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Love and Rockets (comics)
Encyclopedia
Love and Rockets is a black and white comic book
series by Gilbert Hernandez
and Jaime Hernandez
, sometimes cited jointly as Los Bros Hernandez. Their brother Mario Hernandez
is an occasional contributor. It was one of the first comics in the alternative comics
revolution of the 1980s
.
, but since 1982
it has been published by Fantagraphics Books
. The magazine temporarily ceased publication in 1996
after the release of issue #50, while Gilbert and Jaime went on to do separate series involving many of the same characters. However, in 2001
Los Bros revived the series as Love and Rockets Volume 2.
Love and Rockets contains several ongoing serial narratives, the most prominent being Gilbert's Palomar stories and Jaime's Hoppers 13 (aka Locas) stories. It also contains one-offs, shorter stories, surrealist jokes, and more.
Palomar tells the story of a fictional village in Latin America and its inhabitants. Its vibrant characters and sometimes-fantastic events are sometimes compared to the magical realism
literary style of authors such as Gabriel García Márquez
. The series is also sometimes referred to as Heartbreak Soup, after the first story set in Palomar.
Hoppers 13 follows the tangled lives of a group of primarily chicano
characters, from their teenage years in the early days of the California punk scene to the present day. (Hoppers, or Huerta, is a fictional city based on the Hernandezes' home town of Oxnard, California
.) Two memorable members of Jaime's cast are Margarita Luisa "Maggie" Chascarrillo and Esperanza "Hopey" Leticia Glass, whose on-again, off-again romance is a focus for many Hoppers 13 storylines. The series is also often called Locas (Spanish for "crazy women") because of the many quirky female characters depicted.
One aspect of the Love and Rockets opus is the way Los Bros Hernandez portray the passage of time in a relatively realistic manner despite the traditional constraints of the medium. For example, Maggie's character, a pro-solar mechanic, debuted as a slight yet curvy young adult living in a world both distinctly chicano and punk with a sci-fi twist. As Jaime developed her character in more detail, she started to gain weight slowly. Over the years, Maggie and the other characters have evolved, growing more layered and complex as their stories develop. The present Maggie is now the manager of an apartment complex with bleached blonde hair and a penchant for wearing sexy bathing suits on her rubenesque figure. Jaime has also made extensive use of flashbacks, with Maggie and the others presented at different ages from toddlers through teenagers and young adults to thirtysomethings. The first issue of volume two of Love and Rockets featured a cover with a range of different Maggie ages/looks.
The original runs of Palomar and Locas have each been collected in recent one-volume editions by Fantagraphics (see Palomar (graphic novel)
), although not all of the stories involving "Locas" and "Palomar" characters are contained in these collections. The original fifty-issue Love and Rockets Volume One has also been reprinted in its entirety in both a fifteen-volume paperback library, and more recently a seven-volume mass-market paperback series by Fantagraphics. In addition, several hardcovers collect edited versions of the series tales.
Many attempts have been made to make L&R into a movie, or series of movies. However, until recently, the movie rights had been held up in litigation for over 15 years.
:
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series by Gilbert Hernandez
Gilbert Hernandez
Gilberto Hernández, born February 1, 1957, in Oxnard, California, usually credited as Gilbert Hernandez and also known by the nickname Beto , is an American comics writer/artist...
and Jaime Hernandez
Jaime Hernandez
Jaime Hernandez is the co-creator of the black & white independent comic book Love and Rockets .-Early life:...
, sometimes cited jointly as Los Bros Hernandez. Their brother Mario Hernandez
Mario Hernandez
Mario Hernandez is an American writer, artist, and sometime publisher of comics. Along with his younger brothers Gilbert and Jaime he co-created the acclaimed independent comic book Love and Rockets.- Biography :...
is an occasional contributor. It was one of the first comics in the alternative comics
Alternative comics
Alternative comics defines a range of American comics that have appeared since the 1980s, following the underground comix movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Alternative comics present an alternative to "mainstream" superhero comics which in the past have dominated the US comic book industry...
revolution of the 1980s
1980s in comics
This article lists major events in the field of comics during the 1980s.Publications: 1980 - 1981 - 1982 - 1983 - 1984 - 1985 - 1986 - 1987 - 1988 - 1989-1982:*Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo debuts in Young Magazine.- March :...
