Hector Rodriguez is the founder of ‘Rio Bravo Comics’, an independent comic book publisher. Its main comic story is the 10-year series of ‘El Peso Hero’ adventures. A narration influenced by the modern-day challenge of migrant society. Mexico’s cartels, corrupt officials and human traffickers are some of the problems that Latino communities suffer on both sides of the Mexico-US border.
Hector, an elementary school teacher in the Dallas Independent School District began writing El Peso Hero, a Story about Ignacio Rodriguez, a common Hispanic immigrant that struggles with great powers, abilities and a mission of serving as an arm of justice for Hispanic migrants. The story is influenced by the major cultural features of folkloric food, art, fashion and many of Hispanic traditions. Hispanics are the largest immigrant community in the country. The Mexican community is the largest of all those residing in the country. This story is also a representation of an important part of the American society. Ignacio fights against extremism issues in the U.S. Latino is a major growing population in the U.S., and these comics are their stories.
Tell us about yourself, Hector
“I ‘ma 5th grade teacher. I was born in Eagle Pass, Texas. I grew up in an environment very influenced by family traditions. The Hispanic culture always surrounded me, ‘La plaza, los elotes, los Tigres del Norte..’. I also always had a great fondness for comic books. The many stories told by my family and the cases of immigration struggles I saw in school with my students gave me inspiration for EL PESO HERO. It is a connection between my life and the immigrant population in the U.S. This means a lot to me, and to our community that I am so proud of. When I was just starting to become a teacher, the father of one of my students was deported, so I created the story to make people like him feel proud of who he was and his roots”.
What is the cultural identity of the character?
“The story is focused on identity situations of belonging. At the beginning of the comic, Ignacio forgets who he is at the time he gets his powers. This is something that happens with all types of immigrants, they lose a bit of themselves when they leave home but at the same time they look for that guidance star of power, growth and perseverance. Ignacio realizes his identity is in the cross cultural bridge of traditions. I grew up on the border and it is our reality created by culture and our historical development”.
“El Peso Hero it’s a passive representation. People admire mythology. Nowadays, the comic presents a project of new mythologization. Readers see Ignacio and they represent themselves with him. He is a regular guy. When was the last time that you saw Batman eating quesadillas or elotes? Ignacio Rodriguez is the personification of the Chicano community. Another important point of the story is the fact that Ignacio is the only character who speaks continuously Spanish throughout the whole story for the past ten years. The community sees themselves in the hero. They’ve connected to the border stories and felt pride in the representation. It’s the first hero that transcends the cultures and borders for Texas and Mexico.”
What would you say is the ‘El Peso Hero’ Statement?
“Throughout history, there has always been the need to change immigration policies in the United States, especially with family management and detention facilities. This is a relevant theme regardless of who is in government administration. So more than a political statement is a call for change and reflection on these people’s lives. I once visited a school as a guest and a little girl came up to me crying with the ‘Borderline’ comic book in her hand, telling me that this was the story she lived with her mother crossing the border. So there is something very powerful about the comic book that makes people connect with the story. A sense of ownership. It’s something really close to my heart”.
What’s the biggest obstacle you have encountered in your mission?
“The media and Latino community have been very supportive of my project. For me, the biggest obstacle I have encountered is the comic book industry. I wished I could reach a bigger audience but this business is really gated. Sometimes they don’t get the relevance of the border stories or why Ignacio speaks Spanish. I feel like they don’t want to work with a comic with political involvement, but comics have always been political. Captain America, Superman, X-Men…, they all go deep in moral and political correctness. But I’m going to continue regardless of the industry support.”
“Also it is important to mention that the independent comic world is something really local and with the COVID-19 restrictions the business has suffered a lot”.
Do you use the comic book as a tool for teaching?
“Even though the school administration doesn’t understand the importance of what I’m doing, I use them to enrich some of my lessons with graphic novels. They like it. My students see what I’m doing and they get inspired to read, and more important to follow their dream”.
Do you have any other projects in mind?
“Hopefully, we are going to see ‘El Peso Hero’, the movie.”
Any message to our readers?
“Yes! To support our work and all the independent comic industry. To follow their dreams and to complement it with a good cause”.