'García!': Francoism had only fallen asleep

There is no one who understands this new world.

Apparently, they have invented portable devices that allow you to make phone calls.

To access the subway, you need a kind of magic card.

And the same country that applauded the strong hand of the caudillo today even allows a woman to aspire to the presidency.

Agent García does not stop being amazed.

"You have to tell me a lot of things," he blurts out to Ortiz's inseparable friend.

Although, in reality, the main mystery —for the character and for the audience— is another: why did this super-soldier created by the Franco regime remain frozen for 60 years?

Now that he has woken up, what fit does he have in the present?

And, above all, have things really changed that much?

For now, the first three chapters of the new HBO Max series have glimpsed some response.

And, by the way,

Starting with his parents.

After the premiere, Santiago García and Luis Bustos, creators of the original comic (edited by Astiberri), have finally been able to share their enthusiasm for the result on social networks.

The direction of Eugenio Mira and the script by Sara Antuña and Carlos de Pando have created a series that pampers the vignettes on which it is based, without giving up its own personality.

A classic adventure, with hints of science fiction.

A political intrigue, drenched in humor.

An ambitious production, which boasts of its traditional soul.

Even, some have said, a unique work in the Spanish audiovisual scene.

Namely, yes, why the credit titles refer to the adaptation of a "novel" and omit that it is "graphic".

In any case, for the rest,

maintains the plot and essence of the comic.

The investigation of Antonia (Veki Velilla), a young journalist in search of the story that will change her career, leads her to a crypt under the Valley of the Fallen.

And there, almost by chance, she wakes up the agent (Francisco Ortiz) after his long sleep.

From then on, the fate of both is intertwined with that of secret services, conspirators, old friends and enemies and, in general, with the fate that awaits the whole of Spain.

A certain aroma of James Bond, Captain America or Indiana Jones is distilled, but in brava sauce.

Because, in the background, the taverns of Madrid parade and you can hear

, by Los Panchos.

The truth is that

He is very clear about what he wants to be.

And that is the basis of part of his success.

The audiovisual is often divided into two worlds, parallel and irreconcilable: on one side, the works with author's seal, the only legitimate ones for the four cats that watch them, but a torture for the temples of the general public.

And, on the other hand, films and series for mass and fast consumption, where the algorithm eliminates complexity, as well as all other creative risks.

A hamburger, to enjoy, digest and forget.

And eat again.

But there is, oddly enough, a third way: quality commercial creations.

Garcia walks along that path

Safely, with excesses and missteps, but with your head held high.

It will not be the deepest series in the HBO Max catalog.

Not the most fun or exciting.

But it entertains, catches and even leaves a certain residue.

It turns out that between chases and fights, there may also be room to think.

Cartoons from the first volume of '¡García!', by Santiago García and Luis Bustos, edited by Astiberri.

Each episode starts in black and white, in the Spain that was.

But, when the script travels to today, and takes on color, some things remain the same.

Democracy has arrived, true.

But then why does politics continue to smell rotten?

And the regime did not die with its dictator, but lives on in the nostalgia of some.

Just, on the other hand, those who least want to hear about memory.

“Of the victims we only remember four old men.

Of the executioners, nobody wants to remember, ”it is said in the series.

"We did what we had to do," claims another character.

When she gets much less serious, instead,

shows more weaknesses.

There are forced gags, accelerated in search of easy laughter, lest some viewer get bored.

The surprise of the agent before the world of today offers a clear comic pull;

the enormous entanglement that surrounds the series also has its irony.

But the insisted repetition exhausts the joke.

And when the protagonist shouts for the umpteenth time “Wow, this is so strong, this is amazing!”, the grace threatens to be lost.

On the contrary, the series seems headed towards an end to the height.

And probably new seasons.

In the absence of the fourth book, which the two authors plan to finish soon, the third volume already offers explosive material:

After the Franco regime, the independence movement.

And not only: the comic also talks about feminism and monarchy.

You have to see the adventures that lie ahead for the superagent.

And to the public.

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