Héctor Germán Oesterheld, also known as his common abbreviation HGO (born July 23, 1919; disappeared and presumed dead 1977), was an

Argentine Argentines (mistakenly translated Argentineans in the past; in Spanish (masculine) or (feminine)) are people identified with the country of Argentina. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Argentines, s ...

journalist and writer of

graphic novels A graphic novel is a long-form, fictional work of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comic scholars and industry ...

and

comics a medium used to express ideas with images, often combined with text or other visual information. It typically the form of a sequence of panels of images. Textual devices such as speech balloons, captions, and onomatopoeia can indicate ...

. He has come to be celebrated as a master in his field and as one of the pioneering artists in Argentine modern comics. Through his comics, Oesterheld criticized the numerous military dictatorships that beleaguered the country in different periods ranging from 1955 to 1983, as well as different facets of

capitalism Capitalism is an economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production and their operation for Profit (economics), profit. Central characteristics of capitalism include capital accumulation, competitive markets, pric ...

colonialism Colonialism is a practice or policy of control by one people or power over other people or areas, often by establishing colonies and generally with the aim of economic dominance. In the process of colonisation, colonisers may impose their relig ...

and

imperialism Imperialism is the state policy, practice, or advocacy of extending power and dominion, especially by direct territorial acquisition or by gaining political and economic control of other areas, often through employing hard power (economic and ...

, choosing a subtle criticism in his early comics during the 1950s and early 1960s, and a stronger and direct approach in his later work, after the execution of

Che Guevara Ernesto Che Guevara (; 14 June 1928The date of birth recorded on /upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Ernesto_Guevara_Acta_de_Nacimiento.jpg his birth certificatewas 14 June 1928, although one tertiary source, (Julia Constenla, quoted ...

in 1967, and onwards from then on: in 1968 he wrote a biographical comic book of Che Guevara, which was subsequently banned by the ''

Argentine Revolution Argentine Revolution ( es, Revolución Argentina, links=no) was the name given by its leaders to a military coup d'état which overthrew the government of Argentina in June 1966 and began a period of military dictatorship by a junta from then ...

''. During the

National Reorganization Process The National Reorganization Process (Spanish: ''Proceso de Reorganización Nacional'', often simply ''el Proceso'', "the Process") was the military dictatorship that ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983, in which it was supported by the United Sta ...

, Oesterheld and his daughters joined the

Montoneros Montoneros ( es, link=no, Movimiento Peronista Montonero-MPM) was an Argentine left-wing Peronist guerrilla organization, active throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. The name is an allusion to the 19th-century cavalry militias called Montoner ...

, a leftist (and former

peronist Peronism, also called justicialism,. The Justicialist Party is the main Peronist party in Argentina, it derives its name from the concept of social justice., name=, group= is an Argentine political movement based on the ideas and legacy of Ar ...

)

guerrilla group Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare in which small groups of combatants, such as paramilitary personnel, armed civilians, or Irregular military, irregulars, use military tactics including ambushes, sabotage, Raid (military), raids ...

that opposed the military junta. HGO continued to publish works in clandestine form while hidden in secret locations, but he was ultimately kidnapped and disappeared. His daughters were also arrested and disappeared, as were his sons-in-law. Only HGO's wife, Elsa, escaped the family's tragic fate. Over the years, Oesterheld's legacy has become vast, influencing several generations of new artists, particularly in literature and comic books.

Biography

Oesterheld was born in

Buenos Aires Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...

to a German father and a Spanish

Basque Basque may refer to: * Basques, an ethnic group of Spain and France * Basque language, their language Places * Basque Country (greater region), the homeland of the Basque people with parts in both Spain and France * Basque Country (autonomous co ...

mother. His early studies were in geology, which has been said to contribute to his acuity as a science fiction writer. He began his journalistic career in the early 1940s. His first work appeared in the daily ''

La Prensa ''La Prensa'' ("The Press") is a frequently used name for newspapers in the Spanish-speaking world. It may refer to: Argentina * ''La Prensa'' (Buenos Aires) * , a current publication of Caleta Olivia, Santa Cruz Bolivia * ''La Prensa'' (La Paz ...

'' newspaper and then was published by Codex. He moved to Abril publishers, where he began his extensive career as a

writer. Soon after, he married Elsa Sánchez. Their first daughter, Estela, was born in 1952, Diana a year later, Beatriz in 1955, and Marina in 1957. Oesterheld was befriended by a group of postwar Italian comics writers, including

Mario Faustinelli Mario Faustinelli (8 November 1924 – 31 July 2006) was an Italian comic book artist and editor. Faustinelli was born in Venice in 1924. After the end of World War II, Faustinelli, along with artists Hugo Pratt, Ivo Pavone, and Dino Battaglia, ...

