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What You Should Know Before Watching El Eternauta on Netflix
After decades of waiting, El Eternauta is finally making its way to the screen. The Netflix adaptation of the legendary Argentine comic book is set to premiere on April 30, and it’s already got fans buzzing, not just in Argentina but across Latin America and beyond. But what is El Eternauta? Why has this story stuck around since the 1950s? And why does it mean so much to so many? Let’s break it down.
Back in 1957, a new kind of comic book story began to appear in the weekly magazine Hora Cero. It was called El Eternauta, written by Héctor Germán Oesterheld and illustrated by Francisco Solano López. The story kicks off on a quiet summer night in Buenos Aires, when something bizarre happens: it starts snowing. But this isn’t just any snowfall. It’s lethal. Anyone who comes into contact with it dies instantly.
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This was the setup. As chaos spread through the city, the main character, Juan Salvo, and a small group of friends had to quickly figure out how to survive. They sealed up their homes, made homemade survival suits, and tried to understand what was going on. Soon, they discovered this mysterious snowfall was not a natural disaster but the beginning of an invasion. Not just of Buenos Aires, but of the whole world. And from there, the fight to resist began.
What made El Eternauta stand out wasn’t just the alien invasion or the action. It was how Oesterheld told the story. At a time when most comic books focused on individual heroes with powers or weapons, El Eternauta was different. Juan Salvo wasn’t a superhero. He was just a guy, a regular man, trying to protect his family and survive. And that’s exactly what Oesterheld wanted to show. He once said, “The only valid hero is the hero in a group, never the individual hero.” That idea became the heart of El Eternauta. It wasn’t about one person saving the world. It was about people surviving together, resisting together.
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More Than Just a Comic Book
In Argentina, El Eternauta became way more than a comic book. It became a symbol, especially during the country’s darker years. Oesterheld was deeply political. In the 1970s, he joined the Montoneros, a left-wing guerrilla group. He believed in speaking out against injustice, and that commitment was evident in his work.
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Due to his activism and writings, Oesterheld became a target for Argentina’s military dictatorship. In 1977, he was abducted, along with his four daughters. They all vanished and were never seen again. They are among the thousands who disappeared during the dictatorship. Because of this, El Eternauta is connected not just to science fiction, but also to memory, resistance, and truth. It represents the voices that were silenced and the stories that, nevertheless, endured.
El Eternauta: The Netflix Series
Fast forward to now. For years, there were rumors about a movie, then a series, then nothing. Finally, with the support of Oesterheld’s family and Solano López’s heirs, Netflix picked up the rights. And they went big.
The series is directed by Bruno Stagnaro and co-written with Ariel Staltari. Ricardo Darín plays Juan Salvo. The cast also includes Carla Peterson, César Troncoso, Andrea Pietra, Marcelo Subiotto, and more.
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It was filmed across more than 35 locations in Buenos Aires and features advanced virtual production technology to recreate the city and the story’s eerie, apocalyptic vibe. The series will have six episodes, and the creators promise they’ve stayed faithful to the original, not just in the storytelling, but in capturing its essence.
Just like Oesterheld intended, it’s all about the collective. It’s about people coming together to survive and resist. The story still unfolds in Buenos Aires. It’s still in Spanish. And yes, that lethal snowfall is still there.
A Symbol That Lives On
Since it first emerged, El Eternauta has been reprinted in multiple languages. It’s been a subject of study, adaptation, and debate. It was the first Argentine comic book to gain international acclaim. And now, it’s connecting with a whole new generation.
Every September 4, Argentina celebrates the Day of the Argentine Comic Book, marking the day El Eternauta was first published. This story is now part of school curriculums. It’s been featured in murals, protests, and art shows. The figure of Juan Salvo, in his makeshift survival suit, has become iconic.
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It’s more than just a sci-fi classic. It’s a piece of history. A reflection of a time, a place, and a people. And even though the world of El Eternauta is filled with aliens and snowstorms, what truly resonates is the humanity: the idea that when times get tough, we either survive together or not at all.
So yeah, you should probably watch it. And if you’re from Argentina, you probably already know why. El Eternauta debuts on Netflix on April 30.
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