Metahulla: 1959

## Description

*Metahulla*: *1959* is a comic written in 2018 by Nelson Daniel and Francisco Ortega, who also was the did all the illustrations. The comic explores an alternative history of the world where a material called *Metahulla* changes the course of history forever. The book explores the many 'what ifs' that are typical in the genre of speculative fiction.

This issue is a proceeds *Metahulla 1899,* the first installment of this narrative in this alternative timeline.

## The Author

Francisco Ortega is a Chilean author, writer, journalist and professor at Pontifical Católica Universito de Chile teaching editing. His best-selling novel is called *Logia*, published by Planeta which was a bestseller in Chile for 25 weeks. He also won an award on the television program 2009. Consejo Nacional de Televisino for his work on his series *Adiós al Séptimo de Linea.*

## Plot

The opening pages start with the Argentino,the adopted son of soon to be protagonist Dr. Salvador Allende, as a child playing baseball when suddenly aliens attack; Arengtino's real father, who is a coworker of Dr Allende, dies in the attack.

Flash forward to the future, we see Dr. Allende speak with Supreme General Fidel Castro where he is given a mission in response to the request of Argentino. Throughout this interaction, it is revealed in this alternate timeline, miners had discovered a material called 'Metahulla' which has the capacity to make superheroes, dangerous weapons and advanced technology.

The team arrives travels to Antartica in a an technologically advanced submarine. They encounter huge, killer sharks in which they escape narrowly and are captured by agents of the nation of Antarctica. On Antarctica and is revealed the true nature of Metahulla and the war that is has spawned: Aliens are invading planet earth for Metahulla, which has the capability to destroy humanity and Earth. It is also reveal that General Pinochet instigated the war to begin because he thought it would save the human race. So, the team of protagonist go to save the world.

The comic concludes on detonation of a large bomb which leaves the second installment on a cliffhanger as to the fate of the protagonists and the Earth.

## Analysis

In terms of genre, *Metahulla* falls under speculative fiction, sci-fi and adventure. The last two are universally known, but to define the speculative fiction, the genre includes fiction with some elements that differ from reality. Speculative fiction functions in *Metahulla* as to defamiliarize the context of the story. This technique of this type of storytelling allows the reader to be more susceptible to new or over saturated themes, in this case, the themes of struggle for power, courage, and self preservation at any cost are explored.

The comic also has a large latin american influence by the mention (not exclusively) of Fidel Castro as Supreme leader, Latin American protagonists and references to Stereotypical American subjects (Presidents and popular movies like John Kennedy and War of the Worlds).

Last note, the authors speak to political climate through the defamiliarization of nations through an alien species. Defamiliarization also allows the authors to address political leaders (superheros), war (alien invasion) and heritage.

## Sources

[1] https://1408tributostephenking.wordpress.com/sobre-los-autores/

[2] https://www.facebook.com/planetachile/photos/pb.46381125249.-2207520000.1425351026./10153040297495250/?type=3&theater

[3] By Rodrigo Fernández - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54038054

[4] https://www.cntv.cl/adios-al-septimo-de-linea/cntv/2016-10-05/130024.html