Bio

1932

Joaquin Salvador Lavado, known as ‘Quino’, son of Andalusian Spanish immigrants, is born in the city of Mendoza (Argentina) on July 17. However, his birth date is incorrectly registered in the official records as August 17.

From the time he was born, he was called Quino in order to distinguish him from his uncle Joaquín Tejón, a painter and commercial artist, with whom Quino discovered his own life vocation at the age of three.

Argentina: end of the military government that had gotten into power after the September 6, 1930 coup d´état. Another military regime takes power.

International: Fascism rules in Italy with Mussolini. In Germany, Hitler’s Nazism is beginning to take hold. Rising political tensions in Spain after the first year of the 2nd Republic forebode a Civil War. Onset of Salazar’s fascist dictatorship in Portugal.

1939

Quino begins primary school where he discovers that his real name is Joaquin and he lives through some of the same difficulties faced by one of his characters, Felipe: “I was so anxious in the first three months that I had bad grades but I finished the year with pretty good grades, although I was never number one and that made me angry.”.

International: End of the Spanish Civil War. The Republic is defeated. Franco’s dictatorship. Hitler invades Poland: World War II begins.

1943

Argentina June 4, military coup d’ état.

1945

Quino’s mother dies. He finishes primary school and decides to enroll in the School of Fine Arts, in Mendoza. The first issue of the magazine “Rico Tipo”, directed by Divito, appears in Buenos Aires. To get published in that magazine becomes Quino’s dream.

Argentina: Colonel Juan Domingo Perón rises to power. The first popular October 17th demonstration takes place.

International: Germany is defeated and Hitler commits suicide. The first atomic bomb attacks of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Japan surrenders. The Atomic Era begins. The United Nations is created.

1946

Argentina: General Juan Domingo Perón is elected as President. He nurtures the political image of his wife Eva Duarte, known as “Evita”.

1948

Quino’s father dies

1949

Quino abandons the School of Fine Arts because he is “tired of drawing vases and plaster”. He thinks of the only possible profession: graphic humorist and artist.

International: Mao Tse Tung gets into power in China.

1950

Quino sells his first short strip: “I remember that it was for a silk shop called “Sedalina” (a shiny cotton cloth that looks like silk). But I rather not think about the advertisement itself because I’m sure it would be embarrassing”

1951

Quino travels to Buenos Aires and visits every possible newspaper and magazine office in town in search of a job. Three weeks later he returns to Mendoza without work.

Argentina: Regular TV broadcasts begin.
International: US Senator McCarthy begins his anti-communist crusade against the worlds of cinema and humanities. Meanwhile, in the USSR and other countries belonging to the communist bloc, a rigorous dogmatism is imposed on intellectual and artistic matters.

1952

Argentina: Peron is re-elected President. ‘Evita’ dies.

1953

The year Quino is called to obligatory military service. Another reason for him to feel “terribly anxious. I thought I would never get out of there and I wanted to kill everyone. But sharing my life with boys from other social groups was an enriching experience in my life. It was so breaking that I started drawing something different”.

1954

Quino settles in Buenos Aires. He continues to wander through the newspaper and magazine offices. “I suffered a lot because of the precarious conditions I was living in. I shared a room in a guesthouse with three or four other guys.” The Buenos Aires weekly paper “Esto Es” (‘this is’) publishes his first page of graphic humor, which continued to publish him every other week as it changed from Quino to another artist. “The happiest moment of my life was the day they published my first page.”After that, Quino was published in a diverse variety of media, such as “Vea y Lea”, “Leoplán”, “Damas y Damitas”, “TV Guía”, “Usted”, “Che”, “Panorama”, “Atlántida”, “Adan”, “Democracia” paper, etc. From then and up to now, Quino’s comic strips have been published without disruption in countless newspapers and magazines throughout Latin America and Europe.

International: The US takes military action against Guatemala’s legally instituted government.

1955

Argentina: The “Liberation Revolution” (Revolución Libertadora) overthrows Peron, who begins his exile.

1957

Quino accomplishes one of his goals as an artist: to be published on a regular basis in “Rico Tipo”. He gets published as well in “Dr. Merengue” and “Tía Vicenta”. Divito requires him to include text to relate to his drawings.

Argentina: Elections are called.
International: The Space Era begins. The USSR launches into space the first artificial satellite, Sputnik I.

1958

Quino begins to illustrate advertising campaigns

Argentina: Frondizi is elected President.

1959

International: Victory of the Cuban Revolution: Castro becomes the head of government; and the Che, a minister in the new government.

1960

Quino marries Alicia Colombo. They have no children. Their honeymoon to Brazil is Quino’s first trip across the Argentinean borders. In Rio de Janeiro he meets with foreign colleagues and publishing companies for the first time

1962

Quino’s first exhibition at a library in Buenos Aires. He designs the drawings for this express purpose

Argentina: President Arturo Frodinzi is deposed.

1963

Quino’s first humor book comes out. “Mundo Quino” (The World of Quino) is a compilation of humorous graphic drawings, without text, which includes a prologue written by Miguel Brascó. It was Brasco himself who presented Quino’s book to ‘Agens Publicidad’, an advertising agency, when they were looking for an artist to create a strip “which would combine Blondie and Peanuts” in order to advertise the launch of a line of electrical household appliances called “Mansfield”. This is the reason why some of the characters’ names began with the letter “m”, hence Mafalda’s case. Finally, ‘Agens’ did not run this campaign, but Quino kept some of the drawings.

Argentina: Peronism is proscribed. Arturo Ilia is elected President.
International: In the US, Kennedy is assassinated. USSR-China relations are broken.