.
Overview
The Hernandez brothers self-published the first issue of Love and Rockets in 19811981 in comics
-January:* Capital Comics makes its entree into publishing with the release of Nexus #1.*Frank Miller takes over full writing duties on Daredevil with issue #168, and creates Elektra....
, but since 1982
1982 in comics
-Year overall:* San Diego-based independent publisher Pacific Comics makes a strong push in the marketplace, following Jack Kirby's Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers with four new ongoing titles, Starslayer, Ms...
it has been published by Fantagraphics Books
Fantagraphics Books
Fantagraphics Books is an American publisher of alternative comics, classic comic strip anthologies, magazines, graphic novels, and the adult-oriented Eros Comix imprint...
. The magazine temporarily ceased publication in 1996
1996 in comics
-Year overall:* Malcolm Jones III commits suicide at circa age 37.* Boody Rogers, creator of Sparky Watts, dies at c. age 92-January:* January 19: Bernard Baily, co-creator of The Spectre and Hourman, dies at age 79.* January 28:...
after the release of issue #50, while Gilbert and Jaime went on to do separate series involving many of the same characters. However, in 2001
2001 in comics
-Year overall:* Marvel Comics withdraws from the Comics Code Authority and established its own rating system for its publications.- January :* January 23: Fred Ray, Superman's primary cover artist of the 1940s, passes away at age 80.- September :...
Los Bros revived the series as Love and Rockets Volume 2.
Love and Rockets contains several ongoing serial narratives, the most prominent being Gilbert's Palomar stories and Jaime's Hoppers 13 (aka Locas) stories. It also contains one-offs, shorter stories, surrealist jokes, and more.
Palomar tells the story of a fictional village in Latin America and its inhabitants. Its vibrant characters and sometimes-fantastic events are sometimes compared to the magical realism
Magic realism
Magic realism or magical realism is an aesthetic style or genre of fiction in which magical elements blend with the real world. The story explains these magical elements as real occurrences, presented in a straightforward manner that places the "real" and the "fantastic" in the same stream of...
literary style of authors such as Gabriel García Márquez
Gabriel García Márquez
Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez is a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter and journalist, known affectionately as Gabo throughout Latin America. He is considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in...
. The series is also sometimes referred to as Heartbreak Soup, after the first story set in Palomar.
Chicano
The terms "Chicano" and "Chicana" are used in reference to U.S. citizens of Mexican descent. However, those terms have a wide range of meanings in various parts of the world. The term began to be widely used during the Chicano Movement, mainly among Mexican Americans, especially in the movement's...
characters, from their teenage years in the early days of the California punk scene to the present day. (Hoppers, or Huerta, is a fictional city based on the Hernandezes' home town of Oxnard, California
Oxnard, California
Oxnard is the 113th largest city in the United States, 19th largest city in California and largest city in Ventura County, California, by way of population. It is located at the western edge of the fertile Oxnard Plain, and is an important agricultural center, with its distinction as the...
.) Two memorable members of Jaime's cast are Margarita Luisa "Maggie" Chascarrillo and Esperanza "Hopey" Leticia Glass, whose on-again, off-again romance is a focus for many Hoppers 13 storylines. The series is also often called Locas (Spanish for "crazy women") because of the many quirky female characters depicted.
One aspect of the Love and Rockets opus is the way Los Bros Hernandez portray the passage of time in a relatively realistic manner despite the traditional constraints of the medium. For example, Maggie's character, a pro-solar mechanic, debuted as a slight yet curvy young adult living in a world both distinctly chicano and punk with a sci-fi twist. As Jaime developed her character in more detail, she started to gain weight slowly. Over the years, Maggie and the other characters have evolved, growing more layered and complex as their stories develop. The present Maggie is now the manager of an apartment complex with bleached blonde hair and a penchant for wearing sexy bathing suits on her rubenesque figure. Jaime has also made extensive use of flashbacks, with Maggie and the others presented at different ages from toddlers through teenagers and young adults to thirtysomethings. The first issue of volume two of Love and Rockets featured a cover with a range of different Maggie ages/looks.
