Art by: Enrique Breccia

Written by: Enrique Breccia

Conceived originally for the Spanish magazine Zona 84 and the European market, the comic strip was finally published in Fierro magazine in 1985 (seventeen episodes of 8 pages each + 3 extra pages). It was republished by Doedytores in 2007 in in Argentina and also in Italy and Spain (2010). El Sueñero is not only Breccia's most important creation as a complete author, but also one of the most significant works of Argentine comics in recent decades.

  In the distant future, populations have been fighting for centuries, until one day all wars mysteriously end, and “boredom” becomes a new plague that decimates the population. The only remedy for this plague is to recreate the ancient Roman circus. Entrusted with this difficult task is the Dreamer, a mercenary who is given the job of recruiting new gladiators... gladiators such as the Minotaur, Don Quixote and Mr Hyde.

  The work was not without controversy at the time of its publication in 1985, as through fantasy, upon a second reading, Enrique Breccia provided his particular vision of such complex issues as the dictatorship in his country, the Falklands War, foreign debt and nationalist sentiment.

ELIGIBLE FOR PROGRAMA SUR TRANSLATION SUPPORT (Argentina)

Key points:

• A comic strip with strong political content, reflecting the explosive critical outburst that occurred after the dark years of military dictatorship came to an end

• A strange, problematically personal, reflective and subversive work, which Breccia -with boundless critical freedom and aesthetic creativity- managed to turn into an extravagant work, unique in its genre

Technical info:

• Original title: El Sueñero

• Content: 130 pages - black and white

• 17 episodes of 8 pages (+ 3 extra pages)

• Also available: El Sueñero. Veinte años después (24 pages, black and white), the continuation of the series written 20 years later

Rights sold: Italian (Cosmo), Brazilian Portuguese (Trem Fantasma)

Rights to certain languages may be restricted