1964

After ten years of publishing humorous drawings, which Quino continues to create on a regular basis until nowadays, Mafalda appears, for the first time, in “Gregorio”, a humor extra of “Leoplán” magazine that issued three comic strips. Since September 29, the Buenos Aires weekly paper “Primera Plana” (Front Page) picked up the Mafalda strip and kept publishing it on a regularly issues

International: Military coups in Brazil and Bolivia. US military intervention in Vietnam begins.

1965

On March 9, Quino ends his relationship with “Primera Plana” and Mafalda moves to the daily “El Mundo”.

International: The US invades Santo Domingo.

1966

Jorge Álvarez Editor (publisher) prints the first Mafalda book which assembled the first strips in order in which they were originally published. This would be the format of future Mafalda books as well. It is released in time for Christmas and all 5,000 copies are sold in just two days.

Argentina: President Ilia is overthrown. Political party activity is prohibited. General Onganía takes power. Repressive measures are taken against universities and cultural media.

1967

On December 22, the newspaper “El Mundo” is closed down, thus interrupting the distribution of Mafalda’s strip. Jorge Alvarez Editor publishes the second Mafalda book under the title “Así es la cosa, Mafalda” (That’s how things are, Mafalda). .

International: The Che Guevara dies. Military coup in Greece. The “six day war” between Israel and Egypt takes place. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is founded.

1968

On June 2, the circulation of the strip is resumed in “Siete días” (Seven days). “Mafalda 3” and “Mafalda 4” come out. Thirty strips are translated into Italian and are included in an anthology of literary texts and humorous drawings called “Libro dei Bambini Terribili per adulti masochisti” (The book of the terrible children for masochist adults). Quino travels to Europe for the first time in order to visit Paris, London and Madrid only.

International: Year of worldwide ideological and political commotions. ‘French May’ (Mayo Francés), whose slogan was “to bring imagination to power”. First ETA (Basque Autonomous Group) terrorist attacks in Spain. In the US, Martin Luther King is assassinated. Military coup in Peru.

1969

“Mafalda 5” appears in Argentina, the last of these books to be published by Jorge Álvarez Editor. Mafalda is printed for the first time ever outside of Argentina: it is in Italy that the book “Mafalda la contestataria” (Mafalda, the nonconformist) is printed and presented by Umberto Eco, who is the collection director.

Argentina: Popular uprising in Córdoba on May 29 (‘el cordobazo’).
International: On June 21, the entire world watches on TV how the first man ever, the American Neil Armstrong, sets foot on the moon.

1970

“Ediciones De la Flor” publishing house releases the sixth compilation of the comic strip, “Mafalda 6”. From then on, “Ediciones De la Flor” has been the exclusive publisher of Quino’s books in Argentina. In Spain, “Editorial Lumen” puts out the first Mafalda book, which is censored by the Franco government that requires “Lumen” to label the cover with “For Adults Only”. In Portugal, Mafalda is published by “Dom Quixote”. For the first time ever a book of Quino’s graphic humor is published outside of Argentina, in Italy: “Bompiani’s” prints “Mundo Quino”..

Argentina: Onganía is removed and another General takes his place in power.
International: Salvador Allende is elected President of Chile. The Beatles break up

1971

“Ediciones De la Flor” releases “Mafalda 7”.

Argentina: General Lanusse becomes the new head of government. He reestablishes political party activity.
International: In the US, the first microprocessor is created. This is a decisive invention for the development of computed science

1972

The Mexican publishing house “Siglo XXI” releases “A mi no me grite” (Don’t yell at me), Quino’s second book of graphic humor. “Ediciones De la Flor” publishes the eighth book of the Mafalda strip, “Mafalda 8”. In Spain, “Lumen” publishes “Mundo Quino”. Three Mafalda books are put out in Finland but without much success.Given the proliferation of pirated products of Mafalda, Quino agrees to sign a merchandising contract. He also signs a contract with Daniel Mallo to make a series of short films based on the Mafalda cartoon strips.

Argentina: Trelew incident, in Patagonia: 16 guerrilla detainees are executed in a naval base. Perón returns to the country and stays for 25 days before returning to Spain, from where he launches the campaign in favor of Héctor Cámpora

1973

On June 25, Quino formally says goodbye to the readers of “Siete días” and will not draw new Mafalda story strips. Instead, Quino’s humor pages, which up to this moment were being published by “Panorama”, start to get circulated by the former weekly. “Ediciones De la Flor” releases “Mafalda 9” and “Siglo XXI”, from Mexico, publishes the third graphic humor compilation, “Yo que usted”. The first Mafalda books are put out in France and Germany with little repercussion. Quino’s first humor book “No me grite!” comes out in Portugal-.

Argentina: Cámpora’s victorious triumph paves the way for Peron’s return. On the day of Peron’s arrival, a terrible massacre of peronist party members, organized by the right-wing faction within said party, takes place at Ezaiza airport in Buenos Aires .
International: In Chile, a bloody military coup ended with the life of President Allende. General Pinochet begins his long dictatorship during which thousands of people are tortured, executed and disappeared.

1974

“Ediciones De la Flor” releases the last compilation of Mafalda strips: “Mafalda 10”. Quino’s first trip to the US.

Argentina: Perón dies. His wife, María Estela Martínez, “Isabelita”, then vice-president, assumes control over the government. Paramilitary activity increases: tortures, taking of hostages, disappearances of persons and killings.
International: Colonel controlled government is overthrown in Greece and Salazarist dictatorship in Portugal also comes to an end.

1975

International: Franco dies. Juan Carlos de Borbón becomes the King of Spain.