The original runs of Palomar and Locas have each been collected in recent one-volume editions by Fantagraphics (see Palomar (graphic novel)
Palomar (graphic novel)
Palomar is the title of a graphic novel written and drawn by Gilbert Hernandez and published in 2003 by Fantagraphics Books . It collects work previously published within the pages of Love and Rockets . Palomar is the fictional town in Latin America where all the stories presented are set...
), although not all of the stories involving "Locas" and "Palomar" characters are contained in these collections. The original fifty-issue Love and Rockets Volume One has also been reprinted in its entirety in both a fifteen-volume paperback library, and more recently a seven-volume mass-market paperback series by Fantagraphics. In addition, several hardcovers collect edited versions of the series tales.
Many attempts have been made to make L&R into a movie, or series of movies. However, until recently, the movie rights had been held up in litigation for over 15 years.
Jaime
- Margarita Luisa "Maggie" Chascarrillo: best friend (and occasional lover) of Hopey; otherwise dates men, most prominently Ray Dominguez. Befriended Hopey in the punk rock scene of their southern Californian home town. Briefly becomes a world-travelling Pro-solar mechanic who goes on science-fiction flavored adventures in the early issues. Maggie along with Hopey were ranked #95 on Wizard Magazine's 200 Greatest Comic Book Characters of all time.
- Esperanza Leticia "Hopey" Glass: sharp-tongued, wild and adventurous best friend of Maggie. Portrayed usually as a lesbian. Plays bass very poorly in a series of punk bands.
- Beatríz "Penny Century" García: bombshell friend to Maggie/Hopey and wife of the ridiculously wealthy H.R. Costigan.
- Isabel "Izzy" Reubens: Friend/mentor to Maggie. A writer who suffers a nervous breakdown after a divorce/abortion, becoming a notorious "witch lady" in Maggie's hometown.
- Daphne "Daffy" Matsumoto: a rich young friend of Maggie and Hopey who is a prominent supporting character in the early comics, but later goes off to college.
- Ray Dominguez: one of Maggie's boyfriends, a painter. Jaime follows his life from Hoppers to LA.
- Doyle Blackburn: Ray's childhood friend, who struggles with a history of violence.
- Rena Titañon and Vicki Glori: stars of the Mexican women wrestling world. Rena is Maggie's friend. Rival Vicki is Maggie's aunt.
- Danita Lincoln: Maggie's coworker at Vandy's. She dates Ray after Maggie leaves town; also works as a stripper with Doyle's girlfriend Lily.
- H.R. Costigan: horned billionaire who has on-again, off-again affair with Penny Century.
- Terry Downe: talented, coldly pretty guitar player who still pines for ex-girlfriend Hopey.
- Rand Race: handsome, world-famous pro-solar mechanic who hires Maggie and takes her on adventures, oblivious to her crush on him.
- Eulalio "Speedy" Ortiz: Isabel's brother, a member of the local "Hoppers" gang, shared a mutual crush on Maggie until his untimely death.
- Vivian "Frogmouth" Solis: a troublemaking stripper and aspiring actress that Ray first develops a crush on and then begrudgingly becomes friends with. Separately, she is friends with Maggie.
Gilbert
- LubaLuba (comic book character)Luba is a comic book character created by Los Bros Hernandez, featured mainly in the Love and Rockets series by these authors. She first appeared in "BEM", found in the Love and Rockets collection "Music for Mechanics."...
: hammer-wielding, sexually promiscuous, enormously busty, no-nonsense mayor of Palomar. - Luba's children: Maricela, Guadalupe, Doralis, Casimira, Socorro, Joselito, Concepcion.
- Luba's lovers: Archie, Khamo, Peter, Jose.
- Ofelia: Luba's cousin who helped raise her and her children.
- Heraclio and Carmen: a loving couple who served as central characters for many early Palomar stories.
- Israel, Satch, Vincete, Jesús: Heraclio and Pipo's childhood gang of friends.
