By Christine Murray
MEXICO CITY, June 3 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – From fighting drug cartels to giving out facemasks, a Latino comicbook superhero has been handed a supporting role to spotlight the role of migrants working unprotected in farms and fields across the United States during the coronavirus pandemic.
“El Peso Hero” – who uses his superstrength to stop criminals and save migrants from authorities – takes a backseat in the comic strip’s latest edition, supporting a nurse to deliver masks and helping farmworkers load produce onto a truck.
Creator Hector Rodriguez said his work – which switches between Spanish and English – aimed to combat negative stereotypes around immigrants, particularly for younger readers.
“Our goal … is to portray our community in a positive light, to uplift our community,” the 37-year-old told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. “Our stories matter.”
