The Three Caballeros in Comics: Part One

[psychopathicus_rex]

OK, so a little explanation is required here. A few months ago, someone posted a screencap from 'The Three Caballeros', one of my favorite old Disney movies, which I hadn't seen for years. This got me thinking about it again; I re-watched it (and if anything, I like it more now than I did then), and afterwards, as is my habit, did a quick Google search on it.
Well, as it turns out, 'Three Caballeros' also has a foot in the door when it comes to comics. Not a big one - rather a small one, in fact - but a foot. And some of these comics are really quite good. So, having searched them out for my own enjoyment, I am going to share my obsession with you, and see if you agree.
So that being said, who ARE the Caballeros, and what makes them so memorable? Read on, MacDuff!



Historically speaking, 'The Three Caballeros' is a result of Walt Disney's attempts to buddy up to Latin America during WW2. The reasoning for this, if I recall correctly, is that the US was getting worried about what might happen if Mexico and South America got involved in the war on the side of the Nazis. So Disney Studios, which had already helped out the government through the production of training films and the like, made two movies devoted to just how peachy-keen our good freedom-loving pals to the south were - 'Saludos Amigos!', and 'The Three Caballeros'. So technically speaking, 'Caballeros' is a sequel, but plot-wise, it's a stand-alone film.
OK, so enough with the history lesson; what makes it watchable?
Well, to start with, here's the title song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGWOY8nPCMw

(I hope I did that right - I've never embedded a YouTube video before, and I have no clue how to go about it. If anyone has any tips for me, I'd appreciate it.)
I know that they're inevitable, this being the board that it is, but please keep 'gay Caballeros' jokes to a minimum, all right? It was another time, the word meant another thing, and the Cabs love them some senoritas, so the modern usage doesn't apply to them.
I won't go into plot details - for one thing, I don't want to spoil the movie for you, and for another, the plot is almost nonexistent. Basically, it consists of Donald Duck and his friends Jose Carioca (his parrot friend from Brazil, who he met in 'Saludos') and Panchito the Mexican gunslinger rooster careening from one hallucinatory Latin-themed set-piece to another, mixing in live-action sequences with lots and lots of beautiful senoritas. Lots and LOTS of senoritas. I mean LOTS of them. If you have a secret desire to watch Donald become an unbridled figure of only barely G-rated lust, the film will scratch your itch, but good - he goes CRAZY in it. In between, we get brain-melting sequences that challenge 'Pink Elephants on Parade' for freakiest Disney stuff ever, all jazzed up with a Latin American flavor and plenty of catchy music. If any of you are fans of classic Disney, I urge you to check it out.
In any case, I hope these posts will at least make some of you curious about it, even they bear little relation to the actual movie itself. The only way to do THAT was if they printed acid on the pages.

Let us start things off with the earliest Three Caballeros comic I could find. This is from back in the days when adaptations of their movies in comic book form was a regular part of the Disney marketing machine. This is the official adaptation comic, done by Walt Kelly, of 'Pogo' fame. (This was, I believe, early in his career.)
I won't beat around the bush - this is not a very good adaptation. In fact, if this was your introduction to the Three Cabs, you probably wouldn't bother seeing the movie. That being said, it's still vintage Kelly, and it's not easy to find, so I'm going to post the bits that are A: spoiler-free, and B: interesting, which coincidentally works out to about a third of it (out of two 25-page chapters, 8 and 1/3 from the first, and six from the second).
The story begins as Donald is roused from slumber:



YAAY, IT'S HIS BIRTHDAY! Happy Birthday, Donald!
The mailman has a parcel for him, marked as from his 'good friends in Latin America'. Donald is terribly excited about this:
"Oh, boy! Maybe it's a set of silver-studded tortillas, or a double barreled bolero..."
Uh, yeah.
What it is, it turns out, is a rug. But not just ANY rug...





I like Donald's logic there, although I doubt he got good grades in Geography. Anyway, WELCOME TO MEXICO!



Panchito is ever so humble and retiring a fellow.
This may be the skimpiest outfit that Donald has ever worn, and considering that his normal one is just a jacket and a hat, that's saying something. This one isn't even a SHIRT and a hat. I mean, he was better dressed in his nightshirt.
Anyway, I'm going to skip over the next bit because of movie spoilers, such as they are. Suffice it to say, Donald and Jose get separated from Panchito and the serape, and then this happens:



*sigh* Donald, Donald, Donald... There's a time and a place for everything.



Unfortunately, the turtle does NOT appreciate stowaways, so:







Yes, kids, hijacking a train is FUN! Yay crime!





So the Caballeros are together again, and after another movie spoiler-y section, they embark on a tour of the local wildlife:





This goes on for another few pages, and it's really kind of boring, so I'll skip it. (I just thought the Surinam Toad bit was kind of an interesting zoological tidbit.) Fast-forward to where the flying serape saves the day:





I think we all know what a pinata is, so let's skip that bit, too.





That's right, Donald, jump on the FIRST HORSE YOU SEE. I'm sure everything will be just peachy.



