Spanish Historians Turn to Graphic Novels to Address Educational Gaps in Historical Memory

Spanish historian Julián Casanova, known for his expertise on the Civil War and Francoism, has collaborated on the graphic novel 'España partida en dos' (Spain Split in Two), published by Crítica and Planeta Cómic. The work is scripted by Miguel Casanova and illustrated by Carlos Esquembre. This project reflects a growing trend where historians and artists partner to adapt advanced historical memory research into comic formats, aiming to make recent Spanish history accessible to general audiences. Another example is Carlota Juncosa's comic investigating the 2000s graffiti scene, which explores gender dynamics like the stigma against using too much pink if you were a girl. Following the sustained boom in graphic novels, several publishing imprints are betting on this blend of text and illustration, with many works achieving international reach through translations. These collaborations seek to address significant gaps in education by presenting complex historical narratives through visual storytelling.