Comic Notes: Hot Mexican Love Comics 2006

May 12th, 2007

Another title I picked up at APE (Alternative Press Expo): Hot Mexican Love Comics. Here’s the website. It’s an anthology of really short works (one or two pages) from twenty four artists centered around the basic theme of… hot Mexican love? Sure. As expected, they’re rather hit and miss. For every vignette I liked, another I thought sucked poblano. But hey, since these habanero blasts are so brief, what do I care?

Anyhow, here are the ones I really liked, enough that I’d seek out additional work by the artists responsible.

• Cajones Past by Christian Roman is a funny tale that reminds me of some groaner yarns from a particular camp counselor — one that starts out exciting at the end is some lame pun that makes everyone slap their heads. But hey, it’s summer camp, or in this case, a road trip.
• The Bunny Brothers by Mike Milo and Harry McLaughlin has some hilarious character design like Looney Tunes gone wrong. I wish it were drawn in a cleaner style instead of with a grease pencil but I guess that’s the underground comics charm. (Website) (Website)
• Crystal Blue Sensation by Albert Calleros is a highlight. The art (inspired by Mexican graffiti?) is a combination of twisted and cute that I’ve never seen before. I read this one a few times as each panel has enough quirkiness to bear closer examination. (Website)
• El Pasion Del Hombre Incredible! by Rodney Clouden is pretty freaking hilarious. I love the exaggerated muscle man doing manly things, totally justified as the plot concerns the difference between men and women, specifically how it feels to be a man watching a chick flick like The Sisterhood Of The Travelling Pants. The fact that the woman is in a Mexican wrestling mask allows any man to imagine their significant other in place of that character.
• El Paso by Rafael Navarro is a romantic, wordless comic, evocative of some Spaghetti Western. I liked the attractive romance comic drawing style looks like charcoal beneath brushed ink. (Website)

All in all, a decent amount of entertainment for the price of two tacos. Pass the Tapatio.