is available this Tuesday, Aug. 4.
"That's when Finnegan got the idea of combining the riots with the efforts to, as well as a significantly lesser-known myth from L.A. history:OK, there were no actual lizard people, but geophysicist/mining engineer George Warren Shufelt get permission from the city in the early 1930s to explore an old legend: under the city of L.A. were supposedly tunnels — and treasure — allegedly left behind by a race of... well, lizard people.
The bicultural characters and diverse Mexican American setting are a fun entry point into some serious Chicano history, the era of the 1940s Zoot Suit Riots.
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―Alex Segura, acclaimed comic book writer of THE BLACK GHOST, THE ARCHIES and more
"And I said, well, let's just assume that there really were Mayan lizard tunnels underneath L.A., and let's say that we fast-forward this, and they're using the riots as a way to dig up these people's homes and to hunt these creatures down," Finnegan said.It's a departure from real life — and yes, there is a literal lizard in a zoot suit at one point in the story — but it's rooted in the real Chicano experience of the early 20th century.The story also centers around twin sisters Cuata and Flaca, with Cuata fitting more traditional gender norms while Flaca is a zoot-suiter herself. And they were painted very poorly at the time — they were either ignored, or they were painted as 'loose,' or 'gangsters.'
"You could fast-forward that story to last month, and that still resonates. Read the historical summary at the end of the book before you start the story and you'll find yourself right in the middle of the era and the action. Please try again.
The creature follows them home, where Cuata discovers that he has been separated from his family, and the girls must work together to reunite them while evading Navy men and a mysterious man-in-black scientist who want to get to the creature first. You can read a sneak preview of the new graphic novel below: There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Los Angeles's Zoot Suit Riots were an incident Latinx writer/artist/teacher Marco Finnegan says he remembered from watching the play on PBS. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations
And it's shaped like a five-foot-tall lizard. Derogatory terms―"An entertaining and meaningful story. "The Zoot Suit Riots had two different ideas of what being an American means coming to a head. Publication Date: August 4, 2020
clashes of the Zoot Suit Riots, Cuata and Flaca escape with the help of a subterranean creature who is part man and part lizard with echoes of the “Creature From the Black Lagoon.” The creature follows them home, where Cuata discovers that he has been separated from his family, and the girls must work together to Your No-Panic Guide To LA Life, And The New (And Changing) Coronavirus RulesIn California, A Vocal Minority of Asian Parents Helped Defeat Affirmative Action Once Before. Finnegan pulls out all the stops and crafts a unique adventure that feels fresh and vibrant." And I didn't want to negate or diminish any of that, but I also wanted to say that adventures can happen to kids like us too.
It was one of a number of race-related riots that took place that summer across the country, and it is to do this day one of the most significant events in Los Angeles and Mexican-American history. "Not every girl at every time falls into a category," he said. When a night out in downtown LA turns violent amid the clashes of the Zoot Suit Riots, Cuata and Flaca escape with the help of a subterranean creature who is part man and part lizard with echoes of the 'Creature From the Black Lagoon.' "It becomes detrimental to your self-esteem to only see yourself as the gardener, as the maid, as the bad guy, as the thug.
Based on the cover alone, one might think that this was a … Chulito never speaks, but his expressive face and gestures clearly convey meaning. "And I think that's a lot of what we're doing now," Finnegan said "You have these extremes of, well, does being an American mean being silent?
Though their characters represent, respectively, traditionally feminine norms and those who push against them, all their traits are needed to save a new friend in need.
Or does it mean speaking up?"
"I wanted it to be something that maybe these kids who were in the book would have enjoyed at the time," Finnegan said. Here's Whyby
He also hopes that the book will inspire readers to dig deeper themselves.Finnegan also sees the book as being more relevant now than when he started working on the project.
Put on your tacuche and your tando, and get ready for "This fun, character-driven, all-ages historical sci-fi romp is wacky, out-of-this-world and pure enjoyment.