Hugo Pratt Ugo Eugenio Prat, better known as Hugo Pratt (15 June 1927 – 20 August 1995), was an Italian comic book creator who was known for combining strong storytelling with extensive historical research on works such as ''Corto Maltese''. He was indu ...

, Ivo Pavone, and

Dino Battaglia Dino Battaglia (1 August 1923 – 4 October 1983) was an Italian comic artist, noted for a distinctive and expressive style, best known for his visual adaptations of classic novels. In 1946 Dino Battaglia became part of the so-called Group of Ven ...

, also known as the ''Venice Group''. Together these artists and writers became part of what is known as the "

Golden Age of Argentine Comics Argentine comics ( es, historietas) are one of the most important comic traditions internationally, and the most important within Latin America Latin America or * french: Amérique Latine, link=no * ht, Amerik Latin, link=no * pt, América L ...

." They merged into an international scene of artists and writers whose works were published worldwide. In 1957 Oesterheld and his brother Jorge founded

Editorial Frontera Editorial Frontera was an Argentine publisher of comic books, which lasted from 1956 to 1961. It was established by the author Héctor Germán Oesterheld. History Héctor Germán Oesterheld created two popular characters for the '' Misterix'' maga ...

. Together they published various comic magazines, including ''Hora Cero Semanal'' (weekly), ''Hora Cero Mensual'' (monthly), and ''Frontera Mensual'' (monthly). In 1958 he started writing ''

El Eternauta ''The Eternaut'' ( es, El Eternauta) is a science fiction Argentine comic created by Héctor Germán Oesterheld with artwork by Francisco Solano López. It was first published in '' Hora Cero Semanal'' between 1957 and 1959. Since its original r ...

'', probably his most popular and critically acclaimed work. The strip, with artwork by

Francisco Solano López Francisco Solano López Carrillo (24 July 1827 – 1 March 1870) was President of Paraguay from 1862 until his death in 1870. He was the eldest son of Juana Pabla Carrillo and of President Carlos Antonio López, Francisco's predecessor. ...

, told the story of his meeting with a time traveler, who had already lived over 100 lives and has journeyed to the past to warn the protagonist of a future catastrophe. The strip was published in ''Hora Cero'' over 106 weekly episodes and was a massive success. His publishing house closed five years later due to a combination of the economic crisis sweeping Argentina in the 1960s, foreign competition, and the exodus of Argentine comic artists to Europe. Oesterheld continued writing for other magazines such as ''Zig-Zag''. His work slowly acquired a greater political emphasis. His 1968 biography of

Ernesto 'Che' Guevara Ernesto Che Guevara (; 14 June 1928The date of birth recorded on /upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Ernesto_Guevara_Acta_de_Nacimiento.jpg his birth certificatewas 14 June 1928, although one tertiary source, (Julia Constenla, quoted ...

, a year after Che's death, was removed from circulation by the government and the originals destroyed. In 1970 he wrote a scathing critical biography of

Evita Peron Evita may refer to: Arts * ''Evita'' (1996 film), a 1996 American musical drama film based on the 1976 concept album of the same name * ''Evita'' (2008 film), a documentary about Eva Péron * ''Evita'' (album), a concept album released in 1976 a ...

, dedicated to

. In 1973 he published ''450 Years of War Against Imperialism''. During the

military government A military government is generally any form of government that is administered by military forces, whether or not this government is legal under the laws of the jurisdiction at issue, and whether this government is formed by natives or by an occup ...

of the 1970s, Oesterheld is believed to have joined, following his four daughters, a leftist guerrilla group, the

. His story ''El Eternauta, Part II'' (1976) described a futuristic Argentina under a dictatorship. In 1976 Oesterheld

disappeared An enforced disappearance (or forced disappearance) is the secret abduction or imprisonment of a person by a state or political organization, or by a third party with the authorization, support, or acquiescence of a state or political organiza ...

. He was last recorded as seen alive in late 1977 or early 1978. His family believed he was among the tens of thousands to have disappeared and been killed by the government. In 1977 his daughters, Diana (23), Beatriz (19), Estela (25) and Marina (18), were arrested by the

Argentine armed forces The Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic, in es, Fuerzas Armadas de la República Argentina, are controlled by the Commander-in-Chief (the President) and a civilian Minister of Defense. In addition to the Army, Navy and Air Force, there are ...

La Plata La Plata () is the capital city of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. According to the , it has a population of 654,324 and its metropolitan area, the Greater La Plata, has 787,294 inhabitants. It is located 9 kilometers (6 miles) inland from th ...

