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Review of "Accidental Ambassador Gordo: The Comic Strip Art of Gus Arriola" by Robert C. Harvey, Gustavo M. Arriola

Accidental Ambassador Gordo: The Comic Strip Art of Gus Arriola image
Accidental Ambassador Gordo: The Comic Strip Art of Gus Arriola
by Robert C. Harvey, Gustavo M. Arriola

University Press of Mississippi

$25.00 Suggested Retail Price

Back when comic strips were truly funny, there was a gentle Mexican taxi driver named Gordo who appeared in newspapers all over the world. For 44 years (1941-1985) readers were treated to the delights of Gordo and his friends which included cats and roosters. His collection of cats was beloved by all his fans. One of them was jet black, and when she sat on a back cushion she could not be seen. Arriola introduced his non-Mexican readers to history, mythology and the meanings of holiday with the lore of Mexico.

This book is a wonderful look at the strips and the art of a great comic artist. It is also very studious in pointing out the firsts that Arriola introduced into his strips. He was a very early advocate of ecological concerns.

I read the comics voraciously when I was young and they were fun. Gordo told a Mexican tale once that really struck home with me. It was the tale of Parjaro Cu, a colorless bird to whom each of the pretty birds donated a feather to adorn him with color. A cautionary tale that my own grandma used to tell me. I felt so honored that Arriola wrote about Parjaro Cu that I became his fan for life.

He retired far too early and lives in Northern California. A gracious man who made a tremendous mark on the comic world until, like many of the best, he retired and left a large vacant spot that still waits to be filled.


Rainbo Electronic Reviews published this review in our March, 2001 issue.




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