Staff Writer- Emily Sustaita

When I was sixteen years old, I discovered Mafalda while watching TV with my grandma. We were lounging on the couch, casually listening to a channel called Telemundo, when a news reporter began talking about this exhibit in Mexico City showcasing Mafalda, an Argentinian comic strip. Footage of the exhibition and the drawings created by the artist flashed across the screen. As a comic lover, I was naturally curious about it; who was this girl with puffy black hair, astute Mary Janes, and a polished dress? I wanted to know more about who this Mafalda was. 

So, after meandering through the internet for a bit, I managed to find a volume of the comic strip at a bookstore nearby. Doing what I do best, I made the trek down to the bookstore, threw my money down the drain, and left the store in possession of the comic. Not knowing what to expect, I opened the book and began reading the first couple of pages. 

Long story short, I was absolutely hooked.

And I know I am not the only one who feels this way. Translated into a variety of languages—such as Portuguese, French, German, and Japanese—the comic has touched the hearts of many around the world. In particular, the comic stands as an important hallmark of the Latino community. However, despite it touching so many hearts, the comic has yet to reach the American audience. 

So who is Mafalda, you may ask? Mafalda is the heroine of the beloved comic strip, Mafalda, created by Argentinian cartoonist Joaquin Lavado Tejon, otherwise known as Quino. Mafalda is a sassy and enthusiastic six-year-old who challenges the higher authority around her, posing questions to things we would have never expected to hear from a small child. It’s humorous, political satire that gets us to think beyond ourselves, as we consider global issues at hand. 

I found myself super hooked to this comic because of Mafalda’s wonderful spirit. She is not just a little girl who blabbers witty remarks here and there—she is a girl who is passionate about humanity, and the direction that it is headed in. Furthermore, since the comic took place in the 1960s, Mafalda was not afraid to mention issues of her time, such as inequality, war, and poverty—issues which remain relevant to us today, and thus make her critiques even more important to hear. On the other hand, when Mafalda isn’t busy challenging the world around her, you can find her living life like any other being: whether it be dancing to the Beatles, hating soup, or appreciating nature—she continues to find enjoyment in life.   

However, Mafalda’s world does not just consist of herself. It also consists of her loyal friend group, Felipe, Susanita, and Manolito (to name a few), who add to the complexity of Mafalda’s world and bring to the table their own questions and beliefs. It is this aspect of the comic that elevates it, as Mafalda is joined by other human beings who have their own personal views about the world; human beings who, naturally, will not always agree with what Mafalda says. Thus, it serves as a reminder of the diversity of life that we have in this world. 

That being said, while the comic has many distinctive and unique aspects to it, there will be some people who notice a resemblance between Mafalda and Peanuts: both revolve around a group of kids, both revolve around kids saying things we would have never imagined them to say. However, what I believe separates the two is what they decide to focus on. While Peanuts focuses more on the introspection of a human, Mafalda focuses more on a satirical outlook on politics and the world around us. As a lover of both comics, I believe that both deserve their own recognition, and not to be condensed as a “copy” of the other.  

With all this being said, there is one small thing we need to return to—remember when I said earlier that Mafalda has yet to reach the United States audience? This was not necessarily because the comic wasn’t popular, but because the comic was originally written in Spanish. Thus, in the years that Mafalda got translated from Spanish to another language, no one ever really made the move to translate the comic into English—until now. Thanks to Frank Wynne, in April of 2025, the first translated volume of Mafalda was released in the United States, making it available to the English-speaking audience. 

However, with all this excitement comes the saying, “take it with a grain of salt.” While it is great that the comic has been translated into English, it is important that we keep in mind that things can get lost in translation. From what I’ve seen, although the English translation does a nice job of communicating the basic message, I do notice that some words get lost in the process when comparing it to the original material. Is it the end of the world if that happens? No. But, it’s a good thing to keep in mind when reading the comic, as it is this process of translating that can affect the way in which you may process the material. 
So don’t be shy, and pick up a copy of Mafalda. Chances are, you will appreciate her enthusiastic view on life, her passionate hate for soup, and her boldness to challenge the large world around her.