. None were seen again, and they were all presumed dead. His daughters' husbands also disappeared (''desaparecidos''). One grandson, Martín, was born in captivity. Oesterheld's widow, Elsa Sánchez, learned about the boy and recovered him from government custody, although she never saw her daughter again. She raised Martin. A second grandson, Fernando, born earlier, was raised by his paternal grandparents. Elsa Sánchez participated in the protests of the

Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo is an Argentine human rights association formed in response to the National Reorganization Process, the military dictatorship by Jorge Rafael Videla, with the goal of finding the ''desaparecidos'', initially, an ...

. She became one of the spokeswomen for the

Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo The Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo ( es, italic=no, Asociación Civil Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo) is a human rights organization with the goal of finding the children stolen and illegally adopted during the 1976–1983 Argentine military dicta ...

, which advocates for the return of children of the "

" to their birth families. When the Italian journalist

Alberto Ongaro Alberto Ongaro (22 August 1925 – 23 March 2018), also known by his pseudonym Alfredo Nogara, was an Italian journalist, writer and comics writer. Biography Born in Venice, Italy, he lived for a long time in South America and England, before ret ...

enquired about Oesterheld's disappearance in 1979, he received the reply: "We did away with him because he wrote the most beautiful story of Ché Guevara ever done". Argentine journalist

Jacobo Timmerman Jacobo Timerman (6 January 1923 – 11 November 1999), was a Soviet-born Argentine publisher, journalist, and author, who is most noted for his confronting and reporting the atrocities of the Argentine military regime's Dirty War during a perio ...

, in his memoir of his own captivity, ''Prisoner Without a Name, Cell Without a Number'' (1981), recalls seeing Oesterheld in 1977 across the hall in a prison. In a report to the Argentine

National Commission on the Disappearance of Persons National Commission on the Disappearance of Persons (Spanish: ', CONADEP) was an Argentine organization created by President Raúl Alfonsín on 15 December 1983, shortly after his inauguration, to investigate the fate of the ''desaparecidos'' (vi ...

, which published its findings in 1984 entitled ''Nunca Más'', Eduardo Arias recalls seeing Oesterheld between November 1977 and January 1978. He said the man was in terrible physical condition and at the secret detention center El Vesubio, which prisoners had sardonically named "the Sheraton".

Legacy

Oesterheld worked with artists including

Alberto Breccia Alberto Breccia (April 15, 1919 – November 10, 1993) was an Uruguayan-born Argentina, Argentine artist and cartoonist. A gifted penciller and inker, Breccia is one of the most celebrated and famous comics/Historieta creators in the world, and sp ...

, Ivo Pavone,

, as well as

Horacio Altuna Horacio Altuna (born November 24, 1941) is an Argentine comics artist. Biography Altuna was born in Córdoba. He began working in the comics world in 1965 for the publisher Editorial Columbia. His first characters were Titan, a Superman-like s ...

, José Massaroli, Eugenio Zoppi, Paul Campani, Gustavo Trigo,

Julio Schiaffino Julio is the Spanish equivalent of the month July and may refer to: *Julio (given name) *Julio (surname) *Júlio de Castilhos, a municipality of the western part of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil * ''Julio'' (album), a 1983 compilation albu ...

and others.

Bibliography

Early period

* ''Alan y Crazy'', artwork by Eugenio Zoppi. * ''Bull Rocket'', artwork by Paul Campani,

, and others * '' El Sargento Kirk'', artwork by Hugo Pratt and others * ''Ray Kitt'', artwork by

. * ''Tarpón'', artwork by Daniel Haupt. * ''Uma-Uma'', artwork by Francisco Solano López * ''Indio Suárez'', artwork by Carlos Freixas and Carlos Cruz.

''Ediciones Frontera''

* ''Ticonderoga'' (1957), artwork by Hugo Pratt and Gisela Dexter * ''Rolo, el marciano adoptivo'' (1957), artwork by Francisco Solano López * ''Nahuel Barros'' (1957), artwork by Carlos Roume * ''

Ernie Pike ''Ernie Pike'' is a comics series written by Héctor Germán Oesterheld and originally drawn by Hugo Pratt, starring a World War II and Korean War reporter. It was first published in the magazine "'' Hora Cero"'' in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1957 ...

'' (1957), artwork by Hugo Pratt, Francisco Solano López and others * ''

'', artwork by Francisco Solano López * ''Cayena'' (1958), artwork by Daniel Haupt * ''Dr. Morgue'' (1959), artwork by

* ''Buster Pike'' (1959), artwork by Julio Schiaffino * ''Randall'', artwork by Arturo del Castillo * ''Lacky Piedras'', artwork by Carlos Cruz * ''Tipp Kenya'', artwork by Carlos Roume * ''Verdugo Ranch'', artwork by Ivo Pavone * ''Patria vieja'' (1958), artwork by Carlos Roume and Juan Arancio * ''Hueso clavado'', artwork by Ivo Pavone * ''Leonero Brent'', artwork by Jorge Moliterni * ''Rul de luna'', artwork by Francisco Solano López and Horianski * ''Capitán Lázaro'', artwork by Enrique Cristóbal * ''Pichi'', artwork by Carlos Roume * ''

Sherlock Time ''Sherlock Time'' is an Argentine comic book by Héctor Germán Oesterheld and Alberto Breccia. Premise The retiree Julio Luna buys a mansion in San Isidro, whose previous owners disappeared in strange circumstances. It turns out that the tower ...

