Carlos Barocelli is a man of many talents: cartoonist, illustrator, designer, and teacher. Balancing his time teaching at the UNR, managing his drawing school, and coordinating cultural projects for the Municipality of Rosario, Barocelli also dedicates himself to creating comics. His recent work includes The U-977 passenger, a project close to the heart of Rosario, and the long-awaited continuation of THE ETERNAUTA: THE RESISTANCE, a project 15 years in the making.

The original The Eternauta debuted in April 1962, published by Editorial Ramírez. However, the publication was short-lived, leaving the story unfinished. In 1995, Juan Sasturain compiled the story into a collection of books by Editorial Colihue. It was Francisco Solano López, the original cartoonist, who invited Barocelli to collaborate on a new comic version. “I had won the Ibero -American Comics and Animation Contest of Buenos Aires in 2002, with a war comic together with screenwriter Víctor Gaite; and the judge had been Solano López. Than, in one of the editions of Legends Solano approached me and said: ‘Carlos, I want to talk to you,’ “says Barocelli.

“Carlos, we stayed in something Trunco. Did you come to buenos Aires? I want you to do something related to the eternal.'”

Legends was a comic convention organized in Rosario between 1999 and 2008. Solano López visited in 2003. “He remembered my work, and began to tell me something; but then Quique Alcatena approached, and the two began to talk about other things. On two days, solano calls me and tells me: ‘Carlos, we stayed in something Trunco. Did you come to Buenos Aires? I want you to do something related to the eternal.'”

-Recening such an invitation!

-I left everything I was doing at that time. I mean, I was projecting other things, but when that happens to me, I told myself: “No, I’m here.” I was more illustrator than cartoonist, I was making books, working with England, but I left everything for this. And well, there were three or four years of work, from 2007 to 2011.

-How was that process?

-When they give me the cartoon, I do a test and send it to him. I was getting married, and I went down every day to the hotel lobby to see if Solano had told me something, if he liked it or not; My lady, recontents! Every day opening the computer to check the mail.Until he tells me yes, he likes it. and that allows me to do it in Aguada, in black and white, and in gray scale. Solano could see the first 40 pages, and died in 2011, when I still lacked 30 or 40 pages. I finished it a year. And from dying,well,there were other issues,other interests that do not correspond to me,and that is why it was stopped.

The Challenges of Continuing a Classic

-I remember what had cost you to find Juan Salvo‘s face.

-When one grabs a cartoon, one of the first things he wants to do is his version of the facts, find his own stroke; And I wanted to rely on actor Daniel Craig, that of 007, becuase he was blond, with short hairs. I sent things to Solano, and nothing, I didn’t stand with a ball. Until one day, vrey respectful, he tells me: “No, Carlos. Fix in Juan’s eyes, in your eyes; look up.” I was sent by cards with returns.

-For example?

-A was that of a hand that I drew on an American plane, with juan except from one side, in full plane.The right hand is seen at hand, with two thumbs and four common fingers; and the other hand with the 14 fingers. It was the first return that made me: “Carlos, his hands are wrong.” I had made the 14 fingers in his wrong hand. I didn’t know that,and it was an learning.

Completing the Story After Solano López’s Passing

-Stand an unfinished story, who finished it?

-The script was completed through Javier Doeyo, who was the editor, giving the material to four different scriptwriters, paying them as ghost screenwriters, to make an end. And the script of Jorge Claudio Morhain was chosen.

-Was Morhain who gave the story to the whole story?

-It was a job between Solano and Morhain, between the two they gave cartoon format to Oesterheld’s novel. And I read everything, for doubts.

-Ally Solano, I understand that the problem of rights appeared. What situation are in?

-An Martín, one of Oesterheld’s grandchildren, I don’t know him, but with everyone I have very good vibes; And I have learned that Martín is aware of everything. You are talking about how it will be published.For years, I thought my drawing had not liked or something, but it wasn’t the case. We are in communication with the planet editor, for a year, when they learned that he had done this job. I think it will finally be edited, maybe next year.

Other Projects and Future Plans

-In another order, the cartoon the U-977 passenger, with a script by Rodolfo Santullo, does nothing but give you good news.

-It was first published in Argentina by Pictus; Also in Italy, in according to Autoe; And we present it in Lucca Comics, in October. One or two months ago it was published in England, and with the English a contract was signed for them to distribute it in the United states. It will also be published in Denmark.

-And there is a book about the origins of Rosario.

-It’s a cartoon version of the book From El Rosario by Horacio Vargas, with a screenwriter and a squad of artists we have summoned. It is very likely that before October, it is already edited.

Carlos Barocelli created the character designs for each of those artists. His work reflects history, adventure, and a personal touch that conveys both excitement and pain.

His exhibition, Sketches, is on display until the end of the month in the “Dr. Juan J. Trillas” room of the El Círculo Theater.