A Christmas Tale: La Ollita

Christmas has always been important to Gordo. Most years, The citizens parade in La Posada, there are endless parties, goodwill towards even the mice in the Lopez household, an appearance or two by Santa, the return of much-beloved characters, and more.

Throughout the month of December 1950 -- and then twice again in subsequent strips -- Gus Arriola shifted the focus from the regular denizens of Del Monte to the tale of a cracked little clay olla that dreamed of being a beautiful piñata. Gordo's spontaneous kindness is also on display in these four weeks' worth of strips, even though the strip's eponymous hero only makes bookend appearances in the story.

Sharp-eyed readers will notice that Arriola uses this story to set up an upcoming storyline involving random "Doodles" taking over the town of Del Monte. Keep your eyes open for little doodads appearing through the first week's worth of strips, in the corners of panels or in any open negative space.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

But wait! There's more!

The story proved popular enough with readers that, almost ten years later, Arriola re-told the tale over four sequential Sunday strips, with new art in full color: 

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Lastly, in 1962, Arriola repurposed much of the art from the Sunday strip to tell the tale of La Ollita one last time, in response to reader requests (and possuibly to clear up a little free time during his holiday schedule). 

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!