On the street: A permanent tribute to the father of Mortadelo and Filemón

In recognition of his outstanding legacy, Penguin Random House, his publishing house of over 60 years, through its Bruguera imprint, has launched an Official Francisco Ibáñez Day. This celebration takes place every March 15th, coinciding with the comic book master's birth date. As part of the tributes, a mural was also painted on the street of one of his works, 13, Rue del Percebe. This piece of art, created by artists NSN997 and Kerudekolorz, adorns the façade of a building in the Madrid neighborhood of Carabanchel, specifically at 46 Calle General Ricardos.

Present at the inauguration of the work on Saturday, March 15, were Marta Rivera de la Cruz, delegate for Culture, Tourism, and Sports at Madrid City Council; Carlos Izquierdo, District Councilor for Carabanchel; Nuria Ibáñez, the maestro's daughter; and Isabel Sbert, literary director of Bruguera.

A moved Nuria Ibáñez said: "Little could my father have imagined that one day his iconic 13 Rue del Percebe would be seen life-size. If the idea had been raised, he would surely have said, with his usual modesty, "Why waste so much paint!" In reality, I'm sure he would have thoroughly enjoyed the initiative. It's a great tribute that will allow us to enjoy one of his funniest stories permanently and in a public space. The mural pays tribute to his talent and endless imagination and reminds us that his work lives on to continue making us laugh."

For his part, Rivera de la Cruz stated: “This mural allows us not only to pay tribute to Ibáñez, but also to remember the many hours his readers have spent among this universe of unforgettable characters who have shaped several generations.”

Izquierdo commented on the artist: “Ibáñez captured like no one else the stories that intersect between neighbors and the intricacies of daily life.”

Paris 2024, His Final Work

Paris 2024 was the title of comic genius Francisco Ibáñez's final work, 20 unpublished pages of typewritten script and penciled panels. Paris 2024, the unfinished adventure of Mortadelo and Filemón, was published by Bruguera in April of last year, with the collaboration of writer Arturo Pérez Reverte on the prologue.

The Most Important Comic Book Author in Spain

Francisco Ibáñez was born in Barcelona in 1936. He is the father of Mortadelo and Filemón, the most popular series in Spanish comics, the best-selling, the most remembered, and undoubtedly one of the funniest. Throughout his career, Ibáñez created many other series that live on in the hearts of his fans, such as the crazy house on 13th Street, Rue del Percebe, a fun portrait of life in a very particular neighborhood community. He also created the small, big-headed Rompetechos, the author's favorite series, whose nearsighted character experienced crazy situations due to his vision problems. His time as a bellboy at the bank inspired the adventures of El ministro Sacarino, while with Pepe Gotera and Otilio, he elevated botched work to a work of art (at least, as far as comic strips are concerned). His work was awarded the Cross of Sant Jordi in 2021 and the Gold Medal of the city of Barcelona (2022).

The genius of Spanish comics passed away on July 15, 2023, at the age of 87.