Luke LaManna

His portrait appears on T-shirts, coffee mugs, and posters. His signature black beret is almost instantly recognizable, and his deep-set eyes seem to peer into the future. He's come to symbolize youthful idealism and fierce rebellion. and he's viewed as the eternal underdog and a martyr for his cause.

His portrait appears on T-shirts, coffee mugs, and posters. His signature black beret is almost instantly recognizable, and his deep-set eyes seem to peer into the future. He's come to symbolize youthful idealism and fierce rebellion. and he's viewed as the eternal underdog and a martyr for his cause.

Having seen Che Guevara's face everywhere, I had been given the impression that he was clearly some kind of pop culture icon. Maybe at one point I thought he was in a band. It wasn't until I took an interest in military and political history that I began to understand who he actually was.

Having seen Che Guevara's face everywhere, I had been given the impression that he was clearly some kind of pop culture icon. Maybe at one point I thought he was in a band. It wasn't until I took an interest in military and political history that I began to understand who he actually was.

As one of the architects of the Cuban Revolution, Guevara was once an archenemy to the United States, and the Central Intelligence Agency viewed his capture as crucial to stopping the spread of communism. To the CIA, Guevara was a terrorist intent on destabilizing Latin America and threatening the entire free world.

As one of the architects of the Cuban Revolution, Guevara was once an archenemy to the United States, and the Central Intelligence Agency viewed his capture as crucial to stopping the spread of communism. To the CIA, Guevara was a terrorist intent on destabilizing Latin America and threatening the entire free world.

The agency first opened a file on Guevara in 1954, not long after the Cuban Revolution began. Over the years, it became one of the CIA's largest records as the agency worked to track him down around the globe. Guevara's popularity in the West may be unique for a communist revolutionary.

The agency first opened a file on Guevara in 1954, not long after the Cuban Revolution began. Over the years, it became one of the CIA's largest records as the agency worked to track him down around the globe. Guevara's popularity in the West may be unique for a communist revolutionary.

After all, the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, is still largely seen as a dictator and serial human rights abuser. Meanwhile, Guevara is considered a legend, even though he too killed in the name of communism and oversaw the execution of 500 prisoners at a famous Cuban jail. So how did Guevara transform himself into a pop culture icon while preaching global revolution?

After all, the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, is still largely seen as a dictator and serial human rights abuser. Meanwhile, Guevara is considered a legend, even though he too killed in the name of communism and oversaw the execution of 500 prisoners at a famous Cuban jail. So how did Guevara transform himself into a pop culture icon while preaching global revolution?

And what role did the CIA play in creating the modern Che Guevara brand? Is it possible that Che has his enemies to thank for his current popularity? In November 1966, Che Guevara sat at a table at a secret training camp in the Viñales region of Cuba. The table was overflowing with roasted pig and red wine. Guevara savored every bite.

And what role did the CIA play in creating the modern Che Guevara brand? Is it possible that Che has his enemies to thank for his current popularity? In November 1966, Che Guevara sat at a table at a secret training camp in the Viñales region of Cuba. The table was overflowing with roasted pig and red wine. Guevara savored every bite.

In a few hours, he would be getting on a plane to Bolivia, where he was going to lead the next revolution. Following a similar playbook as he had used in Cuba, he planned to unite the peasants of the country against their oppressors. He would rally them under one rebel banner and lead them in attacking the Bolivian army until the government collapsed.

In a few hours, he would be getting on a plane to Bolivia, where he was going to lead the next revolution. Following a similar playbook as he had used in Cuba, he planned to unite the peasants of the country against their oppressors. He would rally them under one rebel banner and lead them in attacking the Bolivian army until the government collapsed.

An advance team was already in Bolivia, making contact with the local Communist Party and finding a secure location for their base of operations. Now it was time for Guevara to join them. Guevara had dreamed of spreading the revolution through South America since he was a young man. But as he looked around the table, part of him became sad that this was the end of an era for him.

An advance team was already in Bolivia, making contact with the local Communist Party and finding a secure location for their base of operations. Now it was time for Guevara to join them. Guevara had dreamed of spreading the revolution through South America since he was a young man. But as he looked around the table, part of him became sad that this was the end of an era for him.

At the head of the table was Cuban leader Fidel Castro, Guevara's longtime friend. He was holding court, telling stories about how he and Guevara had conquered Cuba. The table laughed as Castro explained how he'd once had to yell at Guevara for leaving his rifle behind during a fight and fleeing into the hills. Guevara felt a wave of warmth wash over him.

At the head of the table was Cuban leader Fidel Castro, Guevara's longtime friend. He was holding court, telling stories about how he and Guevara had conquered Cuba. The table laughed as Castro explained how he'd once had to yell at Guevara for leaving his rifle behind during a fight and fleeing into the hills. Guevara felt a wave of warmth wash over him.

He and Castro had had their ups and downs over the years. They had disagreed on the best way to run Cuba's economy and maintain its relationship with the Soviet Union and China. But right now, none of that mattered. Castro was Guevara's best friend, his brother in arms, his ideological debate partner. And Guevara didn't know when he would see him again.

He and Castro had had their ups and downs over the years. They had disagreed on the best way to run Cuba's economy and maintain its relationship with the Soviet Union and China. But right now, none of that mattered. Castro was Guevara's best friend, his brother in arms, his ideological debate partner. And Guevara didn't know when he would see him again.