Nico Bukele, like Maduro and other populist rulers of this century, sell an image of infallibility and invulnerability typical of comics. The cartoon series shows SuperBigote deploying superpowers to confront the imperialist enemy.

It matters little whether the populist superheroes of the 21st century proclaim themselves from the left or the right. The important thing for its propagandists is to establish their invulnerability, writes Buell. The young president with the backwards cap and neatly trimmed beard is popular, no doubt. He has imposed peace and order against the gangs under a permanent regime of exception.