Mafalda is one of the most iconic cartoon characters for millions of Latinos around the world. The little girl highlighted the social inequities and pitfalls of dictatorships and authoritarian governments. Quino, the man who created Mafalda, died Sept. 30 at 88.

Joaquín “Quino” Salvador Lavado, famed cartoonist who created Mafalda, died at 88.

I just heard Quino, the artist who created the Mafalda comic strip, died yesterday at 88.

Here’s my favorite Mafalda comic. pic.twitter.com/fX17hni1yP

— 𝕹𝖎𝖈𝖍𝖔𝖑𝖆𝖘 𝕲𝖆𝖟𝖎𝖓 (@NicholasGazin) October 1, 2020

The world was first introduced to Mafalda in September 1964 in Primera Plana in Argentina. Soon after, the comic strip went global with readers on three other continents. The world fell in love with the young girl’s strong political statements.

Comic fans are mourning the death of Quino.

One of me favorite strips: mom must go to the shop and leave Mafalda home alone. She tells her to not, under any circumstance, open the door to anyone. As mom is already on her way out, Mafalda asks: but what if happiness knocks on the door?

To the many Mafalda's, RIP Quino pic.twitter.com/8hYNcYlBFC

— Ricardo Reis (@R2Rsquared) October 1, 2020

Lavado created the Mafalda comic strips from 1964 until 1973 being critical of dictatorships around the world, including in Argentina. The cartoonist stopped creating the Mafalda comic strips when the coup d’etat installed Gen. Augusto Pinochet. Three years later, the cartoonist fled to Spain to avoid being killed during the military dictatorship in Argentina.

Mafalda was a cultural icon that touched people from different walks of life.

Mood pic.twitter.com/Ck9sCZjQmC

— Mafalda (@EvaAutre) October 1, 2020

At its height, Mafalda was being printed in 26 different languages for millions of readers around the world. Mafalda took complex and real issues facing the world and boiled them down into bite size moments people were able to understand by bringing it down to a child’s pure level.

“However, even if Mafalda is dissentient and rebellious, she is still a child, this is why she does not abandon the world to its fate, but she speaks with it and nurses it putting even plasters on its wounds if necessary,” reads part of Mafalda’s bio on Quino’s official website. “She invites it to improve, she exhorts it to resist, she makes it promise her that it would be still there when, as an adult, she’ll be an interpreter at the UN.”

Many in the English-speaking world do not know or know very little of Mafalda.

The Argentinian cartoonist Quino passed away today. He was huge in Greece but not in the UK as far as I know. You should definitely look up his work (Google "quino sin palabras" for his legendary one-pagers), and raise your kids on Mafalda. pic.twitter.com/UD7mCHJUrZ

— ʏɪᴀɴɴɪs ʙᴀʙᴏᴜʟɪᴀs (@YiannisBab) October 1, 2020

The Argentinian cartoon found wild success in Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Quebec. Fans are sending their condolences through social media giving Mafalda and her quick wit and political prowess a time to shine.

Mafalda got people interested in the way the world and its governments work.

I owe Quino and Mafalda my lifelong interest in the United Nations and global affairs. Gracias 🦶🏽❤️🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/HBvjQPbf3O

— Siria Gastelum (@siriagastelum) October 1, 2020

The young girl was always very politically active and interested. Her dreams and her zingers always went back to the heart of the issues the world was talking about. Mafalda influenced generations of young Latinas into being politically engaged and involved because of her involvement.

It’s hard not to honor Mafalda and her undying will to move the world forward.

Adiós a un grande.

("In this family there are no bosses, we're a cooperative!" Mafalda, eternal fighter. Thank you Quino ❤️) pic.twitter.com/piohYg9UyO

— Marianela Ciolfi (@maiciolfi) October 1, 2020

When Mafalda speaks, she has a way of letting people feel like they have been seen. She is not afraid to speak up on the things she sees and doesn’t like. She is not afraid to be the one to voice the opinion everyone else is thinking.

Rest in peace, Quino.

#Mafalda was born in Argentina. She lived on Chile 371 street in San Telmo, but she grew up in one of the best places of all, our hearts❤️

Thanks for everything, #Quino✨ pic.twitter.com/LCq49tQLay

— Carmen Daniela Araque (@cdaraque) October 1, 2020

You work will forever guide people through this world with intention and purpose. Thank you for giving us someone to see ourselves in.

READ: Here’s Why You Should Be Familiar With Mafalda, One Of The Best Latino Cartoons Of All Time

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Whooot whoot!!

Disney Channel is officially bumping up its diversity efforts. The television channel recently confirmed that it is debuting its first bisexual lead character in a new series. Disney’s latest series “The Owl House” is an American animated fantasy television series created by Dana Terrace and premiered earlier this year on January 10, 2020.

Luz Noceda is the series’ 14-year-old Dominican-American girl and the channel’s first LGBTQ+ character.

#TheOwlHouse the perfect family sitcom with witches and demons for silly kids comes back next Saturday on @DisneyChannel 🦉 💫✨

📹 SlatzD pic.twitter.com/HSpA0dzeVZ

— Disney TV Animation News (@DisneyTVANews) July 5, 2020

While Luz isn’t the first LGBTQ+ Disney character to be featured on Disney (that goes to a character in Pixar’s short “Out” on Disney Plus) she is the first bisexual character to appear on a Disney television series.

“The Owl House” is a series that follows Luz a teenage girl who accidentally falls into a portal leading to another world instead of going to a juvenile detention summer camp.

Speaking about making Luz, her creator Dana Terrace shared that initially “certain Disney leadership” had not been thrilled about the LGBTQ+ character.

In dev I was very open about my intention to put queer kids in the main cast. I'm a horrible liar so sneaking it in would've been hard haha. When we were greenlit I was told by certain Disney leadership that I could NOT represent any form of bi or gay relationship on the Channel.

— Dana Terrace (@DanaTerrace) August 9, 2020

“I was very open about my intention to put queer kids in the main cast. I’m a horrible liar so sneaking it in would’ve been hard,” she explained in a tweet. “I was told by certain Disney leadership that I could not represent any form of bi or gay relationship on the channel.”

Terrace, who identifies as bisexual, said she fought hard to have Luz be bisexual on the Disney series as well. “Luckily my stubbornness paid off, and now I am very supported by current Disney leadership,” she explained.

Fortunately, viewers have given Terrace and her character quite a bit of support.

I can’t put into words how thankful I am for you in creating this show! As someone who is gay myself & never went to prom either cause I was too scared, this episode spoke to me a lot. I really hope we can see Disney pull through and explore them together more than just—

— Madzuka Maison (@madzukie) August 9, 2020

Fans of the series have thanked Noceda for bringing the representation of the LGBTQ+ community to Disney.

I thank you so much for this
I didn’t know being gay even existed Till I was 11 cause I went to a catholic school
I found out when my cousin married her girlfriend
LGBT representation is so important for kids trying to find themselves and I thank you so much for including it

— TheBlightStack (@BlightStack) August 14, 2020

Alex Hirsch, the creator of Disney’s “Gravity Falls,” shared in the comments that Disney kept him from including LGBTQ+ in his series. “Apparently ‘happiest place on earth’ meant ‘straightest,'” he remarked. “Thanks to Dana Terrace and team, there are explicitly queer animated main characters on Disney TV… This time, Disney- you did good.”

In response to all of her support, Terrace urged her supporters to continue to fight for representation on-screen and other forms of media. “Representation matters!” she exclaimed.

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