So that's it. Overall, not a terrible comic for what it is, and a nice vintage piece. No one would exactly call it high adventure, though.
For THAT, we must wait until Part Two. That's where things really start a-poppin'.

Comments

[bradhanon]

I find it interesting how non-stereotypical Jose and Panchito are. Considering we were getting Speedy Gonzales cartoons well into the 1970s, it's pleasantly surprising to see these guys. I mean, they're broadly-drawn cartoons, but based on what I've seen I wouldn't say they're racial or cultural stereotypes. Unless there's a Mexican stereotype about wildly ebullient and sociable gunslingers that I haven't heard about.

[psychopathicus_rex]

Oh yeah, they're both good characters. Panchito could get a little exhausting to be around for any period of time, but Jose is a genuinely cool dude - in the movie, he's not only a genial charmer who's smooth with the ladies, he knows BLACK MAGIC! He even explicitly identifies it as such. Interest piqued yet?

[sianmink]

The turtle's dialogue is pretty cracky.

"I resent this!"

Panchito seems a bit excitable here. I'm pretty sure he isn't shooting all over the place in the Disney ride. >_>

[schala_kid]

Eh, the whole screaming like crazy and shooting his guns in the air comes to mind as stereotypical but it's a minor thing really.

[leikomgwtfbbq]

I only watched The Three Caballeros recently and I loved it. Especially Jose Carioca. He was funny as hell. XD These comics are equally awesome. thanks for sharing! :D

[brandiweed.livejournal.com]

I didn't think it was possible to make a Surinam toad look cute.

[sinisterlink]

Those things creep me out so bad. Everytime I see something about one my back starts itching. *shudders*

[sinisterlink]

The "Nuts to you" thing on the back of the train made me laugh out loud. The Caballeros are cool. I need to track down the movies since I've never actually seen them all the way through. When I was younger I had one of those Disney sing along tapes and they had the main Three Caballeros song on it and I remember liking it just because I thought all the guys were crazy. lol

[nezchan]

I used to have that book when I was a kid. It fell to pieces, I read it so many times. A much-loved story, and even now I giggle from time to time at the "Nuts to you" joke. Now that's staying power!

[psychopathicus_rex]

Walt Kelly had a genius for lines like that - masterful understatement was part of his writing style. And yeah, that line in particular is a good one.
I haven't seen him in the Disney ride, but you're probably right - he's been toned down a lot in recent years. Still, his full name was for many years 'Panchito Pistoles' (which is bad Spanish; I'm pretty sure it should be PistolAS, but whatever), so you can hardly blame the guy. You should see him in the movie - he's one trigger-happy fellow.

[psychopathicus_rex]

Well, yeah, he's clearly influenced by the whole bandito stereotype, but he's a GOOD bandito - he's not out to rob anybody, he just wants to show them the town and have a good time. (Oh, and shout 'YAAAAAAAAAAA-WOO!')

[psychopathicus_rex]

You're welcome! I'm glad you like it. Stick around - there's more to come.

[psychopathicus_rex]

They aren't normally, eh? Any chance of a photo?

[psychopathicus_rex]

Yeah, that's a great bit. It reminds me of the bit from 'Wallace and Grommit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit' where a naked Wallace hastily covers himself with a much of cheese labeled 'May Contain Nuts'.
I assure you, 'Three Caballeros' is well-worth seeing all the way through - it just gets crazier as it goes along. I can't vouch for 'Saludos', not having seen it yet, but the DVD release has both of them in one set, so finding it is no problem.

[terrykun]

I loved this stuff to bits.

And now, the modern take:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy5k7cVz5Y0

[psychopathicus_rex]

Yeah, I used to have it, too. That's partially how all this came about, actually - having seen the movie, I vaguely remembered this, so I went to see if I could find it reprinted on the Net. I couldn't find it, but I DID find others, and I eventually found a guy who sent me a copy - so I went 'hmmmm....'

[sinisterlink]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surinam_toad

They basically look like a toad that you just ran over with your car. They can be kind of cute in a weird way, but I can't handle them because of the whole babies born out of their backs thing. I've seen videos of the babies popping out and it's just creeptastic.

[psychopathicus_rex]

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Panchito and Jose have kept their cool, at least, but I can't say I appreciate Donald basically being turned into Daffy.

[psychopathicus_rex]

Woo - that's pretty freaky-lookin', all right.

Aaaaaaa, through fair or stormy weather....

[ficticons]

Mottoing most of what sinisterlink said.

I heard of "The Three Caballeros" on the Disney Sing-Along songs tape - which I had (or is it still have? I've got to go check, it's probably in the depths of some cardboard box somewhere right now) - first as well! :D I think I liked it mostly because it was a catchy tune.

In fact, psychopathicus_rex, your post was a pleasant surprise because I hadn't realized there was a comic based on the cartoon!