1976

In March, Quino and Alicia move to Milan: “The country means youth. The fact that I’m far from my country has made my humor turn a little less vivacious but possibly somewhat more profound.” The first humor book is published in Germany.

Argentina: General Videla takes power after military coup. The Armed Forces Commanders’ Junta (composed by Videla, Massera and Agosti) ousts “Isabelita” and names General Varela President who established the “National Reorganization Process”, which initiates the darkest period in the history of Argentina: terror as a means of governing.
International: Mao Tse Tung dies in China.

1977

At the request of the UNICEF, Quino illustrates the International Edition of the World Campaign of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child with Mafalda and other characters from the cartoon strip. Mexico begins publishing Mafalda books.

1978

The International Humor Exhibition of Bordighera confers its highest distinction, the “Golden Palm” Award, on Quino. In France, the house “Éditions Glénat” publishes the first humor book “Pas mal, et vous?” (Not bad, and you?). The Mafalda books are released in Greece.

International: The first test-tube baby is born in England.

1979

In France “Éditions Glénat” publishes the first Mafalda book in color.

Argentina: The “Madres de Plaza de Mayo” begin to mobilize to denounce the disappearances of their children
International: In Iran, the fall of the Sha marks the beginning of the Islamic Revolution.

1980

Quino finally leaves “Siete días” and begins to publish his humor pages in the Sunday magazine supplement of the newspaper “Clarín”.

Argentina: Pérez Esquivel, spokesman of “Madres de Plaza de Mayo”, receives the Nobel Peace Prize.
International: A lunatic murders John Lennon in New York City.

1981

In Holland, only two Mafalda books along with a humor book get published.

1982

Quino is chosen “Cartoonist of the Year” by colleagues from around the world. Due to this, he chairs the jury of the International Humor Exhibition of Montreal, in Canada. He receives the “Konex Platinum” Award: Visual Arts – Graphic Humor. In Brazil, only three Mafalda books are published. A community of Uruguayan residents in Sweden publishes the Mafalda books.

Argentina: Falklands War (between Argentina and the UK). The armed forces are discredited.

1983

Quino takes up Mafalda characters to illustrate an oral hygiene campaign launched by Argentinean dentists (LASAB). In Greece, the first humor book is published.

Argentina: Democracy is restored. Raul Alfonsín is elected by a vast majority of votes in a general election.
Intyernational: In the US, the first artificial heart transplant operation takes place.

1984

Quino is invited to participate as member of the jury of the Latin American Film Festival in Havana. He travels to Cuba where he meets Juan Padrón, an animated film director with whom Quino begins a friendship. He signs a contract with “ICAIC” to make short films based on his humor pages. The series is called “Quinoscopios” and is directed by Juan Padrón with Quino’s drawings and ideas.On the occasion of the celebration of the coming of democracy in Argentina, the San Telmo Foundation organized in Buenos Aires a retrospective show of Quino’s art. By the end of November, another show is organized in his hometown of Mendoza. Italy celebrates 20 years of Mafalda. In Spain, the only four Mafalda books are published in Galician. In Denmark, the first and only Mafalda book is published.

Argentina: Alfonsín creates the National Commission of Disappeared Persons (CONADEP) which works for 9 months to recover evidence for the prosecution of more than one thousand members of the Armed Forces. The Commission publishes the findings in a report titled “Never Again” (Nunca más) which “Eudeba” (Buenos Aires University publishing house) issues as a book.
International: End of the eight-year military dictatorship in Uruguay. First elections in Nicaragua since the Sandinista Revolution of 1979.

1985

In Cuba “Casa de las Américas” publishes “Mundo Quino” and the “ICAIC” produces the first “Quinoscopios” series)

Argentina: Civil proceedings against the leaders of the military government which lasts eight months and finalizes with life imprisonment sentences for some of the former military leaders.
International: End of the military dictatorship in Brazil that lasted for two decades.

1986

Mafalda becomes the protagonist of a publicity campaign to promote the first elections to school councils (Consejo escolar) in Spain. For the first and only time, one of Quino’s humor books is published in the US: “The World of Quino”. Quino is one of the winners, amongst other Latin Americans, of the Second International Biennial Exhibition of Plastic Arts in Havana.

Argentina: Through various means, the military’s opposition to the proceedings becomes clear. As a concession, Alfonsín forces approval of the “full stop” (punto final) law which establishes statutory limitations on the prosecution of Human Rights violations.

1987

Argentina: Military uprising. Alfonsín negotiates with the rebels. Several days after Alfonsín enacts the “Due obedience” law, by virtue of which only those in position of direct command could be held responsible

1988

The city of Mendoza grants Quino the “Illustrious Citizen” title as well as the key of the city. Quino draws his characters Mafalda and Libertad for a poster of the Argentinean Ministry of Foreign Relations to celebrate the “Human Rights” Day as well as the fifth anniversary of the return to democracy in Argentina.In Erlangen, Germany, the Third Annual International Comic Exhibition grants Mafalda the “Max und Moritz” international grand award. For the first and only time, one of Quino’s humor books is published in Brazil. In Norway, a Mafalda book is released.

1989

In order to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the publication of the first Mafalda comic strip, “Ediciones De la Flor” publishing house issues “Mafalda inédita” (unpublished Mafalda), an exhibition of original drawings and documents held in San Martín Theater in Buenos Aires.

Argentina: Carlos Saúl Medem triumphs in the Presidential elections.
International: Referendum in Chile to vote dictator Pinochet’s permanence in power. The Referendum is lost but Pinochet remains in power. The fall of the Berlin wall.

1990

In Taiwan, pirated editions of Mafalda are published in Chinese. It takes two years to regulate the situation .

