THOUGHT BUBBLE MONTH 2025! Since we first covered the work of Gustaffo Vargas way back in 2018 the UK-based South American artist’s star has risen to such a degree that he’s worked for the likes of Image Comics and Marvel. But it was his Peruvian cyberpunk comics that first brought him to the comics-reading public’s attention with their gorgeously lavish artwork, inventive layouts, and intense storytelling. This year at Thought Bubble Vargas will have the collection of his Altiplano trilogy available for the first time in Harrogate, with the special bonus of a new story rounding out the compilation.
Originally published as three separate parts titled Manu, Puno and Pilcuyo (each reviewed at those links here at Broken Frontier) Vargas describes the series as “a story about monkeys, jaguars, cyborgs, sex and warfare with a grand finale.” That’s the fun soundbite because it’s also a sophisticated thriller with more than a hint of social commentary to it.
To borrow from those previous reviews the trilogy chronicles the near future exploits of fugitives Lila and Sonia, the wider criminal enterprises and government corruption of this Peru-yet-to-come, and the devastating impact on the indigenous people. There are also plenty of robotic predators and cyborg creatures thrown into the mix for good measure.
Vargas’s art on those three issues propelled him to new levels of attention with its dynamism, perspective-shifting page structures, and constant, kinetic motion. The big draw of this collection, though, is the new story ‘Puerto Maldonado’ which acts as a coda to its preceding three parts. Of course, the problem with going into too much depth about a story of this nature is that to do so gives away far too much about the preceding chapters for those looking to pick up Altiplano for the first time.
What I can say is that it’s a beautifully studied piece that combines the usual high-energy action of these comics with something more character-oriented and quieter in delivery. A fitting sense of closure for Lila and Sonia and for the readers, tying up loose ends for the moment. It also has more examples of Vargas’s frankly visionary command of the canvas of the page in terms of panel placement and structure.
For genre fiction comics fans this is an absolute must at Thought Bubble this year. For those already invested in the Vargas oeuvre it’s a similarly essential buy not just for that extra story but for the plethora of extras contained within. And it looks gorgeous in this new print edition as well.
Gustaffo Vargas (W/A) • Self-published, £22.00/£28.00
Review by Andy Oliver
Gustaffo Vargas is at Table E6 in the Bubbleboy Hall at Thought Bubble.
Thought Bubble 2025 runs from November 1oth-16th with the convention weekend taking place on the 15th-16th. More details on the Thought Bubble site here.
Read all our Thought Bubble 2025 coverage so far in one place here.
Poster by Ng Yin Shian
