Mortadelo endured three major historical stages under the direction of Vicente Palomares, Jordi Bayona, and Armando Matías Guiu.
1970–1983
The first issue of Mortadelo was released on 23 November 1970 and was given out free of charge by the magazine Tío Vivo. Subsequent issues cost 6 pesetas. The earliest issues feature the work series of Ibánez, Vázquez, and Escobar in addition to others such as El Corsario de Hierro. The magazine, along with Super Pulgarcito replaced Gran Pulgarcito, which was originally published by Vicente Palomares Melo.
The publication spanned 32 pages (16 of the pages were full color while the other 16 were bi-color) and a print size of 26 x 18 cm.[1][2]
1984–1986
In 1984, the magazines Mortadelo and Super Mortadelo merged. The resulting magazine was called Mortadelo, but maintained the numbering of Super Mortadelo.[3][4]
1987–1991
The third stage was published by Ediciones B and sold at a price of 140 pesetas (10 U.S. dollars). It featured comic artists such as Joaquín Cera, Maikel, Marco, Miguel and Juan Carlos Ramis.
José María Delhom. (1989). Catálogo del tebeo en España. 1865/1980. Barcelona: Círculo del Comic, S.A./CESA. ISBN84-8449-221-4.
Antoni Guiral. (November 2007). Los tebeos de nuestra infancia: La Escuela Bruguera (1964-1986). Colección Magnum nº 7. Barcelona: Ediciones El Jueves, S. A. Legal deposit: B-50353-2007. ISBN978-84-9741-589-7.
Juan Antonio Ramirez. (December 1975). La historieta cómica de postguerra. Madrid: Editorial Cuadernos para el Diálogo, Colección Memoria y Comunicación. Legal deposit: M. 38.325.