Argentina: Presidential pardon granted to the leaders under the military dictatorship who had been previously convicted pursuant to the civil proceedings of 1985.
International: Reunification of East and West Germany.

1991

International: Ratification of Maastricht Treaty on the elimination of barriers between member states of the European Community.

1992

The “Fifth Centennial National Society” (Sociedad Estatal Quinto Centenario) organizes an exhibit of 1,200 m2 in Madrid titled “Mafalda’s World” (El Mundo de Mafalda), in which, amongst others, a short film, produced by Juan Padrón in Cuba, on one of Quino’s drawings of Mafalda together with Christopher Columbus is shown. A catalogue with the name of the exhibit is also published. Quino receives the Konex Platinum Award: Visual Arts – Graphic Humor for the second time.

Argentina: Bomb attack on the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires. The perpetrators remain unknown until today.

1993

The Spanish film company “D.G. Producciones, S.A.”, together with the Spanish Public TV (Televisiones Españolas), produces 104, one minute long episodes of Mafalda cartoons directed by Juan Padrón in the “ICAIC”. In October, Quino sets out a graphic humor exhibition in the Recoleta Cultural Center in Buenos Aires, organized by Omega Foundation.

1994

Milan celebrates Mafalda’s thirtieth anniversary with a reunion in the “Circolo della Stampa”. “Plaza Mafalda” is inaugurated in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of “Colegiales”. “Ediciones De la Flor” and “Cancillería” invite Quino to participate in the Book Fair in Bogotá (Colombia), in which Argentina is the guest country.

Argentina: Total destruction of the Israeli-Argentinean Mutual Society (Asociación Mutual Israeli-Argentina, AMIA) under the same circumstances as the destruction of the Embassy in 1992. Constitutional reform.

1995

In Milan, the Center for Argentine Promotion of the Consulate General of Argentina holds an exhibit of humorous drawings. In October, Spanish weekly supplements begin to publish Quino’s humor pages.

Argentina: Carlos Saúl Medem is re-elected President. “Ediciones De la Flor” publishing house releases “Cuentecillos y otras alteraciones”, a storybook written by Jorge Timossi and illustrated by Quino with his character ‘Felipe’.

Argentina: First local elections in Buenos Aires to elect the government of the City of Buenos Aires

1997

Quino attends the Book Fair in Guadalajara, Mexico, in which Argentina is the guest country. The “Arnaldo Orfila Reynal Prize to a Publishing Career” is awarded to “Ediciones De la Flor”. In Madrid, Quino receives a peculiar prize: the “Silver Plaque”, awarder by the Madrid Association of Restaurant and Cafeteria Entrepreneurs, for having contributed to gastronomic prestige and diffusion through his graphic art. He is also granted an award by the Association of Professional Illustrators of Madrid

Argentina: In January, the journalist José Luis Cabezas is assassinated. The perpetrator remains unknown.
International: On June 30, the UK returns Hong Kong to China.

1998

In April, after having been out of print for many years, “Ediciones De la Flor” reprints Quino’s first book, “Mundo Quino” (The World of Quino) with a prologue by the author.He is honored by the Secretary of Culture of the City of Buenos Aires as Master of Art, in recognition for his work. Quino receives the “B’nai B’rith Human Rights Award”, granted annually by said organization to individuals who have stood out in the promotion and defense of human rights. Quino’s webpage goes online. In Buenos Aires, the Quilme Center of Modern Art presents an exhibition of Quino’s Humor Art.

1999

In April, “Ediciones De la Flor” reprints the book “A mi no me grite” (Don’t yell at me). The “Librería Internacional” (the International Bookstore) invites Quino to San José, in Costa Rica, under the sponsorship of the “La Nación” newspaper.

2000

In February, the Cuban Book Institute presents the exhibit “Quino’s World” in the Wilfredo Lam Center, venue of the Ninth International Fair in Havana. ‘Litexa Boliviana S.A.’ invites Quino to La Paz Book Fair under the auspices of LAB Bolivian Airlines and the Mayor’s Office of La Paz. The good relationship established between Quino and the public, lead him to attend the 2001 Book Fair. On the occasion of the Fifth International Humor Exhibition in Greece sponsored by the Culture Ministry, the Athens Municipality and UNESCO, Quino presents an exhibit of his drawings and some of his Mafalda comic strip. In October, Quino is invited to the International Comic Exhibition in Gijón. During the Latin American Graphic Humor Exhibition, the University of Alcalá de Henares names Quino Honorary Professor of Humor. In November, ‘Glénat’ Publishers and Hachette Canada invite Quino to the 23rd Book Fair in Montreal. On December 11th, Quino becomes the second person to be awarded the prestigious Quevedos Graphic Humor Prize. The award being an initiative of the University of Alcalá General Foundation and sponsored by the Spanish Education and Culture Ministry and the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

2001

A roving Humor Show is staged in Bolivia (La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa de Cruz de la Sierra and Tarija) in the months of July and August. The show’s opening takes place on the occasion of the VI International Book Fair in La Paz. Quino is present in several activities, just as he had promised during his visit the previous year. All this was made possible by the Book Chamber of Bolivia (‘Cámara Boliviana del Libro’).Due to the initiative of the University of Alcalá General Foundation Between, Quino puts on a retrospective of his work from October 4th to October 30th, during the VIII Latin American Graphic Humor Exhibition.On October 15th, Quino receives the “Quevedos”, Latin American Biennial of Graphic Humor Prize, awarded by the University of Alcalá General Foundation in December 2000, during a touching ceremony held in the University’s Assembly Hall, and presided by the Secretary of State for Culture, Luis Alberto de Cuenca. Antonio Mingote, the first “Quevedos” Prize in 1998 also attended the act as well as other relevant personalities.Between October and December, “De la Flor” Publications, in Argentina, and “Editorial Lumen”, in Spain, release “Esto no es Todo” (This is not all), a 500 page compilation of Quino’s best graphic humor works selected by his humor-book editors. The piece, “¡Cuanta bondad!” (So much kindness), is not included in the compilation. In January 2002, the compilation “Esto no es Todo” will also be published by “Tusquets Editores” in Mexico.

