Las Grandes Aventuras - back covers
This article takes a deeper look.... The main purpose is to be able to use this article to date the various issues released by Hispano Americana.
Back covers and backlist
The "Las Grandes Aventuras" by Hispano Americana were published without a date or year printed on the cover or inside, which makes it difficult to accurately date the various issues. But on most of the back covers the title of the next issue is mentioned, and there is often also a back list of previously published issue. The oldest issues can be found with different back covers as a result of reprints at a later date. You will find almost identical back covers, but where one is printed in red and blue font while the other is only in blue. A color print at this time was made with four different printing plates: cyan (blue), magenta (red), yellow, and black. To be able to print a text in red and blue in only blue, they had to combine two printing plates into one - i.e. making a new print plate for the back cover. Most likely the issues with red and blue text on the back covers are oldest - the first print.
A - The earliest issues
The "Las Grandes Aventuras" series started in 1941.
first issue
back cover
variant
issue 11
back cover
variant
variant
issue 18
back cover
issue 20
back cover
Backlist
Although the back cover for "Oro Negro" has printed the next issue "La Desaparición de Tomasín" and stamped with "Un Incendio en el Circo", these issues do not appear to have been published at this time. These two titles are also missing from the backlist in the two Don Quijote issues.
| (code) | issue | Title | Character | # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | El Mar Tenebroso | Historia de Colón | |
| A | 2 | El Hombre Enmascarado | El Hombre Enmascarado | 1 |
| A | 3 | La Venganza de Singh | El Hombre Enmascarado | 2 |
| A | 4 | Sangre y Oro en el Trópico | Historia de Pizarro | |
| A | 5 | El Reino Submarino | El Hombre Enmascarado | 3 |
| A | 6 | La Banda Siniestra | Agente Secreto X-9 | 1 |
| A | 7 | El Cementerio de las Ballenas | El Hombre Enmascarado | 4 |
| A | 8 | El Secreto del Hombre Enmascarado | El Hombre Enmascarado | 5 |
| A | 9 | El Reloj Infernal | Agente Secreto X-9 | 2 |
| A | 10 | La Ley de la Selva | El Hombre Enmascarado | 6 |
| A | 11 | Las Mujeres Piratas | El Hombre Enmascarado | 7 |
| A | 12 | El Avión Fantasma | Agente Secreto X-9 | 3 |
| A | 13 | Los Buscadores de Diamantes | El Hombre Enmascarado | 8 |
| A | 14 | El Secuestro de Diana Palmer | El Hombre Enmascarado | 9 |
| A | 15 | Las Joyas Egipcias | Agente Secreto X-9 | 4 |
| A | 16 | El Protegido del Hombre Enmascarado | El Hombre Enmascarado | 10 |
| A | 17 | El Hombre Enmascarado en Londres | El Hombre Enmascarado | 11 |
| A | 18 | Oro Negro | Agente Secreto X-9 | 5 |
| A | - | |||
| A | - | |||
| A | 19 | Don Quijote de la Mancha, I | Don Quijote | 1 |
| A | 20 | Don Quijote de la Mancha, II | Don Quijote | 2 |
B - The earliest issues
What characterizes this period is that only four of the earlier releases are mentioned in the backlist, "El Mar Tenebroso", "Sangre y Oro en el Trópico" and the two "Don Quijote de la Mancha" issues. The back cover of the "Cazando Fieras Vivas" issue has a text ad for the next issue in the "Audaz" series: "Heroes por Casuakidad", and a text ad for two other comics which will be released after the "Heroes por Casuakidad": "Popeye... y las Espinacas" (serie cómica) and "Pepin y Rufu en el Mar de los Sargazos" (serie Audaz). The "Popeye" issue has an ad for for the two 1942 year albums of "Juan Cantella" and "Jorge y Fernando". The "Pepin y Rufu" issue has an ad for new issues of "Juan Cantella" and "Jorge y Fernando" which will be released right over the coming year, 1942. This means that the "Cazando Fieras Vivas" issue in the "Las Grandes Aventuras" series must have been published in late November or early December 1941.
