Patoruzú, a great one!
Patoruzito turns 80 years old! The story of the chief who conquered the Argentines and his creator, Dante Quinterno
From the countryside to the big city, Patoruzú and Patoruzito have left a mark on generations with their adventures and values. A look back at the life of the genius behind these unforgettable characters.
October 11, 2025
Patoruzito turns 80 years old! The story of the chief who conquered the Argentines and his creator, Dante Quinterno. Credit: Infobae
To start, today is a special day for Argentine comics because Patoruzito, that small but brave chief, turns a remarkable 80 years old. Together with Patoruzú, Isidoro, and the rest of the gang, these characters immersed us in a world of adventures where good always triumphed over evil, leaving an indelible mark on several generations of Argentines. The brain behind this great success was Dante Quinterno. From a very young age, at just fourteen, he was already showcasing his talent by drawing for "Página de Columba." Later, alongside masters like Diógenes "el Mono" Taborda, this young man born in 1909 became a legend in national comics, creating characters that are now part of our identity. It was in 1928 when Patoruzú first appeared in the newspaper Crítica. Initially, he had an unpronounceable name, but it was changed to that of a popular candy. Dante envisioned him as a noble indigenous man, naive but with tremendous strength and a heart of gold, a true superhero from here. His "canejo" and "huija" became memorable phrases for all who read him. In 1936, Quinterno hit it big with the magazine Patoruzú, which sold a hundred thousand copies in the blink of an eye, a record! To continue gaining fans, in 1945, Patoruzito was born, the younger version of the chief, with his yellow poncho and feather. He was also a vigilante, always ready to face villains with the help of Isidorito, his friend and counterpart. Behind Patoruzito was a luxury team, including Marcelo Antonio Tulio Lovato on illustrations and Domingo Mirco Repetto on scripts. And it didn't stop at just paper: Dante Quinterno, who even became friends with Walt Disney, dared to go further and in 1942 released "Upa en apuros," the first color animated short in Argentina, a true milestone for the time! Dante, who passed away in 2003 at the age of 93, always maintained a low profile, despite his work being recognized by all. He invested in the countryside and even launched a rural magazine but never strayed from his characters. Today, Patoruzú, Patoruzito, and Isidorito have their statues in the heart of Buenos Aires, reminding us that these comic heroes remain alive in the hearts of Argentines..https://www.delsurdiario.com/68620-patoruzito-cumple-80-anos-la-historia-del-cacique-que-conquisto-a-los-argentinos-y-su-creador-dante-quinterno
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