Argentina: In December, the elected President Dr. Fernando De La Rua resigns after several days of social protests due to the country’s economic situation.The President of the Senate, Federico Ramón Puerta, assumes temporary power. Within the following 48 hours, the Legislative Assembly names Dr. Adolfo Rodríguez Saa, who resigns ten days later upon reiterated popular protests and public pressure against Argentina’s political class. This community-wide act of banging casserole pans with spoons to express frustration and disagreement with the government has been called “el cacerolazo”. Once again, the Legislative Assembly meets and names Dr. Eduardo Duhalde as President of the Republic.

International: The 11/9 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The war begins in Afghanistan in order to find Bin Laden, who is considered responsible for the attacks.

2002

Quino is invited to show his graphic humor and Mafalda work in the 21st International Caricature Exhibition (“Salon Internacional de la Caricature, du Dessin de Presse et d´Humour)” in Saint Just le Martel from 27 September to 6 October.The Italian-Latin American Institute (IILA) organizes, together with the Embassy of the Argentinean Republic, a Quino exhibition, titled “Mafalda’s father has other children” (Il Padre di Mafalda ha altri figli) in the Roman Scuderie del Palazzo Santacroce from 21 November to 21 December.

2003

In August, Quino exhibits his work in the Contemporary Art Museum in Bahía Blanca, Province of Buenos Aires (Argentina) and is invited to give a lecture at the Visual Arts School of Bahía Blanca. Towards the end of the month, he is invited to inaugurate the International Book Fair in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Quino took part in the event and also conversed with the public. The mayor, Jaime Nebot, named Quino “Illustrious Guest” of the City of Guayaquil. In September, Quino exhibits in Biarritz, France, on occasion of the Latin American Cinema and Culture 2003 Festival (‘CITA’ in Spanish).On December 6, on the occasion of the Second International Cartoon and Caricature gathering and the International Book Fair in Guadalajara, the University of Guadalajara grants Quino the “Catrina” Award-Homage. The Award was given by Sergio Aragonés (the former awardee). Furthermore, an exhibition of Quino’s work is presented in the Tolsa Hall of the Arts Museum in the University of Guadalajara.

Argentina: The first Presidential Elections under a double tour election system (‘ballotage’) finally did not take place on April 27, as one of the two candidates (Carlos Saúl Menem) resigned his candidature two days before the second round of elections. On May 25, Nestor Kirchner, from Santa Cruz, is elected President of the Republic, with 22.04% of the votes.

International: On March 19th, the United States declared war against Iraq.

2004

In January, the city of Milan celebrates the character’s fortieth anniversary with the exhibition “In Viaggio con Mafalda”. The show, curated by Ivan Giovannucci, is sponsored by Touring Junior, the youngsters association of the Italian Touring Club, with the contribution and the sponsorship of the Culture Councillorship of the Municipality and the Cultural Heritage Councillorship of the Province and it is held in various Italian cities, ending in 2006. In 2004, the show reaches the cities of Pavia, Pescara, Montagnana (Padova), Dervio (Lecco), Mantova, Fiume Veneto (Pordenone), Brescia, Darfo Boario Terme (Brescia), Cesano Maderno (Milan). Touring Editore publishes the catalogue of the exhibition.

On the day of the opening, the Culture Councilor of the Municipality of Milan, Salvatore Carruba, awards Quino the prestigious prize of the “Ambrogino d’oro” as proof of affection of the city.

On February 9th, at the Strehler Theatre in Milan, Touring Junior dedicates Mafalda and its father a party called: Happy Birthday Mafalda, to which the entire city can participate. Beatrice Masini, Luca Novelli, Andrea Valente and Julio Velasco interview Quino with the audience participating in the event.

The XXIII edition of the Andersen Award is held on May 22nd in Sestri Levante. Mafalda is the character of the year and Quino is given the eminent prize.

In June, Editorial Lumen in Spain and Tusquets Editores in Mexico publish the book De viaje con Quino.

In July, Ediciones de la Flor publishes the new comics: !Que presente impresentable! And, for the first time ever, the volumes Mafalda 1 and 2 are translated into English with the title:Mafalda&Friends.

Also in July, in Italy, the new book of Mafalda is published by Fabbri with the title: Se fosse per me, farei la pace!

The exhibition “Quino, 50 años” is organized in August in Buenos Aires by the Andreani Foundation and is curated by Julieta Colombo Marrón. It celebrates the fiftieth anniversary from the publication, in Argentina, of his first comic strip on the magazineEsto es: it was November 9th, 1954. The show reaches Córdoba and Mar del Plata and continues in 2005 and 2006 in other Argentinean cities.

In Milan, on September 6th: Summer inside the Chiostri dell’Umanitaria, in cooperation with the Italian Association of Biblioteche Lombardia and the Italian Touring Club, presents “Se fosse per me, farei la pace!”, a touring educational exhibition held, from September 6th until the 16th, at the Società Umanitaria in Milan. During the opening, Quino meets his readers introduced by: Giuliana Casartelli (AIB Lombardia), Valentina Suni (Touring Junior); other guests are Paola Calvetti, Ottavia Piccolo and Barbara Schiaffino. 

