriola
During its 44-year run, "Gordo" stood out on newspaper pages, not just because of artist Arriola's distinctive style, but because its Mexican setting and cast gave U.S. readers authentic if humorously exaggerated exposure to Latin American culture. (Remarkably, Arizona-born Arriola never went to Mexico until the strip was 20 years old.) The strip's eponymous star was lovable despite or, perhaps, because of his inveterate laziness and skirt chasing. His colorful supporting cast included nephew Pepito, housekeeper Tchuana Mama, and a household menagerie that served as a furred and feathered Greek-style chorus. The daily strips, especially in the early years, offered an ongoing narrative that brought Arriola's skills at characterization and wordplay to the fore, and Sunday installments gave full rein to his sense of design and color. Harvey provides perhaps too much detail, including anecdotes about Arriola's friends and his early career as a Disney animator, but still leaves plenty of room for the cartoons. Arriola retired "Gordo" in 1985. It is still fondly remembered, and this volume is an overdue tribute to a classic strip.Gordon FlaggCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.