THE TWO ERAS OF GORDO

There are two eras to Gordo ... in more ways than one!

Like any comic strip with a forty-year pedigree, Gordo was bound to evolve. More often than not, this is usually discussed in terms of "The Great Style Shift," a change in the aesthetic of the strip that was most noticeable after the mid-1950s.

But there were also diametric changes in the storytelling that went beyond the merely visual -- the portrayal of the characters, the transition from comic adventure to daily gags, the mellowing of the patois and stereotypes, the depth of influence had by Mexican folk art and culture, the tone of the strip, the professions and fortunes of the characters, and the inclusion of the natural world as characters changed the face of Gordo as a feature!

The two eras are, roughly, as follows:

Earlier strips are, to be fair, less sophisticated than Gordo's later catalog, often relying on stereotype -- The characters are largely poor, work-shy, barefoot and illiterate. They speak in a comic patois, a type of "Gordo-speak" which was frequently replicated by newspaper editors and readers when writing about the strip. Gordo is a gifted farmer, lover and cook, but his friends are largely all bums. 

The stories from this era were almost exclusively serialized comic adventure, the misadventures of Gordo and his friends. The artwork was increasingly excellent, but largely representational, and Mexican culture was largely depicted environmentally.

Gordo and family greet the new day in Del Monte.

Pepito assures his friend Carlito of his uncle's bona fides

Pepito fixes breakfast in the Lopez household's iconic kitchen.

As late as 1952, only snippets of Gordo-speak find their way into the dialogue

 

Later strips depict a more urbane, financially prosperous pueblo of Del Monte. Gags dominate the strip for months or years at a time, with only the occasional ongoing storyline every now and again. The art becomes more dynamic and experimental with a bolder line, Gordo adopts a new career as a tour guide which allows the strip to celebrate Mexican culture and art, and the world of nature provides dozens of new characters who largely inhabit the iconoclastic Sunday strips.

Gordo is now a sleek ladies' man, even if the mirror has some criticisms.

As a tour guide, Gordo offers Arriola many opportunities to render Mexican art

The world of nature in the Sunday funnies, in this case a rebellious ant.