From September 9th till the 12th, Quino attends the Literature Festival in Mantova. On September 9th, more than 600 people attend the public meeting with Quino, Lella Costa and Julio Velasco.

On November 9th Editions Glènat organizes at the “Maison de l’Amèrique Latine” in Paris, a tribute for Quino’s fifty years of career with an exhibition of the drawings of his French colleagues honoring Mafalda and it presents the book Un prèsent impresentabile. On November 17th, Quino is named Distinguished Citizen of Buenos Aires.

International: March 11th, terrorist attack in Spain, three days before the Presidential elections, inside the train station of Atocha in Madrid and in two other nearby stations. It was defined the bloodiest attack in the entire history of Spain.

Italy:December 29th: a tragic fire caused by a firecracker during a concert - 192 casualties and hundreds of injured. The incident was the first of this kind and it lead to revaluate the problem of security in such crowded spaces

2005

The exhibition “In viaggio con Mafalda” reaches Rome, Naples, Zagarolo (Rome), Voghera (Pavia), Jesolo (Venice).
In March, Ediciones de La Flor publishes the third volume of Mafalda&Friends.

At the end of March Editorial Lumen, Biblioteques de Barcelona and Barcelona 2005 Any del Libre i la Lectura (see page) organize the exhibition “De viaje con Mafalda” at the Library Fort Pienc in Barcelona.

The exhibition “Quino 50 años” continues its journey in Argentina: it reaches Rosario, Casilda, Mendoza and San Rafael. In August, Quino was granted “Knight of the Order Isabel the Catholic” (created by King Ferdinand VII in 1815). The last day of celebration of the exhibition “Quino 50 años”, the Spanish Consul of the city, Miguel Albero Suárez gives Quino the honor plate signed by the Spanish monarchs. The last rule of the Order was issued in 1988. Its current function is to “award Spanish citizens and foreigners that, with an extraordinary civil behavior, aid the nation or strongly contribute to the friendly and cooperative relationships between Spain and the rest of the International Community”.

Those same days, the Municipality of Guaymallén, the city of Mendoza, names him “Distinguished Citizen”, hands him the “keys of the city” and dedicates him a square named after Mafalda.

On August 26th, inside the Governor’s Office of Buenos Aires, Quino was named “Distinguished Citizen of the city of Buenos Aires”. On August 21st, during a program for the creation of green spaces inside the city, in the district of Colegiales, the Mafalda square is reopened. The square is divided in seven triangles converging in the centre and where the statues of Felipe, Manolito, Miguelito, Susanita, Libertad, Mafalda and the little bother Guille are located. The benches are decorated using fragments of the comics.

In September, the Prince Claus Foundation for the Culture and the Development of the Hague, Holland, grants Quino one of the eleven prizes Prince Claus 2005, dedicated this year to humor and satire. On September 7th, on the same day of the “Día del maestro” (The teacher’s day), the CTERA (Confederación de Trabajadores de la educación de la República Argentina) grants Quino the medal “Life Master”.

In September, Tusquets Editores México publishes ¡Qué presente impresentable!.

In October the same book is published in Spain by Editorial Lumen SA.

In November, in Italy, Rizzoli publishes “Ci è sparito l’orizzonte” containing not only comic strips of Mafalda, but also comic strips that until that moment had been unpublished in Italy, concerning ecology, generation conflicts, women’s issues, war and peace.

2006

The exhibition “In viaggio con Mafalda” continues its tour in Italy and reaches Trento, Cavalese (Trento), Osnago (Lecco), Cervo (Imperia), Acquaviva Picena (Ascoli Piceno).

In February, Ediciones de La Flor publishes the fourth volume ofMafalda&Friends.

In April, after several years, the Italian Magazzini Salani publishes the first two volumes of I piccoli libri di Mafalda containing a collection of comic strips. 

In May, the Municipality of Quijorna, Madrid, together with the association "Juguemos al Teatro" honors Quino for his contribution to the intellectual life of children. 

Mafalda steps in the world of Italian museums and archeological sites with a collection of t-shirts, aprons, bags, postcards and mouse-pads, entitled “Moderni questi antichi!” The production is managed by Novamusa, one of Italy’s main museum service providers. The collection will be given to around 50 museums and archeological parks among which Selinunte, Segesta, Museo Paolo Orsi in Siracusa, Ostia Antica, the Archeological Museum of Cagliari, the Abbey of Pomposa and Sant’Apollinare in Classe of Ravenna, Canne della Battaglia in Apulia, Pompei and Herculaneum, The Ancient Theatre of Taormina and many more.  The exhibition “Quino 50 años” reaches Tucumán in May and Salta in August. Both cities are located on the North-western part of Argentina.  The exhibition “En voyage avec Mafalda”, translated for this occasion into Flemish, is held from May 12th till the 28th, within the third edition of “Quinzaine de la BD” in Brussels.
After Italy, Argentina and Spain, the touring exhibition “En voyage avec Mafalda – tous différents, tous égaux!” is presented, for the first time, in France, within the Cartoons International Festival of Annecy 2006. The show is organized by Karmafilms Distribution and La Turbine in cooperation with Éditions Glénat and the Literary Agency Caminito. It starts from Cran-Gevrier (May 23rd – June 10th), where it will be held inside the premises of La Turbine. The show officially opens on June 6th, with Quino attending it in Annecy. On June 10th, within the Second Book Show of Latin America, organized inside the premises of UNESCO in Paris, the public meeting named  “Quino retrouve Plantu!” is held with Quino and the famous cartoonist of the newspaper Le Monde, Plantu.

