User:Mariposamuffin46/Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez

La Borinqueña (section that was already written)
Based on the positive response he received for the character of Abuela Estella he created for Marvel, Miranda-Rodriguez recognized a cultural void in the comic book universe and was inspired to create a main character to provide "a stronger presence for the Puerto Rican and Latino community." This inspiration came as Miranda-Rodriguez was approached by the organizers of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade. They wanted to honor him for his work with Marvel and DMC. Seeing the Parade as a unique platform, Miranda-Rodriguez proposed an original comic book to be introduced at the 2016 Puerto Rican Day Parade in NYC. With the name La Borinqueña taken from the Puerto Rican national anthem, Miranda-Rodriguez sought to integrate the history and indigenous traditions of Puerto Rico with the modern day sensibilities demanded by the multiple crises facing its people.

La Borinqueña, also known as Marisol Rios De La Luz, is an Afro-Boricua woman with a Chinese-Dominican best friend, modeling the unity Miranda-Rodriguez hoped Latinxs would aspire to. Just as important to the story is that Marisol lives in Brooklyn, and is a community activist and environmental studies student at Columbia University. Miranda-Rodriguez notes that in tackling such 'villains' as voter rights, climate change and police accountability, it is Marisol's activist and academic identity that could be potentially more powerful than her superhero self: "She doesn't fight crime, per se. She's a symbol of hope." On March 4, 2017, Miranda-Rodriguez embarked on a national [comic] book tour, starting in Philadelphia.

La Borinqueña (my contribution)
Regardless of the initial motivation that Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez had that led to the creation of La Borinqueña, the outcome of the character was a significant impact on the Puerto Rican community following Hurricane Maria. (2) In 2018, Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez was featured in Ricanstruction: Reminiscing & Rebuilding Puerto Rico, a comic book put together by a team of comic book artists with the goal of raising funds for relief for those in Puerto Rico affected by Hurricane Maria. (3) With it being published by Somos Arte and set for release on May 23, 2018, Miranda-Rodriguez took on the role of Producer, sharing that his goal was to inspire Boricuas (Puerto Ricans) with stories about their island to push for reconstruction following the devastation seen throughout their land. The character of La Borinqueña came back in this comic, fighting alongside DC characters such as Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman after Somos Arte received permission from DC to use their characters. (3) According to Miranda-Rodriguez, he is hoping to use these characters and their recognizability “to talk about a real-world human rights issue affecting real people.” (2)

(Inset picture of Ricanstruction comic cover) Footnote: Comic book cover of Ricanstruction, created by Tony Daniel, a DC comics artist and writer. The cover portrays La Borinqueña and Wonder Woman together, holding the Puerto Rican flag and dancing ‘Bomba y Plena’ (the traditional dance of Puerto Rico) over El Yunque Rainforest.

Tying it back to his activist roots, Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez revealed that his interest in comics developed partly because it allowed him to tell stories. Books such as Ricanstruction show how comics have been a vessel for the advocacy of his roots and how awareness can be diffused far and wide. (3)

In 2019, his work with La Borinqueña and Ricanstruction led Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez to be awarded the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award. During that time, Miranda-Rodriguez also began putting money from the sales of Ricanstruction towards grants meant for Puerto Rican non-profit organizations. This led to Miranda-Rodriguez and his partner establishing the La Borinqueña Grants Program through Somos Arte in 2020, with the end goal of supporting Puerto Rican organizations that find solutions for common and widespread problems the community faces. (4)

As of late September of 2022, La Borinqueña has had five volumes published. With Hurricane Maria’s 5th anniversary coming up during that time, Somos Arte released the first and last volumes with newly created cover art to commemorate the struggles and reconstruction Puerto Ricans went through following the hurricane. These releases come following another devastating hurricane that hit the island: Hurricane Fiona. (4)