Other parts that I love:
- "Who can that be knocking on the door at this unearthly hour? It's hardly half past nine!"
- "Green?...In my geography book, Mexico's colored pink - are you sure that's not Norway?" XD
- The aforementioned 'Nuts to you'.
- The page with Donald's predicament(s) (kicked off the train, on the smokestack, over the bridge, back onto the train) - that's some brilliant storytelling in those panels
- "The Lobo Volante has not the incredible speed - we are incredible - no?" *smack* "No!"
- "Wait, he is dangerous! His name is Death!" "Death?! Haw! He's not dangerous - he's dead!" :P

I literally laughed out loud at the nuts part and at the last two.

Great post, psychopathicus_rex. Thanks.

[icon_uk]

A gig's a gig I suppose...

Re: Aaaaaaa, through fair or stormy weather....

[psychopathicus_rex]

Glad you liked it! These are the best bits - the parts that actually recapped the film I found fairly dull, probably because Kelly was working from a story outline instead of being allowed to improvise. To see what those parts were SUPPOSED to be like, see the film - you can always mentally insert these bits in between.
There's more to come! Hold onto your hat!

[psychopathicus_rex]

True enough. Still, Donald has plenty of character all on his own - he doesn't NEED to be a Daffy clone.

[octavius-rodens.livejournal.com]

Interestingly, I think in the Brazillian Comics he's a little more of a slacker, although he does have a superheroic identity, the Green Bat.

And stars in a Disney Comic parody of the Killing Joke.

I'm completely serious.

[octavius-rodens.livejournal.com]

So I'm guessing up next is Don Rosa's The Three Caballeros Ride Again and after that the Magnificent Seven Caballeros Minus Four. :)

[psychopathicus_rex]

I'd heard of the former, but not the latter. Scans?

[psychopathicus_rex]

You must be psychic.

[octavius-rodens.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, all I have are these two links:

http://coa.inducks.org/story.php?c=BC+ZC+2017
http://coa.inducks.org/s.php?c=B+940104

[octavius-rodens.livejournal.com]

Or a rabid Disney Comic fan. :)

[psychopathicus_rex]

Ah. Well, it looks interesting, anyway. Thanks!

[psychopathicus_rex]

Or both!

[goggle_kid]

I kind of wish they did some more cartoons with Jose. He always struck me as an interesting comedy foil for Donald.

[goggle_kid]

At some point they gave the Mexican boat ride at Epcot a Three Caballeros theme. There's even a little wrap-around plot about Jose and Panchito trying to find Donald as he goes around Mexico having wacky misadventures.

I think Jose and Panchito have the same VAs as from house of mouse.

[psychopathicus_rex]

Well, there's this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hkJr3bOFOE

It's not exactly comedy, but one could view it as a sort of sequel-in-spirit to 'Caballeros'.

[psychopathicus_rex]

That's kind of a shame, because I can't say their renditions here impress me that much. The original Jose and Panchito were voiced by an actual Brazilian and an actual Mexican, and it sounded like it - the modern versions are all-too-obviously Norteamericanos putting on accents.

[terrykun]

Rob Paulsen voices Jose, and Carlos Alazraqui ( http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0016141/ ) voices Panchito.

I like both, but I do admit the original voice actors were a wonderful touch.

[psychopathicus_rex]

Well, OK, the latter sounds like he knows pretty well what the accent should sound like, anyway. Still, my favorite will always be the original Panchito, whoever he was - he was so ENTHUSIASTIC. I mean, he really belted it out whether or not he was actually singing.

Whoops, sorry about the delay!

[roguefankc]

Sorry about the delay of leaving a comment. This past week got kind of hectic... *blushes*

Excellent scans! And yes, I watched "The Three Caballeros" on VHS as a kid. How did you know I would enjoy this stroll down Memory Lane to my childhood? =)

Believe it or not, my first viewing of Jose Carioca wasn't in "The Three Caballeros" movie. It was in the musical short "Blame it on the Samba" where Jose and Donald were being cheered up by the crazy bird with the spiky hairdo called the "Aracuan Bird" in the Disney special Melody Time. It was only afterwards when I saw "The Three Caballeros" that I was excited and said "That's the parrot guy with Donald!" (I was five years old at the time)

I dunno about hijacking the train. Mean turtle or not, that was kind of a dickish move right there. XD

Although I smiled when it showed Panchito taking a siesta and waiting for Donald and Jose to arrive as they crashed the train.

And I have to confess something: i'm not particularly fond of the way the artist drew the Hispanic people, especially the adults. It does seem a little too caricaturish, you know?

Re: Whoops, sorry about the delay!

[psychopathicus_rex]

Oh, well, I'm psychic, you know. Don't like to brag about it. Bad form.
It gets better - the way they got separated in the first place was when a strong crosswind caused the other two to do a highdive into the sea. So Panchito isn't just unworried about their surviving the train crash; he just cheerfully assumed that yes, of COURSE they survived, no worries, and then went and found a nice spot to take a nap while they caught up with him. So either he's incredibly optimistic or incredibly lazy, or both.
And yeah, they're kinda caricatured, but remember, this was the '40's. By the standards of the time, this was a pretty benign depiction of them - at least they're friendly and enthusiastic. Most depictions of Mexicans back then didn't go much further than 'lots of guys in sombreros fast asleep against a sunny wall'.