In June, the University of the Argentinean city of Córdoba, gives Quino and his colleague Roberto Fontanarrosa a honorary degree.
In August, in France, Éditions Glénat publishes the catalogue of the touring exhibition “En voyage avec Mafalda”. By the end of this month, In Italy, Magazzini Salani publishes volumes 3 and 4 of the series I piccoli libri di Mafalda.

In September, in Portugal, Editorial Teorema Lda. publishes the first of four volumes of the comic strip collection.

In October, during the 28th International Mediterranean Film Festival in Montpellier (France), tribute to Mafalda with the screening of its cartoons.

On October 16th, The Culture foundation of Curitiba, the capital city of Paraná, in the south of Brazil, organizes the exhibition “Simplemente Quino”, curated by Julieta Colombo Marrón.
On October 26th, the Dutch Ambassador in Argentina, Henk Soeters, grants Quino the Prize Claus for Humor, assigned to him the previous year.

On November 10th, the cartoon series of Mafalda is released and distributed, for the first time on DVD and exclusively for France, by Karmafilms Distribution. That same month, in Portugal, Editorial Teorema, Lda publishes Que presente tão inapresentável and the volume Mafalda 2 containing a collection of strips.

2007

On January 18th, Quino is invited to the Future Film Festival in Bologna. For the occasion, the cartoons Quinoscopios are shown in the Sala Grande. That same month, In Italy, Magazzini Salani publishes Mafalda 5 and 6, while in Portugal Editorial Teorema publishes the volume Mafalda 3.

In March, Ediciones de La Flor publishes Mafalda & Friends volume 5.

On April 22nd, during the Tenth Literature Promotion Convention and for the 33rd Edition of the Book Fair in Buenos Aires, the Book Foundation organizes a tribute to Quino and a meeting with Daniel Divinsky and Carlos Ulanovsky.

On April 25th, the Children’s museum Barrirete - la Vieja Usina, in the Argentinean city of Córdoba, opens the interactive exhibition “El mundo según Mafalda” (The world according to Mafalda). After Italy, Argentina, Spain, Belgium and France, the exhibition “In viaggio con Mafalda” reaches, for the first time, Morocco. During the 7th edition of the Cartoons Film Festival of Meknés (May 10-18, 2007), the Moroccan audience finally meets Mafalda and Quino’s universe. The show starts May 14th with Quino attending it. 
In June, Magazzini Salani publishes Mafalda 7, while in Portugal, Editorial Teorema publishes the volume Mafalda 4.

In September, the President of Extremadura,  Guillermo Fernández Vara, awards Quino the prize Extremadura. In October, in Italy, Magazzini Salani publishes I cartoni animati di Mafalda, a book/DVD containing a preface written by film director Enzo D’Alò.
On November 20th, during the Universal Children’s Day, Karmafilms Distribution publishes in France the DVD containing 104 episodes of the cartoons and for the occasion, the cinema Le Latina organizes a small exhibition of some of the works shown in the exhibition “En voyage avec Mafalda”.

In November, the Council of the Province of Guadalajara, in Spain, awards Quino the prize “La Hoja” during the opening session of the VIII Cycle of autumn courses in Guadalajara. Quino, who has been invited to attend the Literary Presence Program at the University of Huelva and Cadiz (Spain), meets the students to speak about his life and works. In December, Ediciones de La Flor publishes La aventura de comer, the new book of comics; a funny and sometimes frightening journey around the private and public eating and drinking ceremony.
 
2008

In February, Magazzini Salani publishes “Mafalda oltre le strisce…” adaptation of the book “Mafalda unpublished”.

On March 11th, the Faculty of Social Services of the University of Entre Ríos (Argentina) gives Quino a honorary degree.

In March, the book “La aventura de comer” is published in Spain and Portugal. In Argentina, Ediciones de La Flor, publishes the sixth book about Mafalda in English: “Mafalda & Friends 6”.
In April, Quino is invited at the 26th International Comic Fair in Barcelona, together with his colleague Liniers.

The exhibition “Simplemente Quino” is held in Tokyo, inside the Instituto Cervantes, from May 23rd until June 27th. It is organized by the Embassy of Argentina in Japan.

In July, during the graphic humor festival “Santa Cruz paints”, the newspaper La Opinión organizes the exposition of Quino’s works inside the Fine Arts Club in Tenerife.

On August 5th, the Culture Councillorship of the Province of Buenos Aires awards him the prize “José Hernández” for his contribution in helping spreading culture.

The show “El mundo según Mafalda” tours around Argentina: in August it reaches the region of Misiones and in September the Museum Culturarte in the city of Jujuy.

Editorial Teorema publishes in Portugal “Mafalda unpublished”, while in Italy, Magazzini Salani, publishes the comics “Quanta bontà”.

On November 20th, Quino receives the “Prize to humor” assigned by the Association of newspaper and magazine distributors for their 63rd anniversary.

The Spanish Association “Fomento Europeo y la Hidalga Cortesía Española”, grants him the “Cruz de Oro de AEFE”.
In November a murales is launched inside the underground of Buenos Aires, line A, station Perù.

International: February 19th: with an advert on the newspaper Granma, the President of Cuba Fidel Castro, after forty years, resigns for health problems; his brother Raúl Castro will take his place.

November 4th: the Democrat Barack Obama, is elected 44th President of the United States, the first Afro-American in the history of the country.

 
2009

In March, Ediciones de La Flor, Argentina, publishes the seventh book of Mafalda in English: “Mafalda & Friends 7”; that same month, Magazzini Salani, publishes in Italy the new edition of “Tutto Mafalda”.

The exhibition “Se fosse per me, farei la pace!” continues its tour inside the libraries of Emilia Romagna (Italy).

