Las 100 Razones Por Las Cuales No Existen Superhéroes Mexicanos

Hi There! — ¡Hola-Hola!

2009-03-22T22:47:00.003-06:00

English
Welcome!
You've just arrived at The 100 Reasons Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes,a series of 100 cartoons about...duh...why there ain't no Mexican super-heroes.
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Español
¡Bienvenid@!
Acabas de llegar a Las 100 Razones Por Las Cuales No Existen Superhéroes Mexicanos,una serie de 100 cartones cómicos acerca de...duh...porqué no existen superhéroes mexicanos.
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Razón #100

2008-04-09T22:40:00.005-05:00

Translation:
(The last one and off we go...)
-Reason Nº 100 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes... (and if I didn't draw all the characters I should,it's because I can't swipe them all and can't make all of them fit [in this space]...
Cyclops —That damn Daredevil! Since he's published by Cygnus he delays so much that he has too much leisure time...
Superman —Yup...but you can't deny that he has some awesome gray tones... —Do you know the bus schedules to Monterrey?
Robin —Batman,finally are we going to cheer the Atlas [team]?
Batman —Nope Robin,we are going to do the same thing we do every night:going for a drink at the Tetona's Palace!
Robin note —(this is not by) Trino
Batman note —(neither this is by) Jis
Spawn —My scripts are written by McFarlane and I'm drawn by Rius...no,I'm not happy
Spawn note —(this is Spawn even though he doesn't look like)
Witchblade —When I'm dead I wanna be vacuum packed,no matter if I'm not warned;in a ground that's isolated.
Samy —Mmmh...I dunno,I think I don't like this new Witchblade at all
Doriancito —And how about if she were drawn by Quezada of El Mil Chistes fame?
Asti —And how you doing with your new writer,Spider-man?
Spider-man —So so...but the thing I still can't understand is why my uncle Ben grew a beard and now shows up every time...
Uncle Ben —Peter,every power comes with great responsability;smile and the Force will be with you...don't stop dreaming...don't let me down,my nephew...bla-bla-bla...
Robby —No,I'm not a new Sentinel...
Green Lantern —Yes mister editor,I do know that you know what sells best and that I signed an exclusivity for life with the Ejea imprint,but please understand that I'm Green Lantern and I'M A MAN!
Outside voice #1 —[Show your lower] Hair! [Show your lower] Hair!
Outside voice #2 —Shake that booty,little mamma!

Notes in English
And for the final cartoon in the series,I thought about poking some fun at the state of Mexican comic books.

Cygnus was an indy imprint and comic book studios headquartered in the city of Monterrey.They published their books almost exclusively in black and white,but they also were among the first Mexican comic book artists in using computer graphic effects and so their books had these swell grayscales.A lot of aspiring artists wanted to be like them,even though they delayed a lot in publishing their books (they were said to be monthly titles,but sometimes delayed up to 8 months between each issue).Cygnus disbanded after some time,but many of their former members are currently working professionally in the American market.

Batman are Robin are drawn in the styles of cartoonists Jis and Trino.They became famous thanks to their creation,El Santos,a parody of El Santo,the most famous Mexican luchador.El Santos was kind of a unrefined and cynical version of El Santo.Trino is a big fan of Batman,and his favorite soccer team is the Atlas.
And the Tetona's Palace was the name of a nude bar in the comics of El Santos.

Rius is the name of a political cartoonist.He has published a lot of didactic books,both about politics and many other topics.He's a brilliant writer but his drawing abilities are somewhat limited (in fact,in his books he uses mostly a collage technique with lots of clipart).The idea of him drawing Spawn is a very ironic one,as Rius doesn't like American mainstream superheroes.

Witchblade is drawn here as if she were Buba,a cult underground character created by Jose Quintero.He has a gorgeus style and makes comics that mix existentialist philosophy with poetry.Of course,not the kind of style you'd expect in a Witchblade comic.
Quezada is a humorist that used to work in the Mil Chistes (Thousand Jokes) series.That title was aimed to adults mostly,so Quezada and many other of the artists working there had to draw sexy women.

Spider-man's uncle Ben is actually Katnatek,a ghost character from the Mexican series Karmatron.In that book,this character was kind of the local Obi-Wan,as he only showed up to give some advices to the protagonists —advices that actually were aimed to the readers and most of the times usually seemed like motivational messages.The small robot is also from that series and was a very annoying comic relief.

Ejea was a local imprint known mostly for its soft-porn comics,usually titled as 'Sensacional de...' (Sensational [book] of...).It was despised by many readers of American super-hero comics.

Notas en Español
Y para el cartón final de la serie,se me ocurrió burlarme un poco del estado de los comics mexicanos.

Cygnus era un estudio y sello editorial indy con base en la ciudad de Monterrey.Publicaban sus títulos casi exclusivamente a blanco y negro,pero también estuvieron entre los primeros artistas de comic mexicano en usar efectos gráficos de computadora así que sus comics tenían unas buenas escalas de grises.Varios aspirantes a artistas querían ser como ellos,aún cuando se tardaban demasiado en publicar sus comics (decían que eran mensuales,pero a veces se tardaban hasta 8 meses entre cada número).Cygnus se desbandó tras algún tiempo,pero varios de sus antiguos miembros actualmente se desempeñan profesionalmente en el mercado norteamericano.

Batman y Robin están dibujados en los estilos de los humoristas Jis y Trino.Ellos se volvieron famosos gracias a su creación,El Santos,una parodia de El Santo,el más famoso luchador mexicano.El Santos era algo así como la versión guarra y cínica de El Santo.Trino es un gran fan de Batman,y su equipo favorito de soccer es el Atlas.
Y el Tetona's Palace era el nombre de un bar nudista en los comics de El Santos.

Rius es el nombre de un humorista político.Ha publicado muchos libros didácticos,tanto de política como de muchos otros tópicos.Es un escritor brillante pero sus habilidades para el dibujo son algo limitadas (de hecho,en sus libros usa principalmente una técnica de collage con montones de clipart).La idea de que el dibujase Spawn es una muy irónica,pues no le agradan los superhéroes mainstream estadounidenses.

Witchblade está dibujada aquí como si fuera Buba,un personaje underground de culto creado por José Quintero.El tiene un bellísimo estilo y hace comics que mezclan filosofía existencialista con poesía.Por supuesto,no es la clase de estilo que uno esperaría ver en un comic de Witchblade.
Quezada es un humorista que solía trabajar en el título de El Mil Chistes.Ese título estaba dirigido principalmente a adultos,así que Quezada y varios otros de los artistas que trabajaban ahí tenían que dibujar mujeres sexys.

El tío Ben de Spider-man es en realidad Katnatek,un personaje fantasma de la serie mexicana Karmatron.En ese título,este personaje era algo así como el Obi-Wan local,pues sólo se aparecía para darles consejos a los protagonistas —consejos que en realidad iban dirigidos a los lectores y que las más de las veces solían parecer más bien mensajes motivacionales.El pequeño robot es también de esa serie y era un patiño cómico muy enfadoso.

