At long last, the second issue of Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez’s La Borinqueña is finally available. Coming on the heels of the release of Ricanstruction: Reminiscing & Rebuilding Puerto Rico, a benefit anthology that I had the pleasure to be a part of1, Miranda-Rodriguez returns to continue the ongoing saga of Marisol Rios De La Luz and her super alter-ego.
La Borinqueña #2 finds Marisol returning to Puerto Rico as it recovers from the hurricane that struck in issue #1. Mind you, that issue was released nearly a year before Hurricane Maria devastated the island in real life. In a way, it makes sense to read issue #2 after Ricanstruction — where Marisol assembled a who’s-who of the DC Universe to help aid the people of Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Maria — because the story feels like a natural continuation of the narratives and themes present in the anthology.
Throughout the story, La Borinqueña encounters activists who are doing their best to help the displaced and fight for those left behind by the government. A relevant storyline considering the real world implications of the Trump Administration’s willful neglect of Puerto Rico. Recently, a study conducted by Harvard researchers concluded that nearly 5,000 people lost their lives during Maria. A far cry from the U.S. government’s official account.
In the end, Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez and his all-star team of Latinx creators (including the legendary Wonder Woman writer/artist, George Pérez, who provides the cover alongside Juan Fernández) have once again demonstrated how comics can be used to shine a light on traditionally overlooked issues and provide inspiration to those in need of a hero. Fortunately for us, La Borinqueña is that light.
Go to the official Somos Arte website, to find out the best way to get a copy of La Borinqueña #2 as soon as you can!
- Full disclosure: I served as an Assistant Editor on Ricanstruction and authored one of the stories alongside my friend Glenn Urieta. Check out a preview of our story here! ↩