- Chelo: sheriff of Palomar, midwife who delivered many of the main characters.
- Pipo, Gato, Sergio: beautiful, vain Pipo; her angry but devoted husband Gato, and her son (by Manuel) Sergio. a world-famous soccer star.
- Tonantzín Villasenor: beautiful, hard-partying Palomar girl who becomes passionately politically active.
- Manuel and Soledad: friends/lovers/rivals, stars of the first Palomar story "Heartbreak Soup"
- Fritz, Petra, Venus: Fritz and Petra are Luba's long-lost half-sisters who share her voluptuous figure and penchant for adventure. Venus is Petra's precocious, comics-loving daughter.
- María: Luba's mother, who abandoned her when she was a toddler. Emigrated to United States and became mother to Fritz and Petra.
- Errata Stigmata: a somewhat surreal character who develops stigmataStigmataStigmata are bodily marks, sores, or sensations of pain in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus, such as the hands and feet...
as a reaction to severe emotional trauma. Her first appearance was in "Radio Zero" and her origin is told in "Tears from Heaven".
Landmark stories
This list provides an example of the types of stories that helped Love and Rockets gain critical acclaim.Jaime
- Mechanics - the original "Maggie the mechanic" story, in which Maggie travels to Africa with a group of Pro-solar mechanics and becomes caught in the middle of a political revolution. Introduced Jaime's striking artwork and confident storytelling style.
- The Death of Speedy Ortiz- Jaime moves away from the "Maggie the mechanic" stories to permanently settle on adventures in Maggie's personal life. Maggie's longtime crush Speedy commits suicide. She also begins dating the understated artist Ray.
- Flies on the Ceiling - The story of Isabel Reuben's nervous breakdown in Mexico, where she moves after having an abortion and a divorce.
- Wigwam Bam - Hopey leaves Maggie and her hometown of Hoppers to find adventures, dealing with being too old for her punk rock lifestyle.
- Home School - Using PeanutsPeanutsPeanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, which ran from October 2, 1950, to February 13, 2000, continuing in reruns afterward...
and Dennis the MenaceDennis the Menace (U.S.)Dennis the Menace is a daily syndicated newspaper comic strip originally created, written and illustrated by Hank Ketcham. It debuted on March 12, 1951 in 16 newspapers and was originally distributed by Post-Hall Syndicate...
inspired artwork, Jaime tells the story of toddler Maggie and slightly-older Isabel becoming friends under the shadow of fighting parents. - The Ghost of Hoppers - Grown-up Maggie, now an apartment manager in the San Fernando valley, sees visions of ghosts after a creepy visit from Isabel (from Love and Rockets Vol. 2).
Gilbert
- Heartbreak Soup - First Palomar story. Tells the story of notorious ladies' man Manuel, and his affair with beautiful 14-year-old Pipo, and its effect on his friendship with repressed misanthrope Soledad.
- An American in Palomar - A self-important American photographer tries to frame Palomar as a downtrodden, poverty-stricken town to further his own career.
- For the Love of Carmen - A one-issue meditation on the marriage of Heraclio and Carmen Calderon, citizens of Palomar.
- Human Diastrophism - Palomar's residents hunt for a serial killer as Luba finds herself helplessly in love with a young construction worker, and hard-partying Tonantzin becomes politically active. Published in book form under the title Blood of Palomar.
- Love and Rockets X - Mostly set outside of Palomar, a young, white garage band named Love and Rockets runs into racism between blacks and whites; as well as clashes between rich and poor through Los Angeles. Set near the time of the 1992 riots. Tangentally inspired by how the actual English band Love and RocketsLove and Rockets (band)Love and Rockets were an English alternative rock band formed in 1985 by former Bauhaus members Daniel Ash , David J , and Kevin Haskins . Former Bauhaus vocalist Peter Murphy had embarked on a solo career after Bauhaus split in 1983...
got their name from this comics series. - Poison River - An immensely complex story of Luba's pre-Palomar life. Details a complex plot involving the Mexican government, the mob, transsexuals, racist comic books and Luba's beauty queen mother Maria.