'', artwork by Alberto Breccia * ''Tom de la pradera'', artwork by

Ernesto García Seijas Ernesto Rudesindo García Seijas (1 June 1941 – 28 March 2023) was an Argentine comics artist. Biography García Seijas was born in Ramos Mejía, and at age 17 he made his debut in comics by providing art for the series ''Bill y Boss'', publis ...

* ''Lord Crack'', artwork by Hugo Pratt, Bertolini, Moliterni and Flores * ''Amapola negra'', artwork by Francisco Solano López * ''Joe Zonda'', artwork by Francisco Solano López and Julio Schiaffino * ''Pereyra, taxista'' (1960), artwork by Leopoldo Durañona * ''Mortimer'', artwork by Rubén Sosa * ''Doc Carson'', artwork by Carlos Vogt * ''Cachas de oro'' (1961), artwork by Carlos Vogt * ''Santos Bravo'', artwork by Arancio * ''Historias de la ciudad grande'', artwork by Leandro Sesarego, Ángel A. Fernández and García Seijas * ''Paul Neutrón'' (1962), artwork by Schiaffino.

Third period

* ''Capitán Caribe'' (1961), artwork by

* ''El Eternauta "remake" (1969), artwork by Alberto Breccia * '' Mort Cinder'' (1962), artwork by Alberto Breccia * ''León Loco'' (1963), artwork by García Seijas * ''Herida Mortal'' (1963), artwork by Durañona. * ''Birdman'' (1964), artwork by Eugenio Zoppi. * ''Futureman'' (1964), artwork by Eugenio Zoppi.Futureman
Oesterheld Library Blog * ''Lord Pampa'', artwork by Francisco Solano López * ''Watami'', artwork by Moliterni * ''Artemio, el taxista de Buenos Aires'', artwork by Néstor Olivera and Pablo Zahlut * ''Tres por la ley'', artwork by Marchionne and José Massaroli * ''Argón el justiciero'', artwork awing by Vogt * ''Brigada Madeleine'', artwork by Sierra * ''Aakón'', artwork by Ángel A. Fernández and José Massaroli * ''Kabul de Bengala'', artwork by

* ''Roland el Corsario'', artwork by José Luis García López and others * ''Marvo Luna'', artwork by Francisco Solano López * ''Russ Congo'', artwork by Carlos Clement * ''Loco Sexton'', artwork by Arturo del Castillo * ''

Vida del Che ''Vida del Che'' () is an Argentine biographical graphic novel written by Héctor Germán Oesterheld and illustrated by Alberto Breccia and Enrique Breccia.Enrique Enrique () is the Spanish language, Spanish variant of the given name Heinrich (given name), Heinrich of Germanic origin. Equivalents in other languages are Henry (given name), Henry (English), Enric (Catalan), Enrico (Italian), Henrik (Swedish, D ...

and Alberto Breccia, biography of

* ''La guerra de los Antartes'' (1970), artwork by León Napoo and Gustavo Trigo * '' Evita, vida y obra de Eva Perón'' (1970), artwork by Alberto Breccia, a biography of

Eva Perón María Eva Duarte de Perón (; ; 7 May 1919 – 26 July 1952), better known as just Eva Perón or by the nickname Evita (), was an Argentine politician, activist, actress, and philanthropist who served as First Lady of Argentina from June 194 ...

* ''450 años de Guerra Contra el Imperialismo'' (1973), artwork by Leopoldo Durañona * ''Nekrodamus'' (1975), artwork by Horacio Lalia * ''Watami'' (1976), artwork by Jorge Moliterni * ''El Eternauta II'' (1976), artwork by Francisco Solano López

Notes

Oesterheld bio
FFF

Bedetheque

References

External links

Agrupación Oesterheld

Héctor Germán Oesterheld´s Historical Archives

on Lambiek Comiclopedia

on Historieteca

on Henciclopedia

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oesterheld, Hector 1919 births 1970s missing person cases 1977 deaths Argentine comics writers Argentine people of Basque descent Argentine people of German descent Missing people Missing person cases in Argentina Montoneros People from Buenos Aires People killed in Operation Condor People killed in the Dirty War