issue 21
back cover
Pepin y Rufu
back cover
Popeye
back cover
issue 29
back cover
variant
Backlist
| (code) | issue | Title | Character | # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | El Mar Tenebroso | Historia de Colón | |
| A | 4 | Sangre y Oro en el Trópico | Historia de Pizarro | |
| A | 19 | Don Quijote de la Mancha, I | Don Quijote | 1 |
| A | 20 | Don Quijote de la Mancha, II | Don Quijote | 2 |
| B | 21 | Cazando Fieras Vivas | Cazando Fieras Vivas | 1 |
| B | 22 | Una Caceria en la Selva | Cazando Fieras Vivas | 2 |
| B | 23 | El Tigre del Valle Perdido | Cazando Fieras Vivas | 3 |
| B | 24 | El Hombre Mono | Tarzán | 1 |
| B | 25 | Los Peligros de la Selva | Cazando Fieras Vivas | 4 |
| B | 26 | La Hija del Sol | Tarzán | 2 |
| B | 27 | El Pais de los Tesoros | Historia de Hernán Cortés | |
| B | 28 | El Maharaja del Nepal | Cazando Fieras Vivas | 5 |
| B | 29 | En el Pais de los Vikingios | Tarzán | 3 |
B - The Albumes Centella issues
Starting in 1942 the back covers of issues from the "Las Grandes Aventuras" and the "Los Albumes Preferidos por la Juventud" (Colleción "Audaz" & Aventuras y Misterio) printed various collector cards, which could be glued into different collecting albums. These folded "Álbumes Centella" sheets could be ordered free and measured 17,5x25 cm. The purpose of these compilation albums was twofold. The main thing was to complete the collection. You could then submit complete albums to be a participant in a draw in a raffle competition with a prize of one thousand pesetas (First prize 1x100 pesetas, second prize 2x75 pesetas, third prize 4x50 pesetas, fourth prize 10x25 pesetas and fift prize 20x15 pesetas).
The first issue with this collector's cards is most likely "Hacia el Centro de la Tierra", the third issue of "Carlos el Intrepido (Brick Bradford)" in the "Los Albumes Preferidos por la Juventud" series. The stickers were categorized into 24 different categories such as: Spanish football team, American movie stars, marvells of the word and on.
issue 29
back cover
Álbumes Centella #12
inside
Backlist
The price for the "Flas Gordon (Flash Gordon)" and the "Extraordinario (extra)" issues is 2.5 pesetas and differs from the regular price of 1.5 pesetas. The "Juramento Cumplido" has an text ad for the 1943 year albums for "Jorge y Fernando" and "Juan Centella", in addition to the first two "El Hombre Enmascarado (The Phantom)" issues in the "Album Rojo" series.
| (code) | issue | Title | Character | # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | 29 | Tumba el Elefante Gigante | Cazando Fieras Vivas | 6 |
| B | 30 | Tarzán y los Leones | Tarzán | 4 |
| B | 31 | Una Gran Hazaña | - | |
| B | 32 | Desafiando el Peligro | Cazando Fieras Vivas | 7 |
| B | 33 | El Invencible | Tarzán | 5 |
| B | 34 | Oro Negro | Agente Secreto X-9 | 5 |
| B | 35 | Un Incendio en el Circo | Merlín el Mago | 1 |
| B | 36 | La Citudad del Oro | Tarzán | 6 |
| B | 37 | El Misterio de Barogar | El Hombre Enmascarado | 12 |
| B | 38 | El Rayo Celeste | Flas Gordon | 1 |
| B | 39 | Paulo, el Principe Extravagant | Merlín el Mago | 2 |
| B | 40 | En las Inexploradas Selvas del Amazonas | Juan y Lois | 1 |
| B | 41 | El Prisionero del Himalaya | El Hombre Enmascarado | 13 |
| B | 42 | El Desierto Blanco | Extraordinario | 1 |
| B | 43 | Prisionero | Tarzán | 7 |
| B | 44 | Mision Peligrosa | Cazando Fieras Vivas | 8 |
| B | 45 | La Desaparición de Tomasín | El Hombre Enmascarado | 14 |
| B | 46 | La Ciudad de los Hombres Halcones | Flas Gordon | 2 |
| B | 47 | Hacia un Mundo Desconocido | Merlín el Mago | 3 |
| B | 48 | Juramento Cumplido | Juan y Lois | 2 |
| B | 49 | El Cruzado Negro | Extraordinario | 2 |
| B | 50 | El Héroe de Taanor | Tarzán | 8 |
| B | 51 | La Intriga de la Señora Palmer | El Hombre Enmascarado | 15 |
| B | 52 | El Torneo de la Muerte! | Flas Gordon | 3 |
| B | 53 | La Tierra de los Pigmeos | Merlín el Mago | 4 |
| B | 54 | Remontando el Amazonas | Juan y Lois | 3 |
| B | 55 | Los Soldados de la Selva | Tarzán | 9 |
| B | 56 | La Clave del Tesoro Oculto | Extraordinario | 10 |
| B | 57 | El Barón Pirata | El Hombre Enmascarado | 16 |
| B | 58 | El Perro Millonario | Juan y Lois | 4 |
| B | 59 | El Secreto del Mar | Agente Secreto X-9 | 6 |
| B | 60 | La Sombra Vengadora | Flas Gordon | 4 |
| B | 61 | El Destierro de Tarzan | Tarzán | 10 |
B - The Albumes Centella and Los Lecciones del Jefe Piloto issues
On the back cover of "El Sosia de Centella", issue 49 of "Juan Centella", there is a notice for a new drawn series that will appear on the back covers: "Los Lecciones del Jefe Piloto".
