As a Puerto Rican comic book enthusiast and longtime fan of Marvel and DC universes, I’ve been thrilled to see how these stories have evolved over the years, reflecting the diversity of our world in their pages. Let me share my thoughts on three remarkable characters whose stories resonate deeply with me.
As a devoted fan of history, I can’t help but be captivated by the compelling tale of Puerto Rico’s past. This enchanting island has known its share of challenges, having first fallen under Spanish rule before being passed on to the United States. Through it all, from poverty and debt to devastating storms, the spirit of its people has remained unbroken. In fact, it is this very turbulent history that has fostered an incredible resilience among Puerto Ricans.
In the realm of comic books, numerous superheroes boast Puerto Rican heritage, proudly identifying with the Borikén name, which is the indigenous moniker for Puerto Rico. A few of these heroes have achieved widespread recognition, but many others remain relatively unknown. This situation will change today as we shine a light on them.
6 Araña/Spider-Girl
Her Father Sought The Truth
- Real Name: Aña “Anya” Corazón
- Creators: Joe Quesada, Fiona Avery, Mark Brooks
- First Appearance: Amazing Fantasy (Vol. 2) #1 (October 2011)
In her first film role, Araña featured in the poorly received “Madame Web.” She merited a more noteworthy project. In Marvel comics, she represents the sole survivor of the clandestine Spider Society, an organization that has persisted for over nine centuries. Her abilities mirror those of Spider-Man, such as heightened strength and agility, and the capacity to scale walls. Additionally, she can create a hard shell around herself.
Aña was born in Brooklyn to a Mexican mother named Maria and a Puerto Rican father, Gilberto, who worked as an investigative journalist. After living in Mexico for some time, they returned to the United States following a tragic event – Maria was murdered while Gilberto was probing crime lord Felix Jade’s activities. With concerns that Felix might be linked to Maria’s death, Gilberto made the decision to relocate back to Brooklyn with Aña for her safety.
5 Cecilia Reyes (X-Men)
From The Bronx
- Real Name: Cecilia Reyes
- Creators: Scott Lobdell, Carlos Pacheco
- First Appearance: X-Men (Vol. 2) #65 (April 1997)
Cecilia Reyes is among the renowned X-Men group. Her unique mutant talent lies in creating protective energy barriers, which she can also manipulate to use as offensive weapons by shaping them around her fists. Driven by compassion, she has chosen a noble path as a doctor, devoting herself to healing others. A depiction of this character surfaced in the 20th Century Fox film “The New Mutants.”
I was born in the Bronx, New York, to Puerto Rican parents. Growing up, my world was shattered when my father was taken from me in a senseless drive-by shooting. This tragic event ignited a deep passion within me to make a positive impact on the world. However, when I lost my job with the X-Men, I initially considered leaving the team.
4 White Tiger
Carrying On The Legacy
- Real Name: Ava Ayala
- Creators: Christos N. Gage, Tom Raney
- First Appearance: Avengers Academy #20 (October 2011)
The original bearer of the White Tiger mantle was Hector Ayala, introduced into the Marvel Universe in 1975 by Bill Mantlo and George Pérez in the Deadly Hands of Kung Fu comic series. He obtains his powers from several amulets discarded by a former superhero team.
Since then, there have been several versions of the Marvel hero that have emerged in various forms of media. Among them is Ava Ayala, Hector Ayala’s sister, who has gained significant recognition. She makes frequent appearances in “Ultimate Spider-Man” as a valuable ally to Spider-Man within the animated series.
3 Spider-Man
Anyone Can Wear The Mask
- Real Name: Miles Morales
- Creators: Brian Michael Bendis, Sara Pichelli
- First Appearance: Ultimate Fallout #4 (August 2011)
Miles Morales, starring in two successful films and three games developed by Insomniac Games, has become just as identifiable with the moniker Spider-Man as his forerunner, Peter Parker. Equipped with the same abilities as Peter, plus additional features like becoming invisible and shocking adversaries, Miles’ origins trace back to one of the identical Oscorp spiders that bestowed Peter’s powers. In the original Ultimate comics, following the apparent demise of his universe’s Peter Parker, Miles assumes the role of Spider-Man.
In the animated film “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” Miles is introduced as being born in Brooklyn to parents with distinct backgrounds – his father, Jefferson, is an African-American NYPD officer, and his mother, Rio, is a nurse originally from Puerto Rico. However, in the sequel, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” Miles’ mother takes on a more significant role. Instead of being absent in the first film, she appears more prominently, reprimanding Miles for earning a B grade in his Spanish class.
2 La Borinqueña
Her Powers Come From Her Heritage
- Real Name: Marisol Rios De La Luz
- Creator: Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez
- First Appearance: La Borinqueña #1 (2016)
Edgardo-Miranda Rodriguez, an independent artist, brought to life the character known as La Borinqueña. In Puerto Rico, where Marisol, a student at Columbia University, was partaking in a study abroad program, she received extraordinary powers from the Caribbean’s indigenous goddess, the Taino. These powers included the ability to fly, increased strength, and control over storms.
La Borinqueña is a symbol of Puerto Rican pride, with her costume emulating the flag of the island. She fights not villains, but societal issues impacting the island’s people. In 2018, she teamed up with various DC superheroes in an anthology called Ricanstruction, created to help recovery efforts in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
1 Groot
¡Yo Soy Groot!
- Real Name: Groot
- Creators: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Larry Lieber
- First Appearance: Tales to Astonish (1959) #13
Groot is an extraterrestrial tree being who is a valued member of the cosmic team called the Guardians of the Galaxy. He has a limited vocabulary and usually expresses himself by saying “I am Groot.”
In issue #3 of Guardians of Infinity, a Puerto Rican grandmother identifies Groot as the Ceiba tree, which is believed by the Taíno people of Puerto Rico to be home to their spirits. After helping free Groot from the control of a plant beast, Groot exclaims, “I am Groot!,” expressing this ancestry.
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2024-07-21 15:33