Graphic novels and collections
All published at FantagraphicsFantagraphics Books
Fantagraphics Books is an American publisher of alternative comics, classic comic strip anthologies, magazines, graphic novels, and the adult-oriented Eros Comix imprint...
:
- Music for MechanicsMusic for MechanicsMusic for Mechanics is the first album of the American comics series Love and Rockets written and drawn by Los Bros Hernandez and published in 1985.The cover of the compilation is by Jaime Hernandez and the preface by Carter Scholz.-Contents:...
, by Los Bros Hernandez*, October 1985, ~140 pages
(* principally GilbertGilbert HernandezGilberto Hernández, born February 1, 1957, in Oxnard, California, usually credited as Gilbert Hernandez and also known by the nickname Beto , is an American comics writer/artist...
& JaimeJaime HernandezJaime Hernandez is the co-creator of the black & white independent comic book Love and Rockets .-Early life:...
Hernandez; some pages by MarioMario HernandezMario Hernandez is an American writer, artist, and sometime publisher of comics. Along with his younger brothers Gilbert and Jaime he co-created the acclaimed independent comic book Love and Rockets.- Biography :...
)
Preface by Carter ScholzCarter ScholzCarter Scholz is a speculative fiction author and composer of music. He has published several works of short fiction and two novels . He has been nominated for the Hugo and Nebula Award for Best Novelette... - Chelo’s BurdenChelo’s BurdenChelo’s Burden is the second album of the American comics series Love and Rockets written and drawn by Los Bros Hernandez and published in 1986.The cover of the compilation is by Gilbert Hernandez and the preface by Gary Groth.- Contents :...
, by Los Bros Hernandez, June 1986, ~150 pages
Preface by Gary GrothGary GrothGary Groth is an American comic book editor, publisher and critic. He is editor-in-chief of The Comics Journal and a co-founder of Fantagraphics Books.-Early life:... - Las Mujeres PerdidasLas Mujeres PerdidasLas Mujeres Perdidas is the third album of the American comics series Love and Rockets written and drawn by Los Bros Hernandez, Gilbert and Jaime, and published in 1987....
, by Los Bros Hernandez (only Gilbert and Jaime), August 1987, ~140 pages - Tears from HeavenTears from HeavenTears from Heaven is the fourth album of the American comics series Love and Rockets written and drawn by Los Bros Hernandez, Gilbert and Jaime, and published in 1988.The cover of the compilation is by Gilbert Hernandez, the back cover by Jaime...
, by Los Bros Hernandez (Gilbert and Jaime; one cover reproduction by Mario), January 1988, ~125 pages - House of Raging WomenHouse of Raging WomenHouse of Raging Women is the fifth album of the American comics series Love and Rockets written and drawn by Los Bros Hernandez, Gilbert and Jaime, and published in 1988....
, by Los Bros Hernandez (only Gilbert and Jaime from now on), September 1988, ~125 pages - Duck Feet, by Los Bros Hernandez, September 1988, ~125 pages
- The Death of Speedy, by Jaime HernandezJaime HernandezJaime Hernandez is the co-creator of the black & white independent comic book Love and Rockets .-Early life:...
, November 1989, ~125 pages - Blood of Palomar, by Gilbert HernandezGilbert HernandezGilberto Hernández, born February 1, 1957, in Oxnard, California, usually credited as Gilbert Hernandez and also known by the nickname Beto , is an American comics writer/artist...
, December 1989, ~125 pages - Flies on the Ceiling, by Los Bros Hernandez (principally Jaime), October 1991, ~110 pages
- X, by Gilbert Hernandez, July 1993, ~90 pages
- Wigwam Bam, by Jaime Hernandez, March 1994, ~125 pages
- Poison River, by Gilbert Hernandez, September 1994, ~190 pages
- Chester Square, by Jaime Hernandez, July 1996, ~155 pages
- Luba Conquers the World, by Gilbert Hernandez, December 1996, ~130 pages
- Hernandez Satyricon, by Los Bros Hernandez (MarioMario HernandezMario Hernandez is an American writer, artist, and sometime publisher of comics. Along with his younger brothers Gilbert and Jaime he co-created the acclaimed independent comic book Love and Rockets.- Biography :...
