Sep 7, 2026·1 min read·Graded Spanish · word-by-word audio
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En el periódico digital español eldiario.es, los lectores pueden encontrar una sección de cómics titulada "Los miserables". Esta obra es creada por dos autores: Manel Fontdevila y Bernardo Vergara. El título hace referencia a la famosa novela de Victor Hugo, pero aquí el significado es diferente. No habla de la Francia del siglo XIX, sino de la sociedad actual.
El estilo de dibujo es sencillo y directo, pero con un mensaje profundo. Los personajes son personas normales que enfrentan situaciones absurdas. Esta combinación hace que el cómic sea accesible para todos los públicos. Además, los autores actualizan la serie regularmente, por lo que siempre hay contenido nuevo para los seguidores.
En resumen, "Los miserables" es un ejemplo de cómo el arte puede servir para criticar la realidad. No solo entretiene, sino que también hace pensar. Si quieres ver una visión diferente de la sociedad española, esta sección es una buena opción.
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Watch out, English speaker
English speakers often overuse the passive voice because it's common in English, but Spanish passive with 'ser' is more formal and less frequent. In everyday Spanish, use 'se' passive or active voice instead. For example, 'The comic is created by two authors' is better as 'Se crea el cómic por dos autores' or 'Dos autores crean el cómic' rather than 'El cómic es creado por dos autores'.
In English, after 'make' (as in 'make someone do something'), we use the infinitive without 'to': 'This combination makes the comic accessible.' But in Spanish, 'hacer que' triggers the subjunctive: 'Esta combinación hace que el cómic sea accesible.' English speakers often mistakenly use the indicative 'es' instead of 'sea', because English doesn't have a subjunctive here.
Key vocabulary
periódicom.
newspaper
“Leo el periódico cada mañana.”— I read the newspaper every morning.
Pattern periódico digital digital newspaper
Compare diario (m.)
Plural: periódicos
💡 From Latin 'periodicus', related to 'period'.
secciónf.
section, part
“Esta sección del periódico es muy popular.”— This section of the newspaper is very popular.
Pattern sección de cómics comics section
Compare apartado (m.)
Plural: secciones
💡 Root 'sec-' means 'cut', a part that is divided off.
tiraf.
comic strip
“Me gusta leer las tiras cómicas del periódico.”— I like reading the comic strips in the newspaper.
Pattern tira cómica comic strip
Compare viñeta (f.)
Plural: tiras
💡 Originally meant 'strip', comics often appear in strip form.
ironíaf.
irony
“Su comentario estaba lleno de ironía.”— His comment was full of irony.
Pattern con ironía with irony
Compare sarcasmo (m.)
Plural: ironías
💡 From Greek 'eironeia', meaning 'feigned ignorance'.
precariedadf.
precariousness, instability
“La precariedad laboral afecta a los jóvenes.”— Job precariousness affects young people.
Pattern precariedad laboral job insecurity
Compare inestabilidad (f.)
Plural: precariedades
💡 From Latin 'precarius', meaning 'obtained by begging'.
viviendaf.
housing, dwelling
“Encontrar una vivienda asequible es difícil.”— Finding affordable housing is difficult.
Pattern buscar vivienda to look for housing
Compare casa (f.)
Plural: viviendas
💡 From the verb 'vivir' (to live), with the suffix '-ienda'.
influenciaf.
influence
“La influencia de la publicidad es enorme.”— The influence of advertising is enormous.
Pattern la influencia de las redes sociales the influence of social media
Compare efecto (m.)
Plural: influencias
💡 From Latin 'influere', meaning 'to flow in'.
reflexionarv.
to reflect, think
“Debemos reflexionar sobre nuestros hábitos.”— We must reflect on our habits.
Pattern reflexionar sobre to reflect on...
Compare pensar (v.)
Present: reflexiono, reflexionas, reflexiona...
💡 From Latin 'reflectere', meaning 'to bend back', extended to mean thinking.
absurdoadj.
absurd, ridiculous
“Fue una excusa absurda.”— It was an absurd excuse.
Pattern situación absurda absurd situation
Compare ridículo (adj.)
Feminine: absurda; plural: absurdos/absurdas
💡 From Latin 'absurdus', composed of 'ab-' (away) and 'surdus' (deaf).
actualizarv.
to update
“El blog se actualiza cada semana.”— The blog is updated every week.
Pattern actualizar la serie to update the series
Compare renovar (v.)
Present: actualizo, actualizas, actualiza...
💡 From the adjective 'actual' (current), with the suffix '-izar'.
entretenerv.
to entertain
“Este juego entretiene a los niños.”— This game entertains the children.
Pattern entretener a alguien to entertain someone
Compare divertir (v.)
Present: entretengo, entretienes, entretiene...
💡 Composed of 'entre-' (between) and 'tener' (to hold).
Grammar spotlight
Passive voice: ser + past participle
B1
Use the passive voice when you want to emphasize the receiver of the action rather than the doer. The structure is "ser" (conjugated) + past participle, and the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject.
“Esta obra es creada por dos autores.”— This work is created by two authors.
⚠️ Remember that the past participle must change with the subject, e.g., "creada" (feminine singular), not "creado".
Subjunctive after "hacer que"
B1
When the verb "hacer" means "to make" (cause), it is followed by a clause introduced by "que", and the verb in that clause must be in the subjunctive.
“Esta combinación hace que el cómic sea accesible.”— This combination makes the comic accessible.
⚠️ Do not use the indicative "es"; use the subjunctive "sea" instead.
Sentence patterns to steal
No habla de la Francia del siglo XIX, sino de la sociedad actual.
It does not talk about 19th-century France, but about today's society.
No + verb + ... , sino + ...Replace "habla de" with other verbs, such as "trata sobre".
A través del humor, invitan a los lectores a reflexionar sobre estos temas.
Through humor, they invite readers to reflect on these topics.
A través de + noun, + verb + a + someone + a + infinitiveReplace "humor" with other nouns, such as "la música".
Esta combinación hace que el cómic sea accesible para todos los públicos.
This combination makes the comic accessible to all audiences.
hacer que + subjunctiveReplace "accesible" with other adjectives, such as "interesante".
No solo entretiene, sino que también hace pensar.
It not only entertains but also makes you think.
No solo + verb, sino que también + verbReplace "entretiene" and "hace pensar" with other verbs.
Si quieres ver una visión diferente de la sociedad española, esta sección es una buena opción.
If you want to see a different view of Spanish society, this section is a good option.
Si + present, + presentReplace "ver" and "opción" with other words.
The Comic Tradition in Spanish Newspapers
Spanish newspapers often have political cartoon sections that use humor to satirize current affairs. eldiario.es is a well-known Spanish digital media outlet, and its comic section often features work by famous cartoonists, reflecting hot social topics. Manel Fontdevila is a renowned cartoonist who has contributed to several media outlets.