El Eternauta - Cultural References

Cultural References

One the most notable characteristics of the comic book, is an accentuated use of local imagery, specifically to the city of Buenos Aires during the fifties. In spite of this, Buenos Aires characteristic form of "voseo" is not used.

• Truco is a trick-taking card game, popularly played in the Río de la Plata basin. It is used at the beginning of the story to represent the normal home peace suddenly broken by the invasion, and at the end, bestowing the story a cyclic nature.
• The short wave really permitted to receive transmissions from other countries. It should be noted that, during its original run, television was still not common in Argentina.
• Regarding the use of snow as a science fiction weapon: in Buenos Aires snowing does not regularly happen. The last snowfall had occurred in 1918, and the subsequent one occurred 89 years later.
• The different ads drawn reference real brands or organizations - such as YPF or Cinzano. Graffiti are also shown, like "Vote for Frondizi", referencing then-elected president Arturo Frondizi.
• Every reference to streets or places are veridic (except for those specifically created for the story).
• The first battle takes place at Avenida General Paz, a beltway freeway surrounding the city of Buenos Aires. It is shown the same as it was during the time, having changed severely since then.
• The resistance is headquartered at the Monumental Stadium, of Club Atlético River Plate. The "CARP" acronym can be seen on several occasions.
• The gazebo represented at the Barrancas de Belgrano, from which the Mano commands his forces, is a true representation of the real one present at the place, which is used for small musical events.
• Plaza Italia is a semicircular plaza, where several important streets come together. Avenida Santa Fe - a continuation of Avenida Cabildo (along which the resistance army marches towards the city centre) - borders this plaza, while "Avenida Las Heras" starts at the place (along which the resistance retreats).
• On the same plaza, the homonymous subway station can be found, which is used by some characters to escape. The "Canning" station is furthermore mentioned, although it has since been renamed Scalabrini Ortiz in 1974.
• The Plaza de los Dos Congresos, where the invaders headquarters is placed, is located next to the Argentine National Congress.