From Cocinas to Lucha Libre Ringsides

From Cocinas to Lucha Libre Ringsides featured in Publishers Weekly

Frederick Luis Aldama and Angela M. Sánchez on The Fanbase Weekly podcast

“In this soulful comics anthology...Latinx creators celebrate the communal powers of food and sports, while also pointing to societal forces that attempt to diminish these touchstones of identity....A joyful mosaic of diverse comics storytelling.” —Publishers Weekly

“This bold anthology celebrates Latinx voices through the medium of comics, featuring stories of everyday life, fantasy, migration, and identity, told with color and imagination.” —Abigail Villaquirán, Al Día

“The authors and illustrators run with the inspiration provided by food and sports, exploring the nuances of diaspora culture and belonging through the lens of their diverse Latinx heritages....Many readers will find a story that resonates with them in this broad-ranging anthology.” —Kirkus

“Unique styles and various methods underscore the diverse Latinx experience—deprivation and bounty, harassment and celebration—ultimately highlighting both physical and cultural nourishment.” —Terry Hong, Booklist

“With vibrant perspectives, depth, and tons of heart, From Cocinas to Lucha Libre Ringsides has something for everyone.” —Ngozi Ukazu, New York Times–bestselling creator of Check, Please!

“Best thing since tacos.” —José R. Ralat, taco editor for Texas Monthly

“Like my fave breakfast-of-champs dish, menudo, these graphic vignettes of food and sports warm the soul with their mix of savory, earthy, and zesty adventures. Each one packs an unforgettable kick, celebrating the rich diversity of our shared heritage and community.” —Matt García , farmer, historian, and author of Eli and the Octopus

“Santo cielo, luchadores! This high-flying, knock-out Latinographix collection on food and sports goes straight to the heart of lucha cultura. It’ll leave you in awe, like a ringside fan, and wanting muchos más. ” —Kevin Kleinrock, writer, publisher, producer, and president of Masked Republic

“Comic stories about Latino food and sports? I’d like a dozen, por favor! This comics anthology has made me hungry for both autobiographical comics and all the delicious Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Latin American food depicted in its stunning visual buffet. Consuming page after page of amazing artwork and intimate food and sports tales will stir your soul and nourish your panza. From childhood food memories and first bites to gripping tales of lucha libre, fútbol, and fandom, these stories come together like a graphic pozole of flavor explosions. Another serving, please!” —Lalo Alcaraz, nationally syndicated cartoonist, graphic novelist, and screenwriter

In this comics anthology full of humor and heart, writers and artists from across the US pay tribute to the ways food and sports endure as touchstones in the Latin American diaspora. In the vein of Frederick Luis Aldama’s bestselling anthology Tales from la Vida, creators offer slice-of-life comics in an array of styles to capture common threads that bind this dizzyingly diverse community. From a simple quesadilla eaten hot on the way to school, to a Puerto Rican grandmother’s offering of guineitos en escabeche, to a homesick Chicano punk’s reverse-engineered tamales, food is a gift from elders to children, a marker of continuity and togetherness amid a dominant culture that may dismiss its flavors. Sports, too, provide a path to friendship and connection across national and language barriers, anchoring fans and participants in a sense of identity and place, whether through the perseverance of the Mayan game pok ta’ pok, the unifying surge of lucha libre or soccer fandom, or a father and daughter’s shared love of horse racing. Together, the creators collected in From Cocinas to Lucha Libre Ringsides share a mosaic of stories that vividly portray Latinx identity and life today.

Contributors: Aleasha Acevedo, José Alaniz, Frederick Luis Aldama, Julio Anta, Charlene Bowles, David Bowles, Adrian Carrillo, José Cabrera, Valerie Martinez Cabrera, Mauricio Alberto Cordero, Jaime Crespo, Celeste Cruz, Ernesto Cuevas Jr., Chris Escobar, Rolando Esquivel, Tim Fielder, Dustin Garcia, Eric J. García, Jorge Garza, Oscar Garza, Lucas Gattoni, Blas Goncalves-Borrego, Estella González, Carina Guevara, Aaron Guzman, Javier Hernandez, Sam Jimenez, Eric Kittelberger, Alberto Ledesma, Pablo Leon, Darren López, Patrick Lugo, Jarred A. Luján, Eliamaría Madrid, Miguel Martinez, Paloma Martínez-Cruz, Carlos Meyer, Marisol Meyer Driovínto, Paul Meyer, Rosie Murillo, Rafael Navarro, Daniel Parada, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Jazmin Puente, Raúl the Third, Anna Maria Richardson, Hector Rodriguez III, Theresa Rojas, Rafael Rosado, Andrea Rosales, Justin Rueff, Irma Ruiz, Angela M. Sánchez, Serenity Serseción, Javier Solórzano, Josh Trujillo, Cayetano Valenzuela, Diana “Dianita” Vargas Sampieri, Andrés Vera Martínez