, GilbertGilbert HernandezGilberto Hernández, born February 1, 1957, in Oxnard, California, usually credited as Gilbert Hernandez and also known by the nickname Beto , is an American comics writer/artist...
& JaimeJaime HernandezJaime Hernandez is the co-creator of the black & white independent comic book Love and Rockets .-Early life:...
Hernandez), August 1997, ~110 pages - Whoa Nellie!, by Jaime Hernandez, June 2000, ~70 pages
- Fear of Comics, by Gilbert Hernandez, October 2000, ~120 pages
- Locas in Love, by Jaime Hernandez, October 2000, ~120 pages (End of Volume 1)
- Luba in America ("Luba", Tome 1), by Gilbert Hernandez, 2001, ~165 pages (Starts with Volume 2)
- Dicks and Deedees, by Jaime Hernandez, June 2003, ~90 pages
- The Book of Ofelia ("Luba", Tome 2), by Gilbert Hernandez, December 2005, ~250 pages
- Ghost of Hoppers, by Jaime Hernandez, December 2005, ~120 pages
- Three Daughters ("Luba", Tome 3), by Gilbert Hernandez, August 2006, ~140 pages
- The Education of Hopey Glass, by Jaime Hernandez, April 2008, ~130 pages (End of Volume 2)
- High Soft Lisp, by Gilbert Hernandez, April 2010, ~140 pages
Re-releases
Volume 1 was re-released in smaller "omnibus" style trade paperbacks. Starting in 2010, volume 2's stories began getting re-releases as well.- Maggie the Mechanic, by Jamie Hernandez (Locas Book 1, from Volume I) -272 pages
- The Girl from H.O.P.P.E.R.S., by Jamie Hernandez (Locas Book 2, from Volume I) -272 pages
- Perla la Loca, by Jamie Hernandez (Locas Book 3, from Volume I) -288 pages
- Heartbreak Soup, by Gilbert Hernandez (Palomar Book 1, from Volume I) -288 pages
- Human Diastrophism, by Gilbert Hernandez (Palomar Book 2, from Volume I) -288 pages
- Beyond Palomar, by Gilbert Hernandez (Palomar Book 3, from Volume I) -256 pages
- Amor Y Cohetes, by Jamie & Gilbert Hernandez (Non-Loca and Palomar comics from Volume I) -280 pages
- Penny Century, by Jamie Hernandez (Locas Book 4, from "Penny Century" and "Whoa, Nellie!" comics, plus "Maggie and Hopey Color Fun") -240 pages
- Esperanza, by Jamie Hernandez (Locas Book 5) -248 pages
Hardcovers
Edited segments of both the Palomar and the Maggie stories are available in hardcover format.- Locas: The Maggie and Hopey Stories
- Locas II: Maggie, Hopey, and Ray
- Palomar: The Heartbreak Soup Stories
- Luba
New stories
The series continues in annual trade paperbacks, entitled Love & Rockets: New Stories. To date, four exist:- New Stories, volume 1, 112 pages (2008)
- New Stories, volume 2, 104 pages (2009)
- New Stories, volume 3, 104 pages (2010)
- New Stories, volume 4, 104 pages (2011)
External links
- The Love and Rockets page at Fantagraphics
- A chronology, character list, and many links to reviews and other fan pages
- A review of L&R at PopMatters
- Shelf Life is a Sequart column that often reviews early Love and Rockets books.
- A review of Gilbert's L&R spinoff New Tales of Old Palomar #1 at The Daily Cross Hatch, from March 15, 2007
- Interview with Gilbert Hernandez at The Daily Cross Hatch, from April 2, 2007
- Interview with Gilbert Hernandez, Part 2 at The Daily Cross Hatch, from May 1, 2007
- Xicanosmosis A cultural studies essay examining the relationship between the work of Frida KahloFrida KahloFrida Kahlo de Rivera was a Mexican painter, born in Coyoacán, and perhaps best known for her self-portraits....
and Gilbert Hernandez