13 Rue del Percebe is one of the creations great of who is undoubtedly our greatest exponent of classic comics: Francisco Ibanez. Now over 60 years old, this particular building and its diverse community of neighbors remain popular and have left their mark, and continue to influence this era of technology and a multitude of audiovisual and entertainment products. we give a review of its history.
13 Rue del Percebe
Corrected and enlarged portrait of Spain in the 60s, 13, Rue del Percebe shows us a society without political correctness and also a deformed mirror of the idiosyncrasy of the average Spanish of that time. Everything with its point of irony, surrealism, madness, mischief and deceit.
From
The first edition of 13, Rue del Barnacle It came out on March 6. 1961. Ibáñez had already created Mortadelo and Filemon and presented this new cartoon of so novel structure. He later confessed that he had to stop doing it for the huge job which meant not only the detailed drawing, but the script for all those characters.
Many years later he had a updated version to the times between 1986-90 which was 7, Rebolling Street, but it did not achieve the success of its original.
Characters
don ferret
Maybe is the most surreal of all. Lives in the sewer right in front of the building's goal and a thousand and one situations happen to each one more crazy. We don't know if she has family or friends, we are simply witnesses of her adventures in the underground, in which they sneak in or can live with all kinds of beings.
Dona Leonor
La owner of the pension on the first floor It is the portrait of that landlady who lodges tenants of all kinds in her home, but shows very little generosity with them.
ceferino
The thief on the top floor who lives with his wife. He plies his trade anywhere and steals anything from an ocean liner to a satellite to even the bus passenger clinging to the bar. He also sometimes meets the police who follows in his footsteps, but does not punish and always shows off his profession.
Don Senen
Is Shop's owner next to the goal and time passes cheating your customers in all ways. With the weight of the products, their quality, with the price… Everything to increase your profits. But sometimes it backfires and more than once it has had to close.
Crazy scientific
To put a terrifying touch of humor, and in contrast to his neighbor, the old lady who loves animals, there is this scientist who spends his life inventing devices to do evil, or creating Frankenstein-like monsters which certainly give more laughter than fear. Later Ibáñez changed it to a tailor, who also had very particular clients.
Doña Benita and her five children
La self-sacrificing mother of five children who are more monstrous than the ones invented by the mad scientist below. From time to time there is also a eldest daughter whose suitors are always the object of children's pranks.
Manolo the defaulter
Inspired by the figure of the cartoonist Manuel Vazquez, lives in the attic from the roof He is a painter who is always being chased by a lot of creditors who usually queue up at your door to see if they can get you to pay them. But Manolo always succeeds give them the slip or set traps.
Characters of 13 Rue del Percebe | Francisco Ibanez
Portress
patient and phlegmaticHe is usually in his goal, but he does not lose sight of everything that happens inside and outside the building. many times he touches deal with neighbors and problems that occur, such as when the elevator it spoils in a thousand and one ways.
Old woman
one of the most endearing inhabitants of this building. She is a widow and always tends to have or adopt an animal, especially cats, who normally play him bad pasts. Sometimes he has a visit from Some friend with which he shares his adventures or tells him his sorrows and joys.
Veterinary
Just below the old lady is the consultation of this veterinarian to which a multitude of patients who sometimes no longer have a solution, or those who are not interested in curing.
The mouse, the cat and the spiders
Those who don't need a word to put a smile on your face. extras and protagonists at the same time, they are usually on the roof and the landing of the stairs. The cat and the Mouse they are always in the middle of a moment in which the last one is about to do a scoundrel to the first. Are tortures which include trying to cut off its tail in any way and with any object, sending it into space by a whole rocket, throwing it off the roof and many other things, all cruel.
Family Spiders, for their part, live in the landing from the different floors of the building and sometimes they leave characterized depending on the theme of the comic, for example, with a raincoat or umbrella when sometimes there have been floods or a lot of rain.
13 Rue del Percebe and I
13 Rue del Percebe is possibly my first memory of comics that I keep from my already distant early childhood. The older brother had them Javi, my neighbor, friend and schoolmate, and we took them almost secretly, because what I do not remember anymore was if he would let us.
The fact is that only the novel graphic conception visually appealing and its content, then studied to the smallest detail, was also completely original. With the years and the reading, it has still acquired more value, not only for its drawings or the script, but for everything in general. And, without a doubt, for the value sentimental and social experience of several generations as a portrait of an era and idiosyncrasy that we all (we) recognize. So I encourage the new ones to discover this street so great.