Indian Comics Irregular #63

In his paintings, Chicano artist Enrique Chagoya juxtaposes pop
cultural references with imagery from pre-Columbian and colonial
Mexican sources. In particular, he uses comic book and cartoon
characters: Superman, Spider-Man, even Mickey Mouse. The result is
a revealing clash of titans.

A museum website describes Chagoya's 1994 painting "Uprising of the
Spirit":

Superman, an American cultural icon, has just left a scene of
carnage between Spanish conquistadores and the Mexica. His X-ray
vision is now focusing on an image of the king, as they prepare to
battle.

Chagoya says he's not sure what his art means, but it seems clear to
me. Superman faces the Mexica king in a grudge match between Western
imperialism and indigenous resistance. Each side's ultimate warrior
is ready to fight for the Mexican--and the world's?--soul.

Even their choice of weapons--sword and shield of bone and hide vs.
unstoppable radioactive rays--is perfect.

A panel of another Chagoya work, "Insulae Canibalium (Cannibal
Island)," is even more suggestive. On the left is a large image of
the Aztec goddess Cihuateto--a woman with a skull head. On the right
is an equally large Virgin of Guadalupe, with two nuns at her feet.
One nun has a word balloon saying "Beat you." In the middle is a
tiny Wonder Woman standing before her robot plane, hands on hips,
looking confident.

Nature's twin extremes--death and life--loom over the Amazon
warrior. She's bold and fearless, but doesn't have a clue about the
powerful forces around her. Like other Western figures, she'll
tackle problems with strength and technology while ignoring the human
and spiritual dimensions.

Chagoya's use of comic book characters is inspired. As I've said
before, the superhero is a mythological avatar for today's America.
He's an update of previous American heroes: the explorer, the
pioneer, the cowboy (John Wayne).

In comic books, heroes always win. In history books, they often
lose. As in Greek plays, enlightenment comes from tragic loss and
true humility. It's a lesson Jesus, Buddha, and Coyote taught but
many have yet to learn.

The Road to Aztlán

Chagoya's work is part of an exhibit on Aztlán at the Los Angeles
County Museum of Art. Aztlán is the ancestral homeland of the
Aztec empire, a semi-mythical paradise where death was unknown. Like
Eden, Atlantis, and Camelot, it's a wellspring of meaning and
metaphor.

An LA Times article (6/3/01) notes that some people consider
Aztlán a Mesoamerican "Star Wars," which seems apt to me. Joseph
Campbell has written how modern heroes like Luke Skywalker are only
variations on classic archetypes. As usual, everything new is
really old, and there are no original stories.

For more on Aztlán and Enrique Chagoya's artwork, head to
http://www.bluecorncomics.com/aztlan.htm.

More PEACE PARTY Online

Speaking of cultural commentary, those bad boys of black and white
are at it again. Billy and Drew, the main men of PEACE PARTY, are
ragging on "President" Bush and his mind-boggling maneuvers. To see
what a coupla Indian guys have to say about Dubya's politics, visit
http://www.bluecorncomics.com/contents.htm.

You'll also find Rob Davis's first sketches of our comic book
characters there. Slowly but surely, we're making progress.

Rob Schmidt
Blue Corn Comics