On July 2nd, at the Comédie Français in Paris, Quino is given the “Gourmand award” for the book “La aventura de comer”. In August Quino receives the first “Bicentenary Medal” that the city of Buenos Aires gives to important Argentinean people for the celebration of the Bicentenary of the Revolution of May 25th, 1810. This decoration, created by the artist Antonio Pujía, is also given to other two hundred people that have distinguished themselves for their job, their intellectual, humanitarian, social and artistic efforts.
That same month, during the celebrations of the Bicentenary organized by the city of Buenos Aires, the statue of Mafalda is raised in the district of San Telmo. The sculpture was created by the artist Pablo Irrgang. For this occasion, a memorial plate is put on the door of the building where Quino lived, on Chile Street, with the following wording: “Mafalda lived here”.

On August 20th, The International School of Journalism awards Quino the “Honor pen 2009”.

The exhibition “El mundo según Mafalda” continues its tour across Argentina, stopping at Mendoza inside the Museum of contemporary art.

To celebrate the 45 years of Mafalda, on October 10th, the Association Amici del Loggione of the Scala Theatre in Milan, organizes an exhibition.

On November 13th, the Spanish section of UNICEF honors Quino and other fifteen important people who have distinguished themselves for the defense of children’s rights. Princess Margherita di Borbone attends the ceremony.

International: June 1st: the flight 447 of Air France, disappears inside the Atlantic Ocean while travelling from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, there were 228 casualties.

June 3rd: unanimously, the representatives of OAS (Organization of American States), decide to revoke the resolution of 1962 that excluded Cuba from the organization.

July 4th: after a coup, Honduras is suspended from being a Member state of OAS (Organization of American States).

2010

In March, Magazzini Salani, Italy, publishes the book “This presente impresentable”.

In April at the XV International Humour receives the Gat Perich award with two other winners: Tricicle and Fernando Krahn. The International Humour Gat Perich since 1996 is an award given in memory of artist and humorist James Perich to recognize the professionals of humor.

By decree of 23 April, Mr. Frédéric Mitterrand, minister of Culture and Communication, is appointed "Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters."

In Argentina, Ediciones de la Flor, publishes the eighth book in English: "Mafalda & Friends 8".

The exhibition “El mundo según Mafalda” is shown in cut-outs of children's book fair in Guadalajara (Mexico) from 2 to March 7, and moved to the Museum Raul Anguiano during the months of March-May in the same Mexican city . Upon returning to Argentina takes its tour around the country in the cities of Ushuaia and Rio Grande.

The exhibition “En voyage avec Mafalda”, is exhibited in January at the International Centre of Comic Strip of the city of Angoulême (France).

Karmafilms Distribution occurs Mafalda mini exhibition for schools and libraries in several French departments.

In November, Magazzini Salani. Italy,  publishes "Mafalda: oggi Mordo!". A metal case with the entire collection of Mafalda’s books.

2011

The mini exhibition of Mafalda, produced by Karmafilm Distribution, for schools and libraries in France, set out in the Library of Bethoncourt (France) from January 28 to February 12.

From January 21 to February 18, held an exhibition of his works of humor and Mafalda in Exhibition Hall Felo Monzón-City neighborhood in the Ateneo Municipal Council of Santa Lucia Islands of Gran Canaria.

In March he was invited to the Salon du Livre de Paris (France) which participates with several Argentine writers.

In June, in Italy, Magazzini Salani publishes his book “Quinoterapia”.

On June 15, opens at the Argentine station (M 1) of the Paris subway a series of murals dedicated to the talented Argentine. One dedicated to the Nobel Prize: Carlos Saavedra Lamas, Bernardo Alberto Houssay, Luis Federico Leloir, Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Cesar Milstein, and cultural figures as Julio Cortazar, Victoria Ocampo, Jorge Luis Borges, Carlos Gardel, all observed by an astonished Mafalda.

In July, the exhibition “El Mundo Según Mafalda” continues its tour of Argentina, this time in the Museum of Fine Arts "Dr Urbano Poggi" Rafaela, Santa Fe.

In September receives the "Golden Romics", the highest honor awarded by the Comic and Animation Festival of Rome (Italy), whose eleventh edition was held from September 29 and October 2.

The mini exhibition of Mafalda outlined in Ajaccio (Corsica, France) in 9th Comic Festival on days 7, 8 and 9 October.

The exhibition “En voyage avec Mafalda”, is displayed on October 14 to January 5, 2012 in the Exhibition Centre National de Jonquière City (Quebec, Canada).

The exhibition “El Mundo Según Mafalda” traveled to Catamarca, Argentina, from October 19 to November 30 as part of the 8th. National Book Fair.

In November, Random House PuMondadori Spain and Tusquets Mexico publishes a compilation, into a single volume,with all the strips of Mafalda.

In December, Forum des images in collaboration with Karmafilms Distribution offer students of French film schools participating in Quino'Scopage. It is conducting a one-minute animated sequence on designs proposed by Quino (both production of humor and cartoon strips of Mafalda). Work (individual or collective) will be presented at Carrefour de l'Animation (tenth edition), in Paris in December 2012 with the presence of Quino. In 2013 was exhibited at the International Film Festival of Animation in Annecy (France).

2012

The mini exhibition of Mafalda continues its tour in France this time in Ouzouer sur-Loire (region Val d'Or et Forêt, France) at the Festival of Argentina from 11 to 20 March.

In May, Italy, Magazzini Salani publishes his book of humor “¡Qué mala es la gente!”

In June, in Italy, Magazzini Salani published “10 años con Mafalda”.

On July 17 is Quino’s 80th birthday, celebrations are held in his hometown of Mendoza and receive media recognition in Argentina, Latin America and Spain.