In order to give this page greater variation and interest, starting from the next announced album by "Jorge y Fernando", we will begin the publication, alternately with the stickers, of an interesting selection of lessons on aviation, in full color, that will illustrate the most common and practical things to become future air pilots. By reading "Los Lecciones del Jefe Piloto" you will learn everything that can happen to an aviator and how to avoid possible accidents.
The first episode of "Jefe Piloto" was on the back cover of "El Oro del Deserto", the thirtieth issue of "Jorge y Fernando (Tim Tyler's Luck)". A total of 39 different episodes were made and in the "Las Grandes Aventuras" series nine "Jefe Piloto" episodes were printed (the back covers of 65, 66, 69, 73, 75, 76, 80, 58 and 89). Seventeen issues were printed with collector's cards on the back covers (62, 63, 64, 67, 68, 70, 71, 73, 74, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 93 and 94). Seven of the back covers have a text advertisement for Hispano Americana's new "Leyendas Infantiles" series. In addition, there is a text a on the back cover of "El Lago de los Caimanes" for the 1944 year albums with "Merlín el Mago", "Yumbo", "Juan Centella" and "Jorge y Fernando". Interesting, the same issue also has a text ad for the Album Verde issues (Flas Gordon #1-2, Tarzán #1-2 and Merlín #1) and the first three issues of "Hombre Enmascarado" in the Album Rojo series.
Backlist
| (code) | issue | Title | Character | # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | 62 | Merlin Rey de la Magia | Merlín el Mago | 5 |
| B | 63 | La Selva en Llamas | Juan y Lois | 5 |
| B | 64 | En el Corazón de la Selva | Extraordinario | 3 |
| B | 65 | Cogido en la Trampa | El Hombre Enmascarado | 17 |
| B | 66 | El Cerco Negro | Tarzán | 11 |
| B | 67 | Los Pescadores de Perlas | El Hombre Enmascarado | 18 |
| B | 68 | Contra el Imperio de Ming | Flas Gordon | 5 |
| B | 69 | La Ciudad Lunar | Merlín el Mago | 6 |
| B | 70 | El Reino Prohibido | Tarzán | 12 |
| B | 71 | La Ley del Desierto | El Hombre Enmascarado | 19 |
| B | 72 | El Barranco de la Muerte | Juan y Lois | 6 |
| B | 73 | Contra los Halcones | Extraordinario | 12 |
| B | 74 | El Monstruo de las dos Cabezas | Merlín el Mago | 7 |
| B | 75 | El Descubrimiento del Doctor Brande | Doctor Brande | 1 |
| B | 76 | El Mar del Misterio | Flas Gordon | 6 |
| B | 77 | Los Jinetes de la Muerte | Tarzán | 13 |
| B | 78 | El Triunfo de Tarrano | Doctor Brande | 2 |
| B | 79 | El Mago del Deporte | Merlín el Mago | 8 |
| B | 80 | El Loto Rojo | Extraordinario | 4 |
| B | 81 | Los Chacales del Desierto | El Hombre Enmascarado | 20 |
| B | 82 | La Rendición de Venia | Doctor Brande | 3 |
| B | 83 | El Enemigo de Tarzan | Tarzán | 14 |
| B | 84 | El Lago de los Caimanes | Juan y Lois | 7 |
| B | 85 | Los Hombres Selváticos | Flas Gordon | 7 |
| B | 86 | El Misterio de la Orquidea | Merlín el Mago | 9 |
| B | 87 | Por los Tejados de Alejandría | El Hombre Enmascarado | 21 |
| B | 88 | Entre Monstruos | Tarzán | 15 |
| B | 89 | El Rubí de Fuego | Extraordinario | 5 |
| B | 90 | El Reino del Pasado | Extraordinario | 11 |
| B | 91 | Los Indios de Picomalayo | Juan y Lois | 8 |
| B | 92 | El Misterio del Teatro | Merlín el Mago | 10 |
| B | 93 | El Misterio de la Joven Desmemoriada | El Hombre Enmascarado | 22 |
| B | 94 | Campeón a la Fuerza | Merlín el Mago | 11 |
More
Stickers - Albumes Centella
The footballers who are in this collection belonged to the squad of 1941-42 (a few from the squad of 1942-43).
