One thing that stands out in the first strip is how he kicks the tourist out of the way to protect him (doesn’t quite work). It somehow perfectly encapsulates a lack of maliciousness with an “it is what it is” attitude that sees nothing wrong with what they are doing. I might be reading too much into it but those little details are the mark of a great cartoonist.
In the vein of absurd comedy, here is one of my favorites-
"Cocaine is not physically addictive," read a 1975 Domestic Council Drug Abuse Task Force report for President Gerald Ford, "and usually does not result in serious social consequences, such as crime, hospital emergency room admissions, or death."
The DEA at the time took that as guidance towards what drugs should be targeted for enforcement.
Classic - You are unveiling some good inside reading there, a 1975 report for Ford. The history of the war on drugs is fascinating. (It's also notable that in the 1971 war on drugs speech by Nixon, he didn't call it the war on drugs. The term found it's way in several years later...)
Also a bit of an unrelated subject but have you ever listened to the irish rock band the cranberries? I started getting into them recently. The late lead singer Dolores o rioden had a wonderful voice. It's sad she passed away some years ago
I’ll give you a good Cranberries story from my security days.
I was living in Phoenix at the time and was home between gigs. A local promoter who was a friend called me and asked if I could come down to a local club and do security for a “hot new group” he was bringing in. I agreed. The group turned out to be the Cranberries. There were maybe 500 people at the gig. No problems.
After the gig I noticed they were loading their equipment into a UHaul and offered to help. We loaded the equipment and by that time it was about 3 AM. No one was on the street and the main light was from a big billboard of Rush Limbaugh about a block away. They knew who he was. We sat there talking politics for about an hour eating Subs and drinking cokes. Kick ass rock and roll right?😀
That type of story is what I remember the most fondly from those days.
Great family bonding there, taking a granddaughter to see a punk band - or who used to be a punk band. I saw them in a pub in London when I was 18 and they were not much older. Great gig.
The more grim the world becomes the *more* Bobadillas are needed! Like you said in a previous comment, Ioan. if you don’t laugh then you’ll cry and while I cannot ever blame one single Mexican for opting with the latter I have nothing but respect for those who try to go with the former. The fact that Bobadilla has suffered from personal loss from the cartels but can continue with the attitude he has speaks volumes about the man.
Yeah, Bobadilla is a legend. And the way he doesn't capitalize on his loss or see it as some entitlement is characteristic of many in Mexico. Great sense of humor as well, and great drinking buddy.
It's cool to see somebody pursuing their artistic passion in the midst of misery like sinoala. I was into comic books too growing up. But I mostly watched cartoons like batman beyond, super man the animated series and static shock. My favorite super hero was spider man because Peter Parker is an everyday kid taking on larger than life responsibilities of saving NYC as well as being a grown up with duties. Obviously Mexico needs heroes in the metaphorical sense. Who knows what it will take.
Yeah, comics are great. I read Alan Moore and Frank Miller as a teenager - Watchmen, V For Vendetta, Elektra Assassin. It was cool shit. Also, the Judge Dredd...
Sin city was his homage too detective, crime, hardboiled comics of the 40s. And the movie adaptation by Robert Robert Rodriguez was practically shot for shot
As a journalist I've followed you as a source on x.com for some time. I am so glad to find you here on Substack! (And this article is a great glimpse into life in Sinaloa). - I just returned from vacationing in the UK and among my fellow travelers were a lovely couple from Culiacan. Their despair over what is happening there will haunt me for some time.
Great to have you hear and yeah tragedy in Sinaloa. Fascinating connection to be visiting the UK with a couple from Culiacan. All best there friend and stay in touch.
I’m not going to lie, those strips were pretty funny.
"You got to laugh, or else you cry"- was a song by a local band when I grew up....
One thing that stands out in the first strip is how he kicks the tourist out of the way to protect him (doesn’t quite work). It somehow perfectly encapsulates a lack of maliciousness with an “it is what it is” attitude that sees nothing wrong with what they are doing. I might be reading too much into it but those little details are the mark of a great cartoonist.
Read away - little details say a lot in the world of funny papers. It's a minimalist art form and every line counts...
Fascinating, as always.
Appreciated and back at you, Chris.
In the vein of absurd comedy, here is one of my favorites-
"Cocaine is not physically addictive," read a 1975 Domestic Council Drug Abuse Task Force report for President Gerald Ford, "and usually does not result in serious social consequences, such as crime, hospital emergency room admissions, or death."
The DEA at the time took that as guidance towards what drugs should be targeted for enforcement.