Ejea era una editorial local conocida principalmente por sus comics soft-porno,usualmente titulados como 'Sensacional de...'.Era repudiada por muchos lectores de comics de superhéroes estadounidenses.

Razón #99

2008-04-08T13:40:00.002-05:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 99 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
—Guest creators (even though they don't know it,and if they find out they'll sue me,so let's not say anything else):Peter David,Dan Jurgens and Joe Rubinsten!! (how about that?)
Nightwing —Hey! What a dirty trick! —You see? I told you to use the club
Voice from the Batmobile —Finders keepers!
Doriancito —Gee,that's not good,uh? I mean to piratize other authors' works;and why do that here?
Samy —Don't you know that "piracy is only bad when you get caught"? Besides,Don't you know that fill-in artists only show up when the titular artist takes a break and prepares something else? —So don't complain and hurry up or we'll be late for the reason Nº 100!

Notes in English
A friend suggested me to draw something about the Batmobile being stolen,but then I remembered that a similar situation was already used in issue #2 of the DC vs Marvel crossover.So,instead of making a bad copy of that joke I decided to show it with a xerox instead.And as Samy pointed out,I needed a small break before the series finale.

Notas en Español
Un amigo me sugirió que dibujara algo respecto al atimóvil siendo robado,pero luego recordé que una situación similar ya había sido usada en el episodio #2 de el crossover DC vs Marvel.Así que en vez de hacer una mala copia de ese chiste,decidí mejor mostrarlo con una fotocopia.Y como Samy acotó,necesitaba un descanso antes del final de la serie.

Razón #98

2008-04-07T21:32:00.002-05:00

Translation:
Caption —The place:The Charco de las Ranas Restaurant,on the Periferico [beltway]
The moment:The death of Superman (Who did expect? Paco Stanley,maybe?)
-Reason Nº 98 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
Jimmy Olsen —You gotta believe me!! I didn't kill him,and if I was in the restroom it was because I wanted to take a dump! Ask the TV hostess!!
Asti —Yeah,right,that's what everyone says...now move,you damn Jimmy Olsen!
Lois Lane —Booo!! Clark...tell me something...please!!
Superman —I won't...ever...return...to this...place!
Mulder —Superman was killed by an alien conspiracy! I've got photos of the UFOs as proof!
Scully —Mulder,Mulder,Mulder...What UFOs? That was your own eye gunk that got stuck to the lens of the camera,you dimwit!
Arrow caption —Check out his long leg,all the better to kick the bucket with...

Notes in English
Another of my favorite cartoons.This one is a big reference to the death of Paco Stanley.

Paco Stanley was a very famous comedian and TV host.
On 7th June,1999,Stanley along with Mario Bezarez and Jorge Gil,both co-hosts of his TV show,when to have an early lunch at the restaurant known as El Charco de las Ranas (The Pond of the Frogs),located on Periferico beltway.When they were leaving,Bezares said he needed to go the restroom and that it would take some time,so it would be better if Stanley and Gilwaited for him outside in their car.But when they were in the car,3 men showed up and started shooting at them with high caliber weapons.Paco Stanley died,but Jorge Gil only got wounded along with some bystanders.

With over 20 gunshots against him,it was clear that Stanley's death was some kind of vengeance.The main suspect was Mario Bezares,because he stood in the restroom as if he knew the hitmen would be waiting outside.Also,Stanley used to humiliate him a lot with his jokes on their TV show and there also were some rumors that his son (Bezares') was actually Stanley's.
Then when the police found that Stanley had connections with drug-dealers,a whole conspiracy theory was created.It was said that Bezares made a deal with a drug lord,and then planned the assasination with the help of an ex-con known as "El Cholo" and Paola Durante,a TV hostess.The 3 of them were arrested,but because of lack of evidence they got free.

Notas en Español
Otro de mis cartones favoritos.Éste es una enorme referencia a la muerte de Paco Stanley.

Paco Stanley era un famoso comediante y conductor de TV.
El 7 de junio de 1999,Stanley junto con Mario Bezarez y Jorge Gil,ambos co-conductores de su show de TV,fueron a almorzar al restaurante conocido como El Charco de las Ranas,localizado en el circuito vial de El Periférico.Cuando ya se iban,Bezares dijo que necesitaba ir al baño y que iba a tardar,así que mejor era que Stanley y Gil esperaran por él afuera,en su auto.Pero cuando ellos estaban en el auto,3 hombres aparecieron y empezaron a dispararles con armas de alto calibre.Paco Stanley murió,pero Jorge Gil sólo quedó herido junto con algunos testigos.

Con más de 20 plomazos en su contra,era claro que la muerte de Stanley fue algún tipo de venganza.El principal sospechoso fue Mario Bezares,pues se quedó en el baño como si supiera que los asesinos estarían esperando afuera.Además,Stanley solía humillarlo mucho con sus chistes en su show de TV y habían rumores de que su hijo (el de Bezares) era en realidad de Stanley.
Luego fue que la policía descubrió que Stanley tenía nexos con traficantes de drogas,y toda una teoría conspiratoria fue creada.Se decía que Bezares hizo un pacto con un capo de la droga,y luego planeó el asesinato con la ayuda de un ex-convicto conocido como "El Cholo" y la de Paola Durante,una edecán de TV.Los 3 fueron arrestados,pero fueron liberados por falta de pruebas.

Razón #97

2008-04-06T15:00:00.002-05:00

Translation:
Rogue —Aye,Gambit,whut'd ya' say if ah' offered ya' mah' body? Whut do ya' say,mah Frenchy jollyman?
Gambit —J'ai would zay "Non,merci;j'ai already got my own one".Mais j'ai ever need any zpare pieces,j'ai would call vous,sacre!
Punisher —E then they-a blow-a up la mia testa,but now I' m-a here tutto alive and safe.Io no capizco.
Nightcrawler —Ja...This ist vat ist happening:you're just another viktim of der greedy publishermensch,Herr Castle...
Wolverine —Fiddlesticks! Look yo' varmint,ah can kick yer booty ennytime,ennywhar,be it in Marvel vs DC o th' Cerro de la Silla,dadburn right!
Lobo —Whoah,whoah,whoah! Calm waaay down,ya' sissy runt,a'cuz ya' sheeit know dat ah' am de main dude here.Righ on,daddy-o!
Doriancito —What's the deal with the weird accents?
Samy —What did you expect? To hear them talking in Galician language or an Argentinian accent?
-Reason Nº 97 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes (at least with no dialogues of the "Ahm gunna murderize yah,suckah" kind)...

Notes in English
Wacky and stereotyped accents are a common trope in American comic books.But when those books are translated to Spanish in Mexico usually all those accents get lost because many of them are irrelevant in Spanish (like some regional English dialects),and many are involuntarily way too silly because in Spanish they sound very stereotyped.

