Mictlantecuhtli (comics)
Encyclopedia
Mictlantecuhtli is a fictional character
appearing in the independent comic book series, El Muerto: The Aztec Zombie, published under the Los Comex imprint. Based on the god of the same name
from Aztec mythology
and created by Javier Hernandez, the character made his first appearance
in the first issue of El Muerto titled "Daze of the Dead: The Numero Uno Edition" in 1998.
He, along with Tezcatlipoca, hatched a plot in order to regain his throne. Eventually, their plans led them to kidnap 21-year-old Diego de la Muerte.
Diego was a Mexican-American living in Whittier, California. He was anticipating the upcoming Dia de Los Muertos festival and had purchased an undead Mariachi
suit. He also applied the traditional facial markings and had recently gotten a tattoo for the occasion. The tattoo was of a skull or Calavera
of sorts inspired by a design on an Aztec temple.
Little did Diego know, the tattoo was actually an ancient death symbol and paid homage to the god of death. While driving to the festival, he is struck by lightning and veers off the road into a tree. The crash ended his life on this world.
He soon awakened in Mictlan to be sacrificed in an ancient ritual, in which his heart is ripped out with an obsidian blade and placed in a clay pot. Surprisingly, Tezcatlipoca attempted to delay or even prevent the sacrifice. He offered to test the brightness of Diego's flame to be sure- but the god of death could not be reasoned with and continued with the ritual as planned. After tearing Diego's still beating heart out of his chest, Mictlantecuhtli burnt his facial markings into his face. Afterward, Diego was returned to earth via lighting bolt, exactly one year after his death.
written and directed by writer-director Brian Cox with Javier Hernandez as the associate-producer.
In the film, Mictlantecuhtli is depicted as a large skeletal figure, wearing more traditional Aztec attire than his comic book incarnation and speaking entirely in Nahuatl
. Just as in the comic book, Mictlantecuhtli personally performs the ritual sacrifice upon Diego. However, the ritual portrayed in the film was dedicated to Tezcatlipoca
, who plays a more prominent role to the film's plot.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
appearing in the independent comic book series, El Muerto: The Aztec Zombie, published under the Los Comex imprint. Based on the god of the same name
Mictlantecuhtli
Mictlantecuhtli , in Aztec mythology, was a god of the dead and the king of Mictlan , the lowest and northernmost section of the underworld. He was one of the principal gods of the Aztecs and was the most prominent of several gods and goddesses of death and the underworld...
from Aztec mythology
Aztec mythology
The aztec civilization recognized a polytheistic mythology, which contained the many deities and supernatural creatures from their religious beliefs. "orlando"- History :...
and created by Javier Hernandez, the character made his first appearance
First appearance
In comic books and other stories with a long history, first appearance refers to the first occurrence to feature a fictional character.-Monetary value of first appearance issues:...
in the first issue of El Muerto titled "Daze of the Dead: The Numero Uno Edition" in 1998.
Fictional character history
The Aztec god of death, Mictlantecuhtli, was displeased at the outcome of the Spanish Conquest. The rebirth of Mexico left the gods behind and removed him from his seat of power.He, along with Tezcatlipoca, hatched a plot in order to regain his throne. Eventually, their plans led them to kidnap 21-year-old Diego de la Muerte.
Diego was a Mexican-American living in Whittier, California. He was anticipating the upcoming Dia de Los Muertos festival and had purchased an undead Mariachi
Mariachi
Mariachi is a genre of music that originated in the State of Jalisco, in Mexico. It is an integration of stringed instruments highly influenced by the cultural impacts of the historical development of Western Mexico. Throughout the history of mariachi, musicians have experimented with brass, wind,...
suit. He also applied the traditional facial markings and had recently gotten a tattoo for the occasion. The tattoo was of a skull or Calavera
Calavera
The word calavera, Spanish for "skull", can refer to a number of cultural phenomena associated with the Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead and the Roman Catholic holiday All Souls Day....
of sorts inspired by a design on an Aztec temple.
Little did Diego know, the tattoo was actually an ancient death symbol and paid homage to the god of death. While driving to the festival, he is struck by lightning and veers off the road into a tree. The crash ended his life on this world.
He soon awakened in Mictlan to be sacrificed in an ancient ritual, in which his heart is ripped out with an obsidian blade and placed in a clay pot. Surprisingly, Tezcatlipoca attempted to delay or even prevent the sacrifice. He offered to test the brightness of Diego's flame to be sure- but the god of death could not be reasoned with and continued with the ritual as planned. After tearing Diego's still beating heart out of his chest, Mictlantecuhtli burnt his facial markings into his face. Afterward, Diego was returned to earth via lighting bolt, exactly one year after his death.
Film adaptation
Mictlantecuhtli appears in the 2007 live-action film El MuertoEl Muerto (film)
El Muerto is a live-action independent film adaptation of the comic book series, El Muerto: The Aztec Zombie created by Javier Hernandez...
written and directed by writer-director Brian Cox with Javier Hernandez as the associate-producer.
In the film, Mictlantecuhtli is depicted as a large skeletal figure, wearing more traditional Aztec attire than his comic book incarnation and speaking entirely in Nahuatl
Nahuatl
Nahuatl is thought to mean "a good, clear sound" This language name has several spellings, among them náhuatl , Naoatl, Nauatl, Nahuatl, Nawatl. In a back formation from the name of the language, the ethnic group of Nahuatl speakers are called Nahua...
. Just as in the comic book, Mictlantecuhtli personally performs the ritual sacrifice upon Diego. However, the ritual portrayed in the film was dedicated to Tezcatlipoca
Tezcatlipoca (Los Comex)
Tezcatlipoca is a fictional character appearing in the independent comic book, El Muerto: The Aztec Zombie, created by Javier Hernandez and published under his privately-owned imprint, Los Comex...
, who plays a more prominent role to the film's plot.