- Serie 1a - FC Barcelona: 1: Miró, 2: Zabala, 3: Benito, 4: Raich, 5: Rosalén, 6: Franco, 7: Sospedra, 8: Gracia, 9: Martín, 10: Escolá, 11: Bravo, 12: club logo
- Serie 2a - Espanyol Barcelona: 1: Martorell, 2: Teruel, 3: Elías, 4: Arasa, 5: Barlet, 6: Llimós, 7: Macala, 8: Jorge, 9: Chas, 10: Olivas, 11: Más, 12: club logo
- note: Barlet? misspelling of Fernando Barnet Vallribera? (seasons 1939-40 and 1942-43)
- Serie 3a - battleship : 17 (18?) sticker with warships and battleships.
- Serie 4a - famous cyclists: 1: Feamín Trueba, 2: Delio Rodríguez, 3: Julián Barrendero, 4: Escuriet, 5: Antonio A Sancho, 6: Vicente Carretero, 7: Federico Ezquerra, 8: Juan Plans, 9: Diego Chafer, 10: ?, 11: García Rivas, 12: Flaquer, 13: Elys, 14: Cañardo, 15: Bover, 16: Miguel Carrión, 17: Costa
- Serie 5a - various warplanes: 18 sticker with planes.
- Serie 6a - Atlético Aviación: 1: Guillermo, 2: Cobo, 3: Aparicio, 4: Gabilondo, 5: Germán, 6: Machín, 7: Manín, 8: Arencibia, 9: García, 10: Campos, 11: Vázquez, 12: club logo
- Serie 7a - Real Madrid: 1: Marzá, 2: Olivares, 3: Mardones, 4: Huete, 5: Rovira, 6: Ipiña, 7: Alsúa, 8: Alonso, 9: Alday, 10: Lecue, 11: Botella, 12: club logo
- Serie 8a - various tanks: 17 (18?) sticker with tanks.
