The Comic-Con Museum and the Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego have teamed up for a new exhibit called The World of Turin. The exhibit showcases the work of José Trinidad Camacho, better known as Torino, one of Mexico’s most popular and famous cartoonists. The exhibition features Torino’s drawings, watercolors, sketches, and objects that span his over 40-year career. Torino’s work often draws on American pop culture references such as Han Solo and Chewbacca from Star Wars.
William Nericcio, a Professor of English and Comparative Literature at San Diego State University, notes that Torino is part of Mexico’s rich tradition of sequential art. Other cartoonists like Lius have made satirical and revolutionary cartoons, while Torino’s work is often funny, silly, and vulgar. David Granzer, the spokesperson for Comic-Con International, notes that Torino’s panels are free, buoyant, enthusiastic, and funny. A panel on display pays tribute to the Mexican wrestler El Santo, depicting him facing monsters, beautiful women, and zombies.
Despite Torino’s work being in Spanish, many of his reference points are American, which appeals to U.S. audiences. Nericcio notes that Torino’s character style is similar to the creator of The Simpsons and the Hager the Horrible strip. Sadly, there are no translations for any of the comics or thank you letters that Torino wrote to the museum for the exhibit, so it’s recommended to bring a Spanish-speaking friend.
The World of Turin is the museum’s first attempt at showcasing Mexican art, and they hope it will be the first of many. On May 1, 2023, the Comic-Con Museum will have a new exhibition called “The World of Turin,” where Torino’s Chewbacca will be hanging out. Nericcio notes that calling Torino a Mexican cartoonist might do his work a disservice and that his work contains interesting meditations on the human mind and soul.