El Eternauta (1976): Science Fiction against Imperialism

Abstract The science fiction genre is frequently used to depict realistic scenarios. This research aims to present an Argentinean comic book that has been adapted to the historical events of the country since its creation in 1957. El Eternauta is a graphic novel that depicts an alien invasion on Earth. The story reflects the political changes that were taking place in Argentina at the time, as the country was becoming more politically radicalised. The paper specifically discusses the 1976 edition, which was written by Héctor Germán Oesterheld, an underground militant in the armed struggle, and illustrated by Solano López. The scriptwriter and his family actively resisted the repressive military government and were harshly persecuted. This led to the disappearance of family members, including the writer himself, during the year that the analysed version of El Eternauta was published. The methodology uses comics as a primary empirical source, combined with theoretical references from the fields of international relations, history, political science, and communication to interpret the context of the military dictatorships that ravaged Latin America in the second half of the 20th century.