Classic - You are unveiling some good inside reading there, a 1975 report for Ford. The history of the war on drugs is fascinating. (It's also notable that in the 1971 war on drugs speech by Nixon, he didn't call it the war on drugs. The term found it's way in several years later...)
Also a bit of an unrelated subject but have you ever listened to the irish rock band the cranberries? I started getting into them recently. The late lead singer Dolores o rioden had a wonderful voice. It's sad she passed away some years ago
Yeah sure, the Cranberries are a great band. Another rock n roll tragedy.
I’ll give you a good Cranberries story from my security days.
I was living in Phoenix at the time and was home between gigs. A local promoter who was a friend called me and asked if I could come down to a local club and do security for a “hot new group” he was bringing in. I agreed. The group turned out to be the Cranberries. There were maybe 500 people at the gig. No problems.
After the gig I noticed they were loading their equipment into a UHaul and offered to help. We loaded the equipment and by that time it was about 3 AM. No one was on the street and the main light was from a big billboard of Rush Limbaugh about a block away. They knew who he was. We sat there talking politics for about an hour eating Subs and drinking cokes. Kick ass rock and roll right?😀
That type of story is what I remember the most fondly from those days.
Ha ha. Classic - and that is the best to see these bands with like 500 people. I saw Green Day with about that numbers.
Funny you should say that. I took my granddaughter to her first concert…Green Day about a month ago. A few more people there now.
Great family bonding there, taking a granddaughter to see a punk band - or who used to be a punk band. I saw them in a pub in London when I was 18 and they were not much older. Great gig.
Just completing the circle. The first concert I took her Mom to was Kiss
Check out the music video for their 1994 song zombie. Powerful stuff. It's a protest song about the troubles
I'll check that out. It's quicker than watching Munich...
You still need to watch munich though I'm never gonna leave you alone over it. Until the end of times 😂
Do you need evidence? Like a photo of me watching the flik?
No I need an entire video of you watching it 😂
It will be like one of those YouTube reaction videos. I'll try and keep a serious face.
The more grim the world becomes the *more* Bobadillas are needed! Like you said in a previous comment, Ioan. if you don’t laugh then you’ll cry and while I cannot ever blame one single Mexican for opting with the latter I have nothing but respect for those who try to go with the former. The fact that Bobadilla has suffered from personal loss from the cartels but can continue with the attitude he has speaks volumes about the man.
Yeah, Bobadilla is a legend. And the way he doesn't capitalize on his loss or see it as some entitlement is characteristic of many in Mexico. Great sense of humor as well, and great drinking buddy.
One of my favorite things I enjoy about reading your work is how many different avenues you can drive the reader down. Great piece.
Well well appreciated - and plenty more avenues and roads to go down...
It's cool to see somebody pursuing their artistic passion in the midst of misery like sinoala. I was into comic books too growing up. But I mostly watched cartoons like batman beyond, super man the animated series and static shock. My favorite super hero was spider man because Peter Parker is an everyday kid taking on larger than life responsibilities of saving NYC as well as being a grown up with duties. Obviously Mexico needs heroes in the metaphorical sense. Who knows what it will take.
Yeah, comics are great. I read Alan Moore and Frank Miller as a teenager - Watchmen, V For Vendetta, Elektra Assassin. It was cool shit. Also, the Judge Dredd...
I like frank Miller's the dark knight returns, batman year one, as well as his sin city series.
Yeah, I love his dark vision. Him and Alan Moore were perfect sparring partners - Brit vs Yank, left vs right, and both did brilliant stuff...
Sin city was his homage too detective, crime, hardboiled comics of the 40s. And the movie adaptation by Robert Robert Rodriguez was practically shot for shot
Brilliant movies. I saw one of them in San Salvador in the bad old days - it was like watching Sin City in Sin City...
Yeah remember Jessica alba's cowgirl outfit lol. Such erotic films.
Yep true that. The edge as well and the film noire effect...
My favorite characters were Dwight, Hartigan, and Marv. Three anti heroes in a crime infested city lol
Side note in suicide squad I think it was funny that the only latino character in the cast was a cholo gangbanger from East Los Angeles lol. El Diablo
Representation!
Thanks Ioan! A Culichi who is widely loved. I’ve admired him and his work for years!
Nice one - I am sure he will be chuffed to hear that
As a journalist I've followed you as a source on x.com for some time. I am so glad to find you here on Substack! (And this article is a great glimpse into life in Sinaloa). - I just returned from vacationing in the UK and among my fellow travelers were a lovely couple from Culiacan. Their despair over what is happening there will haunt me for some time.
Great to have you hear and yeah tragedy in Sinaloa. Fascinating connection to be visiting the UK with a couple from Culiacan. All best there friend and stay in touch.