The unforgettable characters of Ibáñez now live forever in La Batería Park in Torremolinos.

The Torremolinos City Council has paid tribute to the unforgettable comic book artist Francisco Ibáñez by unveiling several sculptures of some of his most famous characters in La Batería Park. Characters such as Mortadelo and Filemón, El Botones Sacarino, Rompetechos, Pepe Gotera y Otilio, and even Francisco Ibáñez himself (who passed away in 2023) can now be seen in this iconic park of Torremolinos. There are eight sculptures, in three dimensions, made of polyester resin and fiberglass, ranging in size from 1.20 to 2.50 meters. Among them, some images were specifically created for the occasion, such as Mortadelo with a skewer of sardines or Otilio next to the Pimentel Tower. All of these have been installed in an area of La Batería Park that aims to become a new tourist and cultural attraction, as well as a meeting point for all generations who have enjoyed his comics. The mayor of Torremolinos, Margarita del Cid (PP), accompanied by Nuria Ibáñez, the legendary artist’s daughter, and Carmen Sánchez, the regional delegate for Employment, Business, and Self-Employment in Málaga, inaugurated this space which emerges as a new attraction, featuring eight reproductions of his charismatic characters. Del Cid emphasized that "this tribute that Torremolinos dedicates to you is our contribution to honor the figure of the most popular author of Spanish comics and one of those who has contributed the most to reading and popular culture in this country." The mayor highlighted that with these sculptures they aim to give greater visibility to one of the city's most attractive cultural and tourist sites, La Batería Park. "One of its goals is to become a meeting point for all the generations who have enjoyed and continue to enjoy your creations," said Del Cid. This initiative, which has involved an investment of 89,043 euros, includes a subsidy from the Municipalities of Touristic Interest of Andalusia (MUNITUR) from the Andalusian Regional Government's Tourism Council. To mark the opening of this new space, comic book workshops were organized led by Omar Janaan and Blas Santana. Additionally, a comic book fair was held with the participation of Pérgamo and Proteo bookstores.