Writer/ Art/ Colors/ Letters: Various
Editors: Marco Lopez, Desiree Rodriguez, Hazel Newlevant, Derek Ruiz, and Neil Schwartz
Publisher: Lion Forge Comics
Rating: 15+ Only
Hurricane Maria made landfall on the island of Puerto Rico on September 20th, 2017. It was listed as a Catergory 4 Hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, with wind gusts anywhere between 130-156 miles per hour. Six months later, devastation remains. There are still many who have been displaced by the storm and the landscape still reels from the devastation. Whereas those affected by the Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in Texas and Florida respectively were able to receive prompt and continuous aide, our American brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico must continue to fight for their voices to be heard. It is with humble pleasure that I submit to you a collaboration of those voices in Puerto Rico Strong: A Comics Anthology Supporting Puerto Rico Disaster Relief and Recovery.
Born of a desire to do “something” as co-editor Marco Lopez put it, Lion Forge Comics gathered up writers, artists, colorists, editors, creative minds, and helping hands to develop an anthology dedicated to the culture within the island. History, political commentary, family, and faith are all here in 200 pages that are crafted to give the reader a sense of the strength that lives within the thriving culture that is Puerto Rico. All the proceeds for Puerto Rico Strong will go to hurricane recovery programs.
Granted, the cause is a fantastic one, but is the book good? I am excited to say that this anthology is amazing. The subject matter and artistic styles is so varied and eclectic that one will marvel at the sheer diversity present within the pages. Some stories speak to the history of Taino, Spanish, and African peoples on the island, while other stories relay the emotions of modern Puerto Rican familial dynamics, and yet others discuss the future state of Puerto Rico’s place in the world. The overall consistent theme throughout all the stories is one of passion and love for what it means to be a part of this beautiful culture.
Puerto Rico is still recovering from one of the largest disasters to ever befall its shores. However, a disaster does not define its people. It’s the aftermath that reflects the heart of an island, of a nation, and of a culture. Puerto Rico Strong is an example of a group of individuals using their talents to give back to the world community. It reflects society’s duty to band together to help one another, especially when times are tough.
Interested in donating? Please head to the attached link to donate to the Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund.
Ryan Files is an avid video game consumer, reviewer, and critic hailing from the boondocks of Illinois. He has taken his ethnographic cultural studies background and applied them to his love of geekdom. He is a huge Star Wars nerd, Castlevania fanatic, and his power level is definitely over 9000. When he isn’t online writing about how he misses old school beat em’ ups like Final Fight, Streets of Rage, or TMNT IV Turtles in Time, he raises his brood of 3 Metroid children with the most awesome wife a blerd could ask for. You can reach the mumbly one @moblipeg on Twitter.
