La Borinqueña Fights for ‘Ricanstruction’ in New Comic Anthology

By Sameer Rao Mar 21, 2018

Comic book author Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez celebrates his fellow Puerto Ricans with a new comic anthology that features his original superhero, La Borinqueña, fighting to rebuild the island. 


Miranda-Rodriguez announced the May 23 release of "Ricanstruction: Reminiscing & Rebuilding Puerto Rico" in a tweet yesterday (March 20): 



Miranda-Rodriguez populates "Ricanstruction" with personal stories and takes on La Borinqueña from various comic creators of color and Latinx celebrities. Comic author Gabby Rivera, actress Rosario Dawson and novelist Esmerelda Santiago all feature among the list of contributors.


Several of the featured stories will partner La Borinqueña with Wonder Woman, Batman, The Flash and other DC Comics superheroes as they embarck on adventures that improve Puerto Rico. Others will address Puerto Rico’s past and a hopeful future of recovery from the damages of Hurricane Maria and other threats to its self-sufficiency. The New York Times reported yesterday that Santiago contributed a story about her grandfather surviving another hurricane in 1928. All of the stories will highlight the island’s rich history and culture. 


“I wanted to inspire people, to share stories about the island and to help rebuild,” Miranda-Rodriguez told The Times.


Miranda-Rodriguez will donate all proceeds to organizations working on relief efforts. One such organization, Brooklyn-based El Puente, provides solar-powered lamps and other supplies to people in need on the island.