Suspense is very important. Even though this is humor and they're

In the thoughtful and timeless words of Sergio Aragonés, the great cartoonist and storyteller of mirth and imagination, we uncover a truth that reaches beyond art and into the fabric of life itself: “Suspense is very important. Even though this is humor and they're short stories, that theory of building suspense is still there.” Though he speaks of humor and short stories, his insight belongs to every realm where the human heart seeks meaning — for in both laughter and tragedy, it is suspense, the breathless anticipation of what is yet to come, that gives life its pulse. Without suspense, there is no curiosity; without curiosity, there is no joy.

The origin of this quote lies in Aragonés’ own craft — a lifetime of shaping moments that both delight and surprise. Known for his wordless comics and visual wit in MAD Magazine, Aragonés mastered the art of storytelling through expression and timing. His works, though brief and humorous, follow the same structure as an epic tale — the quiet setup, the rising tension, and finally, the release of laughter. In this way, he reminds us that even in jest, structure and timing are sacred. The laughter that erupts from a well-timed comic strip is born of the same suspense that makes audiences cling to the edge of their seats in a tragedy. Humor, too, must build, hold, and release — for even joy requires tension to be felt.

The ancients understood this duality well. In the plays of Aristophanes, the Greek master of comedy, the humor was not scattered like seeds but built like architecture — layer upon layer of irony, surprise, and human folly. Each jest was a note in a larger symphony, each silence a beat of suspense before the chorus of laughter. Aristotle himself, in his Poetics, wrote that all art must possess beginning, middle, and end, and that the greatest works hold the audience in a state of wonder until resolution comes. So too does Aragonés carry this wisdom: that the art of suspense — of making one wait, wonder, and hope — is not limited to tragedy or epic, but belongs equally to the realm of laughter.

Consider the story of Charlie Chaplin, the silent comedian who turned the world’s sorrows into smiles. His greatest scenes were not built from chaos, but from patience — from suspense. Watch the trembling of his hand as he hides from authority, or the slow chase around a corner that seems to stretch time itself — every second of delay draws the heart tighter until laughter bursts forth like release from tension. Chaplin, like Aragonés, understood that comedy and suspense are siblings, born of the same heartbeat. The laughter that follows is not mere amusement, but relief — the joy of seeing fear transformed into grace.

But the wisdom of this quote extends beyond the stage or the page. In the story of life itself, suspense is the essence of existence. Every dawn is suspense; every silence before an answer; every struggle before a victory. Without it, life would be flat, mechanical, and predictable. It is the waiting, the unknowing, that makes triumph sweet and laughter sincere. The wise learn to love suspense — to cherish the mystery of unfolding days — rather than rush toward resolution. Just as the artist builds anticipation before the punchline, so too must we allow the rhythm of life to play in full measure, neither hurried nor stalled.

Aragonés teaches us that suspense is not the enemy of joy, but its architect. To tell a joke without buildup is to deny the listener the delight of discovery; to live a life without patience is to rob oneself of wonder. Whether we tell stories, make art, or simply walk through our days, we are all builders of suspense — setting the stage for moments of laughter, revelation, and grace. The theory of building suspense, as he calls it, is the art of trusting time — the faith that each pause has purpose and each delay conceals meaning.

So, my child of tomorrow, take this teaching from Sergio Aragonés: Do not fear suspense; embrace it. When life withholds answers, when joy delays its arrival, remember that you are living in the middle of the story — that the laughter, the triumph, the understanding will come, but only in its rightful moment. Build patience as an artist builds tension, and let your curiosity be the breath that sustains you.

For in art, as in life, suspense is the sacred silence before revelation. It is the heartbeat before laughter, the shadow before light, the question before wisdom. To master it — to build it, to endure it, to cherish it — is to live with grace. And when the moment of release comes, whether in laughter or understanding, it will fill you with the fullness of life itself — the joy of one who has waited well, and has finally seen the story unfold.