- Serie 9a - famous boxers: 1: ?, 2: Max Smelling, 3: Ferrer, 4: Librero, 5: Gascón, 6: García Alvarez, 7: Ignacio Ara, 8: Eloy, 9: Peyró, 10: Walter Neussel, 11: Ortega, 12: Luigi Musina, 13: Cerdán, 14: Raco Bueno, 15: Godoy, 16: Gino Bondavalli, 17: Raúl Bretonel, 18: Miguel Palermo
- Serie 10a - Valencia CF: 1: Guillermo Eizaguirre, 2: Álvaro, 3: Juan Ramón, 4: Sierra, 5: Iturraspe, 6: Lele / Bertolí, 7: Epi, 8: Amadeo, 9: Mundo, 10: Asensi, 11: Gorostiza, 12: club logo
- Serie 11a - famous movie actors: 1: ?, 2: Clark Gable, 3: Spencer Tracy, 4: Roberto Taylor, 5: Croucho Marx, 6: Chico Marx, 7: Harpo Marx, 8: Diana Durbin, 9: Freddie Bartholomew, 10: Jeanette Macdonald, 11: Margaret Sullavan, 12: Charles Laughton, 13: Stan Laurel, 14: Oliver Hardy, 15: ?, 16: ?, 17: Myrna Loy, 18: Marlene Dietrich
- Serie 12a - Atletic Bilbao: 1: Echevarría, 2: Arqueta, 3: Oceja, 4: Ortúzar, 5: Ortiz, 6: Urra, 7: Iriondo, 8: Panizo, 9: Zarraonandia, 10: Gárate, 11: Elices, 12: club logo
- Serie 13a - Sevilla FC: 1: Luis, 2: Joaquín, 3: Villalonga, 4: Alconero, 5: Felix, 6: Mateo, 7: Pepillo, 8: Torróntegui, 9: Campanal, 10: Raimundo Parrondo, 11: Berrocal, 12: club logo
- Serie 14a - Deportivo La Coruña: 1: Acuña, 2: “Pedrito” Crespo, 3: Víctor, 4: Muntané, 5: Cuqui Bienzobas, 6: Raboredo, 7: Cuca, 8: Caballero, 9: Elícegui, 10: Chao, 11: Guimerans, 12: club logo
- Serie 15a - famous buildings: 18 (19?) sticker with buildings.
- Serie 16a - Real Sociedad: 1: Eguía, 2: Querejeta, 3: Izaga, 4: Sagrado, 5: Patri, 6: Simón, 7: Bienzorbas, 8: Videgain, 9: Fernando Terán, 10: Chipia, 11: Pedrín, 12: club logo
- Serie 17a - Alicante: 1: Pérez, 2: Medrano, 3: Maciá, 4: Del Pozo, 5: Tormo, 6: Mesa, 7: Manchado, 8: Alfonso Perdomo, 9: Blázquez, 10: Tatono, 11: Andrade, 12: club logo
- Serie 18a - CD Castellón: 1: Pérez, 2: Melenchón, 3: Selma, 4: Santacatalina, 5: Guillén, 6: Santolária, 7: Ruano, 8: Hernández, 9: Basilio, 10: Elzo, 11: Piza, 12: club logo
- Serie 19a - Real Oviedo: 1: Sión, 2: Villita, 3: Pena, 4: Campos, 5: Echevarría, 6: Sirio, 7: Antón, 8: Goyín, 9: Dindurra, 10: Herrerita, 11: Emilín, 12: club logo
- Serie 20a - Celta: 1: Antonio Sánchez, 2: Cons, 3: Deva, 4: Alvarito, 5: Fuentes, 6: Sabina, 7: Venancio, 8: Machicho, 9: Del Pino, 10: Agustín, 11: Roig, 12: club logo
- Serie 21a - famous actors: 1: Alfredo Mayo, 2: Conchita Montenegro, 3: Mary Santamaria, 4: Luchy Soto, 5: Mercedes Vecino, 6: Estrellita Castro, 7: Rafael Durán, 8: Josita Hernán, 9: Miguel Ligero, 10: Astobiza, 11: Antonio Vico, 12: Amparito Rivelles, 13: Roberto Font, 13: Enrique Guitart, 14: Imperio Argentina, 15: Julio Peña, 16: Antonio Casal, 17: Maruchi Fresno
- Serie 22a - Murcia: 1: Pedrín, 2: Tamayo, 3: Sierra, 4: Castro, 5: Novo, 6: Neura, 7: Uría, 8: Rancel, 9: Vilanova, 10: Vega, 11: Manolín, 12: club logo
- Serie 23a - Granada CF: 1: Pérez, 2: Millán, 3: González, 4: Maside, 5: Bonet, 6: Sierra, 7: Marín, 8: Trompi, 9: César, 10: Bachiller, 11: Liz, 12: club logo
- Serie 24a - Zaragoza: 1: Valero, 2: Sicart, 3: ?, 4: ?, 5: Soladredo, 6: Castillo, 7: Ruiz, 8: Gonzalvo, 9: Martínez Catalá, 10: Vallés, 11: Aldana, 12: club logo
- Serie 25a - Santander: 1: Caller, 2: Modesto, 3: Álvarez, 4: Ricardo, 5: Saras, 6: Casamichana, 7: Pombo, 8: Felipe, 9: Orizaola, 10: Astobiza, 11: Iturbe / Martín, 12: club logo