Translating this cartoon to English was difficult,as foreign accents in Spanish are very different in English.In the original version,Rogue has an accent from Acapulco;Gambit has a very thick French accent;the Punisher has an Italian one;Nightcrawler talks with a German accent;Wolverine talks like a Mexican from Monterrey (The Cerro de la Silla [Saddle Mountain] is located there);and Lobo talks like a hoodlum from Mexico City.

Notas en Español
Los acentos cotorros y estereotipados son un tropo común en los comics estadounidenses.Pero cuando se les traduce al español en México,usualmente todos esos acentos se pierden pues muchos son irrelevantes en castellano (como varios dialectos regionales en inglés),y varios más son de humor involuntario de tan estereotipados que son.

Por si no están familiarizados,Rogue tiene un acento acapulqueño;Gambit tiene un acento francés exagerado;Punisher tiene uno italiano;Nightcrawler habla con acento alemán;Wolverine habla como un mexicano de Monterrey (el Cerro de la Silla se localiza allá);y Lobo habla como un vago callejero de la Ciudad de México.

Razón #96

2008-04-05T10:03:00.002-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 96 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
Jubilee —Hello! I am Jubilee and I'd like to talk about my school! Here I'm studying along with people of my age in a special boarding school! My teacher hangs around in her underwear only and the principal has mutant powers that allow him to manipulate people's minds and...bla-bla-bla-bla!
Left note —(Betcha that when she grows up she'll end up wearing a costume smaller than Vampirella's)
Samy —I know that nobody asked me but,Isn't that the very same tale of the Trevi-Andrade clan?
Right note —"Punished...you did it wrong...you must obey..."
Newspaper —They got caught in Brazil!

Notes in English
This cartoon is from the time when Jubilee was still a member of Generation-X.Back then,Jubilee's teacher was Emma Frost,whose costume always looked like white lingerie.The mentioned principal is,of course,X-men's Professor X.

Now,this cartoon is mostly about the scandal related to the career of pop singer Gloria Trevi.She was very popular in the early '90s but suddenly she stopped showing up in the media.
In 1999,music producer Sergio Andrade was publicly accused of sexually exploiting teenage girls under the fake promises of making them as famous as Trevi (Andrade was her manager).Andrade was supposed to lead a private boarding school for girls when actually keeping said girls as his personal slaves.
Then someone had the idea of playing a Gloria Trevi record backwards and found out a subliminal message where a deep male voice repeated «[You're] Punished...you did it wrong...you must obey».So it was said that Andrade used mind manipulation techniques to lure the girls and the scandal got really big.
Andrade,along with Trevi and another singer named Mary Boquitas fled from Mexico as fugitives accused of exploiting minors.The media started calling them as the Trevi-Andrade clan.Months later the police caught them in Brazil.

Andrade is still in jail,while Trevi got free for lack of evidences against her (in fact she said to be just another victim of Andrade),and started her singing career once again .

Notas en Español
Este cartón es del tiempo en que Jubilee aún era miembro de Generation-X.En aquél entonces,la maestra de Jubilee era Emma Frost,cuyo traje siempre parecía como lencería blanca.El mentado director es,por supuesto,el Profesor X de los X-men.

Ahora bien,este cartón es principalmente acerca del escándalo relacionado con la carrera de la cantante pop Gloria Trevi.Ella fue muy popular a inicios de los 90's pero súbitamente dejó de aparecer en los medios.
En 1999,el productor musical Sergio Andrade fue acusado públicamente de explotar sexualmente a chicas adolescentes bajo promesas falsas de hacerlas tan famosas como la Trevi (Andrade era su manejador).Andrade supuestamente dirigía un internado privado para niñas cuando en realidad mantenía a las chicas como sus esclavas personales.
Luego a alguien se le ocurrió tocar un disco de Gloria Trevi al revés y encontró un mensaje subliminal donde una voz masculina grave repetía «Castigado...lo hiciste mal...debes obedecer».Así que se dijo entonces que Andrade usaba técnicas de manipulación mental para engatuzar a las chicas y el escándalo se volvió realmente grande.
Andrade,junto con Trevi y otra cantante llamada Mary Boquitas huyeron de México como fugitivos acusados de explotación de menores.Los medios empezaron a llamarles como el Clan Trevi-Andrade.Meses más tarde,la policía los capturó en Brasil.

Andrade está aún en prisión,mientras que la Trevi salió libre por falta de pruebas en su contra (de hecho ella dijo ser sólo otra víctima más de Andrade),e inició de nuevo su carrera como cantante.

Razón #95

2008-04-04T15:05:00.002-06:00

Translation:
Batman —You'll see,you rascally son of a naughty mommy!
Azrael Batman —You douche! You're wrecking my manicure!
Asti —Stop! Stop it! Don't you know that the dialogue way is always the best?
Doriancito —Why,but it was exactly like that that they started [fighting]! They sat down to talk about TV,then they followed with politics,and when they reached the topic of soccer the fists started to fly! You'd rather sit down and enjoy the show!!
Snack bag —Potato Chips
-Reason Nº 95 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
This cartoon pokes fun at the KnighFall/KnightQuest/KnightsEnd storyline,but it also satirizes Mexican political correctness.

In Mexico there are a lot of social campaigns sponsored by the government that advocate for 'the dialogue way' as a solution to all differences of opinion.Their intentions are good,but for most Mexicans 'dialogue' means that one single opinion must be imposed over all the others,only because it's the most democratically popular.
Then,in Mexico it is said that it is pollitically correct to always avoid talking about politics and religion so you don't offend anyone because of their personal preferences.But as Doriancito points out,the same can be said about soccer.

Notas en Español
Este cartón es una burla a la historia de KnighFall/KnightQuest/KnightsEnd,pero también es una sátira a la correción política mexicana.

En México hay muchas campañas sociales patrocinadas por el gobierno que abogan por 'el camino del diálogo' como una solución a todas las diferencias de opinión.Sus intenciones son buenas,pero para muchos mexicanos,'diálogo' significa que una sola opinión debe imponerse sobre todas las demás sólo por ser la democráticamente más popular.
Luego,en México se dijo que es políticamente correcto siempre evitar hablar de política y religión para no ofender a nadie por sus preferencias personales.Pero como Doriancito apunta,lo mismo puede decirse respecto al soccer.

Razón #94

2008-04-03T14:38:00.001-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 94 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes... (and reason Nº 1 why Alan Moore works at the U.S.A. and not here...)
Rorschach —Oh dammit! They offed the Comedian! And of natural causes! —And I say that because after falling down from such a great height,naturally he would end up dead! But we'll know who killed him:the murderer always returns to the scene of the crime!
Nite Owl —And then what are we waiting for here?! Let's split before he murderizes us!
Ozymandias —Guess I should have hired the Ear-ripper for this job...
Bubastis —Meow?

Notes in English
For the record,I never liked the Watchmen graphic novel,but I drew this cartoon because many friends asked me to do something with the characters of the book.

El Mocha-Orejas —The Ear-Ripper— was the nickname of Daniel Arizmendi,a kidnapper known for slashing his victims' ears off and sending them (the ears,not the victims) to their families when asking for a very high ransom.He got caught by the police in 1997.

Notas en Español
Para que lo sepan,nunca me gustó la novela gráfica de Watchmen,pero dibujé este cartón porque muchos amigos me pidieron que hiciera algo con los personajes del libro.

El Mocha-Orejas era el mote de Daniel Arizmendi,un secuestrador conocido por cortarles las orejas a sus víctimas para luego mandárselas a sus familias y exigir sumas de rescate muy altas.Fue capturado por la policía en 1997.

Razón #93

2008-04-02T15:14:00.000-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 93 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
House sign —Sabretooth's Little House
Door sign —Please wipe your frigging feet before entering —Thank you
Sabretooth —You say that I must get out with the hands up because I'm surrounded? I don't believe you!
X-men —Ah,you don't? ♫♫♫ The farmer in the dell,the farmer in the dell,hi-ho,the derry-o,the farmer in the dell... ♫♫♫
Note —*Yes,I know that this gag is really,really corny,but I already drew it,so bare with me...

Notes in English
It's a very cheesy cartoon indeed.But you gotta admit that things like this would make X-men stories much more interesting.

Notas en Español
En verdad es un cartón muy ridículo.Pero deben admitir que cosas como éstas harían más interesantes a las historias de los X-men.

Razón #92

2008-04-01T14:43:00.002-06:00

Translation:
Captain America —Hey! How's that I can't get to watch the soccer game because I'm incongruent?
Superman —Exactly! You're dressed with the colors of the Cruz Azul,you're wearing a Chiva rayada 'girdle',the 'A' of the Atlas,and you even more,call yourself Captain America!!
Asti —'s true...and the worst thing is you cheer the Pachuca! And besides of being incongruent you're a dimwit:today's game is Atlante vs Monterrey!
-Reason Nº 92 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
Soccer is the most popular sport in Mexico.And in this cartoon all the references are about soccer teams.
Cruz Azul (Blue Cross) is a team whose uniform is blue and white.
The uniform of the Chivas Rayadas de Guadalajara (Striped goats of Guadalajara) is white with vertical red stripes.
The logo of the Atlas team is a capital letter 'A'.
And the Aguilas del America (Eagles of America),sometimes simply called as The America, is another team.
Pachuca,Atlante and Monterrey are yet another teams.

Notas en Español
El soccer es el deporte más popular en México.Y en este cartón todas las referencias son respecto a equipos de soccer.
El Cruz Azul es un equipo cuyo uniforme es azul con blanco.
El uniforme de las Chivas Rayadas de Guadalajara es blanco con franjas rojas verticales.
El logo de el Atlas es una letra 'A' mayúscula.
Y las Aguilas del América,a veces simplemente llamado como el América,es otro equipo.
Pachuca,Atlante y Monterrey son otros tantos equipos.

Razón #91

2008-03-31T10:15:00.001-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 91 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...(Spank the monkey!)
Tarzan —Come on,confess you son of an ape! Tell me where's hidding your boss,the hooded man! And while you're at it,tell me who killed Jolly Heart!!
Blip —Pepe el Toro is innocent! Pepe el Toro is innocent!
Frame on the wall —Lacandona jungle,Sweet Home
Kala —Gee honey,Don't you think that Tarzan is old enough for us to tell him that he's an adopted son?
Kerchak —No,but if you ask me,I think that all that violence in TV cartoons is starting to affect him!
Doriancito —Hey,what's the deal with the whacky smoke?
Samy —Don't you get it? They're "Gorillas In The Mist"!
Note —(a corny joke,but a honest one)

Notes in English
This is another of my favorite cartoons,basicly because I'm a Tarzan fan.
In Mexico and some parts of Latin America,violent soldiers and police men are sometimes called 'gorillas'. The letters on Kerchak's helmet stand for Policía Judicial del Estado (Judicial Police of the State).And of course,Tarzan is using a typical Mexican police interrogation technique.

Jolly Heart is the name of the trained monkey from the Remi anime series —the original Japanese name of that series is Ie Naki Ko and it's based upon Hector Malot's novel Sans Famille (Without Family).Remi was a huge hit in Mexico in the '80s.

Pepe el Toro (Pepe the Bull) is the main character in the film Nosotros Los Pobres (We The Poor People).In that picture,Pepe is a carpenter that is a acussed of a murder he didn't commit.But when he's in jail,he stumbles upon the real murderer and angrily beats him until he confesses his crime by desperately yelling that «Pepe el Toro is innocent!».

Notas en Español
Este es otro de mis cartones favoritos,básicamente por que soy fan de Tarzan.
En México y parte de Latinoamérica,los policías y soldados violentos son ocasionalmente llamados 'gorilas'.Las letras en el casco de Kerchak significan Policía Judicial del Estado.Y por supuesto,Tarzan está usando una típica técnica de interrogatorio de la policía mexicana.

Corazón Alegre es el nombre del mico entrenado de la serie anime de Remi —el nombre original en japonés de esa serie es Ie Naki Ko y está basada a su vez en la novela Sans Famille (Sin Familia) de Hector Malot.Remi fue un gran éxito en México durante los 80's.

Pepe el Toro es el personaje central del film Nosotros Los Pobres.En esa película,Pepe es un carpintero que es acusado de un asesinato que no cometió.Pero cuando está en la cárcel,se topa con el verdadero asesino y violentamente lo golpea hasta que confiesa su crimen gritando desesperado «¡Pepe el Toro es inocente!».

Razón #90

2008-03-30T22:24:00.004-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 90 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes... (dead men ain't thrown back,the only thing that throws is the belly that doesn't take care of itself against rotten food,yeah!)
Punisher —So what you say little mamma? Your place or my place? Uh?
Elektra —Tee-hee-hee! Gee,I dunno...!
Daredevil —Eh? I don't see it and I don't believe it!! The Punisher and Elektra were dead! And what I understand even less is why they are not in mourning!
Asti —Aw,that's life,my pal...say,Are those horns in your head?
Doriancito —I gathered again these gizmos,Who do we bring back to life now?
Samy —Mmm...let me throw a coin:heads,we bring back Pedro Infante;tails,we give new life to [Gloria] Trevi's career...

Notes in English
If the note below the title sounds cryptic and absurd,it's because is part of the lyrics of the song Pedro Infante Murió (Pedro Infante Is Dead),the Spanish parody version of the tune James Brown Is Dead.You can hear that former song here below.
By the way,Pedro Infante was a very famous mexican singer and actor.After his death he became a cult figure not much different than Elvis Presley.

The caption below the owl is a pun on the name of Sanborn's,a chain of restaurants and apartment stores whose logo is an image of 3 owls.

Of course,this cartoon is mostly about the sillyness of dead superheroes that keep returning to life over and over again.But it became prophetic when right after I drew it,Gloria Trevi (a former pop singer) did return to media.Not in a proffesional way tough —more about that was explored on Reason #96.

Notas en Español
Si la nota bajo el título suena críptica y absurda,es por que es parte de la letra de la canción Pedro Infante Murió,la versión parodia en español de James Brown Is Dead.Pueden escuchar la primer canción acó más abajo.
Dicho sea de paso,Pedro Infante fue un famoso cantante y actor mexicano.Tras su muerte se convirtió en una figura de culto no muy distinta de Elvis Presley.

El letrero bajo del buho es un juego de palabras con el nombre de Sanborn's,una cadena de restaurantes y tiendas departamentales cuyo logo es una imagen de 3 buhos.

Por supuesto,este cartón es principalmente sobre la simplonada que son los superhéroes muertos que regresan a la vida una y otra vez.Pero se volvió profético cuando justo después de que lo dibujé,Gloria Trevi (una ex-cantante pop) de veras regresó a los medios.Aunque no de un modo profesional —más respecto a eso fue explorado en la Razón #96.

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Razón #89

2008-03-29T22:03:00.000-06:00

Translation:
The Thing —Johnny Storm,you piece of [CENSORED!]! Why did you destroy the Four Freedoms Plaza?!
Human Torch —Because today at a press conference Reed said we would start a war WITHOUT QUARTER against crime
Mr. Fantastic —Oh,the humanity!!
Invisible Woman —Don't cry honey,sure they won't delay in sending us some solidary help!!
Asti —That's what you think madam,you're all under arrest for owning a clandestine fireworks depot!
-Reason Nº 89 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
As you can guess from this cartoon's last punchline,in Mexico there are strict laws about illegal fireworks depots.Still,authorities usually don't find them until someone accidentally make them explode.

Notas en Español
Como ya adivinarán por el chiste final de este cartón,en México hay leyes estrictas respecto a depósitos ilegales de fuegos artificiales.Sin embargo,las autoridades usualmente no los encuentran hasta que alguien no los hace explotar accidentalmente.

Razón #88

2008-03-28T15:24:00.002-06:00

Translation:
Sign —National Week of Rabies Vaccination (kids,bring your Pokemon for their vaccines...)
Asti —...next...
Cyclops —Hey,Is there any group discount? I left another five of these out there!
Samy —Only if they are wearing flea collars...
The Beast —Hey dude,you got the wrong Beast!
Nightcrawler —I'm 'scaredy' of syringes!
Wolverine —Grrrr! Grrrrr! And more Grrrr!
-Reason Nº 88 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
Not much to say about this cartoon,except that I always thought it is funny that too many of the mutants in the X-men comics have animalistic features,yet almost no one of them needs any special cares as typical animals do.

Notas en Español
No tengo mucho qué decir sobre este cartón,excepto que siempre se me hizo curioso que muchos de los mutantes en los comics de los X-men tienen rasgos animalezcos,pero casi ninguno de ellos requiere de cuidados especiales como ocurre con los animales típicos.

Razón #87

2008-03-27T14:57:00.002-06:00

Translation:
Ghost Rider —Make way for the Spirit of Vengeance!! Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!!! —My,some people are really crazy! How come this guy is on the road with no safety belt? Outta the way,you nuisance!!
Microbus front sign —That's the way I am...So what?
Voice in the back —Getting off here!
Microbus ad —Drink Duff beer
Doriancito —Is that Ghost Rider? And his bike?
Samy —Oh,he changed it for that microbus as soon as he realized that with it he could get more respect and earn some extra money...
-Reason Nº 87 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes (driving microbuses)...

Notes in English
A microbus is a Mexican public transport.As its name suggests it's like a bus but in a smaller size that lets it move more easily in narrow streets and avenues.Microbus drivers are also known to be quite wild and crazy at driving,because they can move faster than common buses and they're big enough so the other cars don't mess with them.

And then,at least in Mexico City,motorbikes don't mess with cars.In fact,many car drivers don't respect bikers at all.

Notas en Español
Un microbús es un transporte público mexicano.Como su nombre sugiere,es como un autobús sólo que en un tamaño más pequeño,que le permite moverse más fácilmente por calles y avenidas estrechas.Los conductores de microbús son también conocidos por ser bastante salvajes y locos al conducir,pues pueden moverse más rápido que los autobuses comunes y son lo bastante grandes para que los demás autos no se metan con ellos.

Por otra parte,al menos en la Ciudad de México,las motocicletas no se meten con los autos.De hecho,muchos conductores de autos no respetan del todo a los motoristas.

Razón #86

2008-03-26T09:47:00.002-06:00

Translation:
Asti —Come here,come here! Come buy your funny "Ehspaydherman",your imported spider! Amuse kids at parties!! 2 for only $20ºº
Big-eyed Spider-man —Todd,is that you?
Black Spider-man —Help! I tangled myself!
Spider-man —Hey...pst...I'm the original one...say no to piracy,Hey! Listen to me,would you?
Sign —Will swing for ~~money~~ flies
-Reason Nº 86 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
Sergio Aragones and Mark Evanier used the same joke in Sergio Aragones Massacres Marvel,but they used it as a parody of Spider-man's Clone Saga.And I'm using for poking fun at piracy in Mexico.
If you don't recognize the Spider-man with the beard it's because he was a parody character known only in Mexico.His name is La Panza Aracnida (The Arachnid Belly) and he showed up in the comic book of the Spanish pop band Parchis.

Notas en Español
Sergio Aragonés y Mark Evanier usaron el mismo chiste en Sergio Aragones Massacres Marvel,pero ellos lo hicieron como una parodia a la Saga del Clon de Spider-man.Y yo lo usé en burla a la piratería en México.
Si no reconocen al Spider-man barbón es por que fue un caracter paródico conocido sólo en México.Su nombre es La Panza Arácnida y aparecía en el comic de la banda pop española Parchís

Razón #85

2008-03-25T15:20:00.004-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 85 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
Hooded man —You're making a mistake!! I'm not Cobra Commander,I'm the Covered-up One!
Asti —Boo-hoo,cry me a covered-up river then! Your cell at Almoloya awaits for you,Cobra...Or should I call you Cha-Cha-Charlie Perez Pardo*?
Cobra Commander —We made it,my fellow countrymen! Nation sons,race brothers...Who says we can't? >Hur-hur!<
Podium —I hate G.I.Joe
Caption —*This punchline is for Top Cat fans,I hope you catched the reference or I'll out myself as a dork...

Notes in English
From 1929 to 2000,the PRI (Partido Revolucionario Institucional —Institutional Revolutionary Party) wielded presidential power in Mexico.During that time,each new president used to choose himself the next PRI candidate.Said candidate was not revealed to the media during many months until presidential campaigns started.While the identity of the PRI candidate was not revealed,he was nicknamed as El Tapado (The Covered-up One) and political cartoonists depicted him as a man with a white hood —just look at the picture here below.

Almoloya is a high security prison.
Cha-Cha-Charlie Perez Pardo is a pun on the name of Damaso Perez Prado,also known as the King of the Mambo.The pun was originally used in the dubbing of the Top Cat episode 'Farewell,Mr. Dibble',where a young police man tries to arrest the city mayor after he mistakes him for a criminal.In Mexico,Top Cat is a cult series.

Notas en Español
De 1929 al 2000,el PRI (Partido Revolucionario Institucional) detentó el poder presidencial en México.Durante ese tiempo,cada nuevo presidente solía escoger personalmente al siguiente candidato del PRI.Dicho candidato no se revelaba a los medios por varios meses hasta que las campañas presidenciales iniciaban.Mientras la identidad del candidato del PRI no se revelaba,se le apodaba como El Tapado y los cartonistas políticos lo representaban como un hombre con una capucha blanca —sólo chequen la image de más abajo.

Almoloya es una prisión de alta seguridad.
Cha-Cha-Charlie Pérez Pardo es un juego de palabras con el nombre de Dámaso Pérez Prado,también conocido como el Rey del Mambo.El juego de palabras se usó originalmente en el doblaje del episodio de Don Gato 'Farewell,Mr. Dibble',donde un joven policía intenta arrestar al alcalde de la ciudad tras confundirlo con un criminal.En Mexico,Don Gato es una serie de culto.

Razón #84

2008-03-24T23:20:00.002-06:00

Translation:
Angry mob —Lynch them!! —Off with their heads!! —Death! —To the bonfire!! —Exorcise them!! —Death to the demons!! —Stakes are for vampires,not devils,you dimwit!! —Ah,so they are no "Ultras" from the UNAM?
Daredevil —It had to happen! "Oh,guys:let's go visit the Basilica" Dumbass! Ouch!!
Hellboy —Shut up and run,or they'll skin us!
Etrigan —We'd rather flee,than face angry Jesus freaks!!
-Reason Nº 84 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes (not even on Sundays and Holy Week...)

Notes in English
The majority of Mexico's population is catholic,and a lot of people take their religion very seriously.
The Basilica (of Our Lady of Guadalupe) is a huge church located in Mexico City,visited daily by a lot of pilgrims.It is considered as the biggest Catholic sanctuary in all the American continent.

The "Ultras" —short for ultra-leftists— are a political group known for their radical points of view.Most of them are college students from the UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México —in English,National Autonomous University of Mexico).Back in the '90s they gained big notoriety in the media,and many conservative people disliked them a lot.

Notas en Español
La mayoría de la población en México es católica,y mucha gente toma su religión muy en serio.
La Basílica (de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe) es una enorme iglesia localizada en la ciudad de México,visitada diariamente por muchos peregrinos.Es también considerada como el santuario católico más grande del continente americano.

Los "Ultras" —abreviación de ultra-izquierdistas— son un grupo político conocido por sus puntos de vista radicales.La mayoría de ellos son universitarios de la UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México).Allá pore los 90's ganaron gran notoriedad en los medios,y mucha gente conservadora los despreció mucho.

Razón #83

2008-03-23T22:57:00.002-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 83 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
Deathstroke —Die! Die! Die! Die! Die or I'll kill you! —I'm so evil! I scare even me! Nyuk-nyuk!
Asti —Whoah! Darn Deathstroke! And,Did you already bring the Titans here?
Doriancito —That's what I've been trying to tell you hours ago...there were no 'Titans' so I brought Pepsis...Can I keep the spare change?

Notes in English
This is a favorite cartoon of mine,because it features a trigger happy villain —and because of the silly pun in the punchline.

You see,the (Teen) Titans are Deathstroke's enemies,but in Mexico there's a local brand of fruit-flavored soda known as Titan.
(Hey,I told you it was a silly punchline).

Notas en Español
Este es uno de mis cartones favoritos,por que presenta a un villano echando bala a lo loco —y por el simplón juego de palabras en el remate del chiste.

Verán,los (Jóvenes) Titanes [(Teen) Titans] son los enemigos de Deathstroke,pero en México hay una marca local de refresco con sabores frutales,conocida como Titán.
(Hey,les dije que era un remate simplón).

Razón #82

2008-03-22T10:56:00.002-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 82 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes... (and reason Nº 1 why Superman stoped being electric...)
Superman — Let me go,you sickly cute mouse!! I've already told you that I may be electric but I'm not your mom!! Shoo! Shoo!
Lois —♫♫♫O-ooo-oh Cla-aa-aark!♫♫♫ The fuses overloaded and I still need to iron your clothes! So go limp and think about Christmas,'cause there goes the plug!
Arrow caption —Super-Wrinkled clothes
Frame —Fortress Of Solitude,Sweet Home

Notes in English
By the the time I drew this gag in particular,Superman and Lois Lane were married and the former just returned to his classic self after having electric powers —so I kind of visualized why Superman changed his powers again,after being kind of comfortable as a flying electric smurf for quite some time.
Back then,many fans thought that the electric change was a bad idea...but personally I liked it.You know,it was obvious that the Man Of Steel™ wasn't going to be electric forever so there was nothing to worry about it being permanent or something,and anyways,that kind of kitschy sillyness it's what makes super-hero comic books fun.

Notas en Español
Para cuando dibujé este gag en particular,Superman y Lois Lane se casaron y el primero recién había regresado a su fasceta clásica tras haber tenido superpoderes eléctricos —así que más o menos visualicé el porqué cambió de nuevo sus poderes,después de verse un tanto cómodo como un pitufo eléctrico volador después de bastante tiempo.
En aquél entonces,muchos fans pensaron que el cambio eléctrico era una mala idea...pero personalmente me gustó.Ya sabrán,era obvio que el Hombre de Acero™ no hiba a ser eléctrico por siempre así que no había de qué preocuparse por que fuera permanente o algo así,y de todos modos,esa clase de simplonadas kitsch es lo que hace entretenidos los comics de superhéroes.

Razón #81

2008-03-21T10:11:00.002-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 81 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
Iron man —Let's just go! War Machine won't come with us because he's got pubic lice and that can affect his mental health! Damn!
Captain America —Uh? Lice make the skin itchy,but as far as I know they don't make you go insane!
War Machine —Have you ever tried to scratch yourself while wearing one of these armors? The pain!
Samy —Hey,who of you guys asked for a can opener?

Notes in English
You now,I always wondered why superhero costumes don't have pockets or zippers.And that goes double for the superheroes wearing battle armors.

Notas en Español
Ya sabrán,siempre me pregunté porqué es que los trajes de superhéroe no vienen con bolsillos o zippers.Y eso va doble para los superhéroes que usan armaduras de batalla.

Razón #80

2008-03-20T22:02:00.002-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 80 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
Wonder Woman —Grrrrrr...and what are you looking at?
Superman —I-I don't understand! I only told her that she looked pretty!!
Asti —Do the words "menopause","kotex" and "crazy broad" give you any hints? —and I think we'd better get out of here before she starts to 'caress' us with a kitchen knife!
Plate —Acme brand steel plate

Notes in English
Yeah,I know this cartoon is a very sexist one,but Mexico is a very sexist country.
Also,some Mexican women actually use their hormones as an easy excuse when relieving their stress or when they simply don't know how to manage their anger.As I said,it's a very sexist country.

Notas en Español
Sí,ya sé que este cartón es muy sexista,pero México es un país muy sexista.
Aparte,algunas mujeres mexicanas de hecho usan sus hormonas como excusa fácil para aliviar el stress o cuando simplemente no saben controlar su ira.Como dije,es un país muy sexista.

Razón #79

2008-03-19T21:04:00.001-06:00

Translation:
Green Lantern —I know we must preserve our [cultural] roots and that we need to earn an extra buck,but I still feel ridiculous!!
Martian Manhunter —Shut up and keep dancing!
Hulk —Hulk feels tired and wants to go to the restroom...
Green Arrow —1-2-3,cha-cha-cha,1-2-3,cha-cha-cha
Samy —I never thought I would ever see these guys dancing like Aztecs...
Doriancito —Well,I think it's odd noticing that 'Indios Verdes' is right in the middle of the Zocalo!!
-Reason Nº 79 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
The Zocalo is a huge square right in the center of Mexico City.Sometimes you can see there some performers dressed as Aztec warriors and reenacting ancient dances for the tourists.

Way up in the North of Mexico City,right in the limit where Insurgentes avenue becomes a highway connected with the city of Pachuca,there are a subway terminal and a couple of bronze statues in honor of Aztec kings Itzcoatl and Ahuizotl.With the years,the bronze of the statues have become greenish and so people call them Indios Verdes (the Green Indians).Since then,that zone has also become known as Indios Verdes as well.
And then in this cartoon,we've got Green Lantern and Green Arrow dressed as Aztec indians.And of course,the skin of both Hulk and Martian Manhunter is green.It's a very silly pun,I know,but a funny one too,when you're a Mexican.

Notas en Español
El Zócalo es una enorme plaza en el mero centro de la Ciudad de México.A veces es posible ver ahí a danzantes vestidos como guerreros aztecas y recreando bailes antiguos para los turistas.

En el extremo norte de la Ciudad de México,justo en el límite donde avenida Insurgentes se convierte en una carretera conectada con la ciudad de Pachuca,hay una terminal del metro y un par de estatuas en honor de los reyes aztecas Itzcoatl y Ahuizotl.Con los años,el bronce de las estatuas se ha vuelto verdoso y por eso la gente las llama los Indios Verdes.Desde entonces,esa zona también se ha vuelto conocida como Indios Verdes.
Y luego,en este cartón tenemos a Green Lantern y Green Arrow,cuyos trajes son verdes,vestidos de indios aztecas.Y por supuesto,la piel de Hulk y la de Martian Manhunter son verdes.Es una ironía muy boba,ya sé,pero también una muy divertida,si se es mexicano.

Razón #78

2008-03-18T22:42:00.003-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 78 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
Robin —...By the way,I've just noticed that are not wearing the underwear on the outside anymore...Is it because your look is more dark and gritty as in your movies?
Batman —Dark schmark! Thing is that thieves are getting so daring that they have already stolen all my Bat-thongs!
Harley Quinn —So...How much did you pay that crook for Batman's briefs?
The Joker —$500...but I think he cheated me...Look! Here's a racing stripe!

Notes in English
Yup,this cartoon is a homage (or a swipe) of a classic Batman illo by Carmine Infantino.The original image is here below.

When I drew this cartoon,Batman's costume was slightly redesigned in his comics.Basicly they ditched the outside undies and colored him in a dark gray.The change didn't last though,as most people around the world recognize the classic blue and gray costume best.

If you wonder about the 'Ramirez' in the underwear the Joker is holding,well,that's popular Mexican brand of really cheap briefs.

Notas en Español
Sí,este cartón es un homenaje (o plagio) a una ilustración clásica de Batman por Carmine Infantino.La imagen original está justo abajo.

Cuando hice este cartón,el traje de Batman fue ligeramente rediseñado en sus comics.Basicamente botaron los chones de fuera y lo colorearon de gris oscuro.El cambio no duró,pues a la mayoría de la gente alrededor del mundo identifica mejor el traje clásico azul con gris.

Si se preguntan por el 'Ramirez' en la ropa interior que sostiene el Joker,bueno,se trata de una popular marca mexicana de calzoncillos muy baratos.

Razón #77

2008-03-17T21:33:00.002-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 77 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes... (Grandma,what big eyes you have...)
Samy —Whoah! What happened with you Captain Marvel?
Captain Marvel —Nothing,it's just that I haven't worked at anything since 'Kingdom Come',so I hired a new image consultant to improve me with a more commercial look...
—And I don't know,suddenly I crave some sushi...
Note —(Notice that now when he yells 'Shazam!' he doesn't get struck by lightning and he rather shines)
Doriancito —And what about you Green Arrow? New image consultant?
Green Arrow —No! I'm just coming from getting off the microbus!!

Notes in English
This is another favorite of mine.Many people keep telling me that I have a manga style but oddly I don't read much manga at all.Even more,once a professional cartoonist reviewed my art portfolios and then told me: «hey,you draw in a Japanese-like style because you really want to sell more drawings,don't you?».So I thought that at least for once I'd try to really imitate manga style.

A microbus is a Mexican public transport.As its name suggests it's like a bus but in a smaller size that lets it move more easily in narrow streets and avenues.Microbus drivers are also known to be quite wild and crazy at driving,because they can move faster than common buses and they're big enough so the other cars don't mess with them.Sometimes a microbus ride can be like an extreme roller coaster.

Notas en Español
Este es otro de mis favoritos.Mucha gente me dice regularmente que tengo un estilo manga pero lo irónico es que no leo mucho manga del todo.Más aún,una vez un caricaturista profesional revisó mi portafolios de dibujo y me dijo:«hey,dibujas en un estilo como de japonés por que lo que quieres es vender más dibujos,¿verdad?».Así que pense que al menos por una vez intentaría realmente imitar el estilo manga.

Un microbús es un transporte público mexicano.Como su nombre sugiere,es como un autobús sólo que en un tamaño más pequeño,que le permite moverse más fácilmente por calles y avenidas estrechas.Los conductores de microbús son también conocidos por ser bastante salvajes y locos al conducir,pues pueden moverse más rápido que los autobuses comunes y son lo bastante grandes para que los demás autos no se metan con ellos.A veces viajar en microbús puede ser como subirse a una montaña rusa extrema.

Razón #76

2008-03-16T20:50:00.001-06:00

Translation:
Mulder —Scuuullyyy! I know that we always rely on cell phones,but can't we stop using them while we're in the same room? AUXILIO!!!!!
Alien —I saw him first!!
Scully —Speak louder Muldy,seems there's some static in my cell's [signal]! Tell you what:I'll hang up and then I'll be the one dialing,okay? —How was it? First the 5 and then the 4 of the codes...or was it first the 4 and then the 5?
Asti —Cell phones are so passe! Won't you rather buy a beeper?
-Reason Nº 76 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes... (if you make the call,you make the payment...)

