The Four Color Media Monitor

KENS-5 did a report on a comic by a guy in southern Texas drawing on Latino heritage titled "Bloodline":

Books have the power to change people, comic books included, and one Alice native is making his mark in the comic book world.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to have my own my book,” Lino Placencio, writer and creator of the “Bloodline” comic book said.

Placencio was born and raised in Alice, Texas and grew up loving theatre, superheroes, and comic books.

Placencio attended Texas A&M University-Kingsville where he received his bachelor’s and master’s.

While attending college Placencio appeared on the university’s radio broadcast program where he talked about the latest superhero movie, comic books, video games and according to him “anything nerdy and fun.”

But Placencio always wanted to create his own comic book and finally decided to give it a try.

The first issue of “Bloodline” took 5 years to create. Placencio said the first four years was simply planning and adapting to changes and the last year was actually getting the comic onto paper and publishing it.

He said it was a constant rewriting process and he learned a lot along the way.

“You have to think about plotlines, characters, backgrounds. It needs to make sense,” he said.

Placencio said his comic book started from an idea he had while driving in his car.

He and his fiancé Isabel Perez were joking about silly ideas for comic books but soon the conversation turned serious, and they realized their ideas weren’t silly they were good.

Placencio transformed that small idea into a story which eventually transformed into “Bloodline” issue one.

“I took the best idea that I felt resonated with me not only as just a comic book fan but just as a person,” Placencio said.

“Bloodline” follows a teenage girl named Kassandra who was given a special necklace from her grandmother. Kassandra soon realizes the necklace gives her power depending on whose blood it touches. Kassandra must learn what this power means while keeping it hidden from people who want to take it away.

Kassandra’s necklace was influenced by one of Placencio’s favorite comic book characters Green Lantern. There’s also lots of subtle hints to Hispanic culture and traditions.

Placencio said Kassandra’s grandmother, Abuela, reflects his own grandmothers and mother. He thinks of Abuela as a guide and teacher to Kassandra similar to Mr. Miyagi from "The Karate Kid." He remembers spending lots of time with his grandparents when he was young and listening to the valuable lessons they passed down.

Well this is a good way to convey customs and traditions, through a creator-owned comic for starters. And he's correct that how you do it needs plausibility. With the way the Big Two are now run, that's not possible. It's better to develop projects like these as independents. And not act like mainstream superhero fare is the sole way you can convey these ideas.

Labels: history, indie publishers, science