Francisco Ibáñez was born in 1936 in Barcelona. For many years he alternated his work in the Banco Español de Crédito with his real vocation, until, in 1957, he decided to take the big step: to work exclusively for Editorial Bruguera. In 1958, his first Mortadelo and Filemon story appeared in the magazine Pulgarcito. During the 60s, Ibáñez published his best characters in different magazines: Mortodela and Filemon, La familia Trapisonda (The Shindy Family), 13, Rue del Percebe (13, Barnacle Street), El botones Sacarino (Sacarino the Bellboy), Rompetechos (Roofbreaker) and Pepe Gotera and Otilio, are among his most outstanding creations. In 1985, Ibáñez left Editorial Brugueray and, after passing through Grijalbo, in 1988, he joined Ediciones B, where Mortadelo and Filemón were regularly re-issued and the author succeeded in giving his characters the elements necessary to ensure the continued loyalty of readers.