DistantNews
Support us
"El Eternauta": An Argentine "Odyssey"
🇦🇷 Argentina /Culture & Society

"El Eternauta": An Argentine "Odyssey"

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • The Argentine comic "El Eternauta" by Héctor Germán Oesterheld is a free adaptation of Homer's "The Odyssey," mirroring its narrative structure more closely than some modern film versions.
  • Oesterheld, who was deeply passionate about Greek literature, incorporated elements from "The Odyssey," such as the protagonist's gradual materialization and hesitant self-introduction.
  • The comic's opening scene directly parallels Odysseus's appearance in the Phaeacian palace, where he is made visible by Athena, and his subsequent introduction to the kings.

Héctor Germán Oesterheld's iconic Argentine comic, "El Eternauta," stands as a profound, albeit unconventional, adaptation of Homer's "The Odyssey." While Christopher Nolan's visually stunning cinematic interpretation of the epic poem dazzles with modern technology, "El Eternauta" arguably captures the ancient narrative's framework with greater fidelity.

Greek philosophy, the great philosophers of the early eras and the classic texts, he knew them like an ABC.

— Elsa (wife of H. G. Oesterheld)Recalling Héctor Germán Oesterheld's deep knowledge of Greek literature.

Oesterheld's lifelong fascination with Greek culture and literature, noted by his wife Elsa, deeply influenced his work. Friends even referred to him as "Socrates" due to his extensive knowledge of Greek philosophy and classical texts. This passion is evident in "El Eternauta," which, according to the source, reproduces the narrative structure of "The Odyssey" more faithfully than Nolan's film.

I was left with the doubt: I didn't know if Socrates was his last name, a pseudonym, his name, or what the hell it was. And I didn't know for about two months. It turned out that he was a scholar of Greek literature and that's why his friends called him Socrates.

— Elsa (wife of H. G. Oesterheld)Describing how H. G. Oesterheld was known among his friends.

The comic's opening sequence vividly mirrors Book VII of "The Odyssey." The protagonist, Juan Salvo, gradually materializes into full view, a scene directly echoing Odysseus's own appearance in the palace of the Phaeacians. In Homer's epic, Athena cloaks Odysseus in a fine mist, rendering him invisible until he enters the palace, where the mist dissipates, astonishing the onlookers.

It's unbelievable to believe in ghosts!

— Héctor Germán OesterheldReacting to the sudden appearance of Juan Salvo in "El Eternauta."

Similarly, Juan Salvo becomes visible to Oesterheld himself, who incorporates himself into the narrative as a character. Oesterheld exclaims in surprise, "It's unbelievable to believe in ghosts!" This metafictional element further highlights the connection to Odysseus's hesitant introduction to King Alcinous, where the hero, overwhelmed by his trials, struggles to recount his name and origins, stating, "What am I to tell you first, and then, and what at the end? For many sorrows have been inflicted on me by the sky gods."

What am I to tell you first, and then, and what at the end? For many sorrows have been inflicted on me by the sky gods.

— OdysseusRecounting his struggles to King Alcinous in "The Odyssey."
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog