Francisco Ibanez, the esteemed comic strip artist widely regarded as Spain’s greatest of the late 20th century, has sadly passed away at the age of 87, according to his publisher’s announcement on Saturday. Ibanez was most famous for his beloved children’s strip “Mortadelo and Filemon.”
In a statement, Penguin Random House Group Editorial expressed deep sorrow, stating, “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of the talented cartoonist Francisco Ibanez this morning in Barcelona.”
Ibanez’s artistic journey began in Barcelona, where he honed his skills by drawing on the corner of his father’s newspaper, as he had no other paper available to work on at home.
At the tender age of seven in 1943, he earned five pesetas for his first cartoon published in the comic “Chicos.” Despite this early success, Ibanez heeded his father’s advice and pursued studies in accounting, subsequently working at a bank after completing college.
However, much to his father’s chagrin, Ibanez ultimately abandoned his banking career to fully immerse himself in the world of comics. In 1958, he introduced the iconic “Mortadelo and Filemon,” featuring two secret agents working for the TIA, a clever parody of the CIA.
The strip achieved tremendous popularity, leading to animated adaptations, films, and translations into nine languages, as confirmed by the publisher.
Ibanez’s repertoire also included the satirical comic “13 rue del percebe,” which humorously depicted the lives of neighbors residing in a block of flats.
Arturo Perez-Reverte, a renowned Spanish writer known for his Alatriste novels, expressed his condolences on Twitter, stating, “With Ibanez’s passing, nearly all of us who were children in Spain are in mourning.”
Ibanez was married to Remedios Solera, and the couple had two daughters. Interestingly, during their childhood, Ibanez’s daughters enjoyed reading comic strips created by his competitors, adding a touch of irony to their family dynamic.
