Baldo by Hector D. Cantú and Carlos Castellanos for July 17, 2023

I remember from the ’60’s, ran in a Newark, NJ paper. Originally a copy of Li’l Abner set in rural Mexico, featured comic Mexican peasants and beautiful girls. By the 1960’s was reset in Mexico City with the title character becoming a tourist guide and had a pop art style.

Gordo was carried in the Yuma Daily Sun for years when I was young. Loved it.

There’s an excellent 2000 book, ‘Accidental Ambassador Gordo" by Gus Arriola and Robert C. Harvey. It’s a history of the strip and Arriola himself, with several complete stories.

https://i.postimg.cc/KYXDdwKh/419454d77ce546f2d489398fd8652fbb.jpg

I loved reading Gus Arriola’s Gordo strip in the San Franciso Examiner/Chronical, or was it the Oakland Tribune growing up in the Bay Area in the 60’s. Good memories.

The book “Accidental Ambassador Gordo”. Is available on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Accidental-Ambassador-Gordo-Comic-Arriola/dp/157806161X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3LE8QNZPSA20H&keywords=Accidental+Ambassador+Gordo&qid=1689592078&sprefix=accidental+ambassador+gordo%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-1

Was Baldo’s amigo named for Arriola’s character?

Remember reading it as a kid. It was in one of the bay area papers.

The truly great ones always recognize their peers.

I remember that strip from when I was a kid in Phoenix. The Arizona Republic carried it. It was one of my favorite strips. I haven’t heard about it in years.

Good spot to go if you want to see his strip https://gordocomics.com

Gordo was one of my favorite comic strips when I was growing up.

Always loved Gordo, not to mention the dog, cat, son, and chickens!

What’s this all about? Check out www.GordoComics.com.

Happy Birthday Gus

He passed away on my dad’s birthday

So I had to do a little googling because I wanted to know more. He’s in the Smithsonian. Here’s his bio https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/gus-arriola-and-gordo

I liked Gordo!

I used to read it faithfully when it ran in the El Paso, TX newspaper.

The idea that “Gordo” was “culturally insensitive” was something only a bigot could understand. Poking fun at stereotypes is part of humor. It was a disgrace to choose that character to complain about.

I loved Gordo. He always had the beautiful girls that weren’t good for him, until the end. She wasn’t pretty but she was beautiful inside and on the last strip, he took her as his wife…..

Gordo, Tehuana Mama, and her beautiful niece Inocencia are comic classics.

http://www.toonopedia.com/gordo.htm

Thanks to all (especially Cantú and Castellanos) for the comments and links. I enjoy many vintage comics but never heard of this one.