Razón #75

2008-03-15T16:52:00.000-06:00

Translation:
Asti —They'll fiiiiiight!! 2 out of 3 rounds with no time limits! In this corner...Daredevil "Diabolic" Murdock!! And in this other corner:Nightwing "Nocturne" Grayson!!
—And don't forget that our next match will be between Wolverine "The Caveman" vs. The Son Of Batman!
-Reason Nº 75 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes... (mask vs. hair!! Cool!)
Samy —No comments...
Doriancito —Aw,don't be like that...so,what? Do we go to the movies after the wrestling?
Poster —Almada & Cardona Present:Batman vs. The Vampire Women

Notes in English
This is another of my personal favorites,simply because I'm a fan of lucha libre (Mexican wrestling).

Back in the '80s,in Daredevil's comic books his name used to be translated as 'Diabólico' (Diabolic),and Nightwing was known as 'Ala Nocturna' (correct translation here).Using their translated names is simply because they sound cool as nicknames if they were luchadores (wrestlers).
Of course,Batman has no sons,but many luchadores do,and said sons usually inherit their fathers' masked identities.

Mask vs. hair is one of the most popular modalities of lucha matches.It features 2 oponents whom bet either his mask or his hair and the loser gets out of the ring either bald or unmasked,depending of each situation.

The tattoo in Nightwing's arm shows his love for the Rudo (Heel) style.

The movie poster is a parody in which Batman has become like El Santo (The Saint),the most popular luchador of them all.Besides fighting in lucha matches,El Santo starred many B-movies.The most popular of all his movies is Santo vs Las Mujeres Vampiro (Santo vs The Vampire Women).

Notas en Español
Este es otro de mis cartones favoritos,nomás por que soy fan de la lucha libre.

En los 80's,en los comics de Daredevil su nombre solía traducirse como 'Diabólico',y Nightwing a su vez era conocido como 'Ala Nocturna'.El uso de sus nombres traducidos es simplemente por que suenan chidos como sobrenombres de luchadores.
Por supuesto,Batman no tiene hijos,pero muchos luchadores sí,y dichos hijos usualmente heredan las identidades enmascaradas de sus padres.

Máscara vs cabellera es una de las modalidades más populares de los encuentros de lucha.Se trata de 2 oponentes que apuestan su máscara o su cabello,y el perdedor abandona el ring o calvo o desenmascarado,según el caso.

El poster de cine es una parodia en donde Batman se ha vuelto similar a El Santo,el luchador más popular de todos.Aparte de pelear en las luchas,El Santo protagonizó varias películas de cine-B.La más conocida de todas sus películas es Santo vs Las Mujeres Vampiro.

Razón #74

2008-03-14T15:28:00.002-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 74 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
Cyclops —>Hic< I'm shorry for whoever shtarted the boozhe shpree...we already got tanked and deshtroyed the whole block he livesh at...
Colossus —But th'one who...got th'party...started,it was you,Cyclops...>Hic<
Asti —The X-men are drunk yet again? They don't let one sleep!
Samy —Uh yeah? Why,I'd like to see you go down there and try scolding them!!
Wolverine —Keep shinging! I finally found where'sh the piñata! >Hic<

Notes in English
So the X-men are supposed to be students,right? Then I wonder how come you never get to see them doing the things common students do,like drinking booze almost every night as if their lives depended on it.

Notas en Español
Y bueno,los X-men se supone son estudiantes,¿cierto? Entonces me pregunto cómo es que nunca se les ve haciendo lo que los estudiantes comunes,como emborracharse casi cada noche como si su vida dependiera de ello.

Razón #73

2008-03-13T10:33:00.002-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 73 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
Jade —Surprise daddy! I'm pregnant...but just a little,ah?
Green Lantern I —Whu-What? AW,Jade,Didn't I told you to protect yourself when you slept with the idi...er,with Kyle?
Green Lantern V —But we did use protection!! It's all Ganthet's fault!
Ganthet —Fault schmault! I told you well that your ring could be used for anything except for making safe condoms...You lacked willpower!
Doriancito —Oh swell...If it's a baby boy can we name him 'Chabelo'?

Notes in English
Fun fact:in Mexico a lot of couples get married because of unplanned pregnacy.Actually some women get pregnant on purpose when they want to marry someone.

Notas en Español
Dato al costo:en México,muchas parejas se casan a causa de embarazos no planeados.De hecho,algunas mujeres se embarazan deliberadamente cuando quieren casarse con alguien.

Razón #72

2008-03-12T20:15:00.004-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 72 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes... (Puk & Suk rule!!)
Captain America —Good and bad news,Namor:the cannibals won't eat us because they are catholics!
Sub-Mariner —Okay...and the bad news are....?
Puk —Today's a Lent Friday!! I want fish wings!
Suk —Sushi! Yummy-yummy!!

Notes in English
In case you're not familiar with catholic rites,during Lent people are supposed to abstain from eating meat on Fridays.For many Mexican catholics that usually means that they must eat fish instead.

Puk and Suk are a couple of surviving Neanderthal brothers,and supporting characters from the Chanoc comic book series.Because of their primitive nature they are cannibals,but they always were very dumb for actually eating anyone.Still,they were some quite funny comic relief characters.

Notas en Español
Si de casualidad no están familiarizados con los ritos católicos,durante la Vigilia de Cuaresma la gente se supone debe abstenerse de comer carne los viernes.Para muchos católicos mexicanos eso usualmente significa que en sustitución deben de comer pescado.

Puk y Suk son una pareja de hermanos neanderthales sobrevivientes,y personajes de apoyo del comic seriado de Chanoc.Por su naturaleza primitiva son caníbales,pero siempre fueron demasiado zonzos para realmente comerse a alguien.Aún así,eran patiños cómicos bastante divertidos.

Razón #71

2008-03-11T18:30:00.001-06:00

Translation:
The Catman —Do you already have Alzheimer or what? That's a Marilyn Manson tune!! Besides,he already appeared in the previous gag...
The Demon —Mmgn-gnam-gnam,mgg...
The Starchild —Gene,what did you said?
Asti —He said he craves his cocol!!
-Reason Nº 71 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes... (face it:the Kiss guys are old-timers...)
El Demon —So what? Do we jump in the bandwagon and reunite the band again?
El Gato,El Kosme & El Galáctico —Naaah,don't be a dope!!!

Notes in English
The rock band Kiss had a lot of fans in Mexico back in the '70s and '80s.When I was child,I liked a lot their visual concept but I never could take their music seriously —it's hard when in a moment you see Gene Simmons as a badass fire-breathing demon and in the next moment you see him singing «doo-doo-doo-doo...» in 'I Was Made For Loving You'.
Anyways,I drew this cartoon per request of some older friends (fans of the band,of course) around the last week of April of 1999 —that's when Kiss visited Mexico City during their Psycho Circus tour.

A cocol —also known as torito— is a type of traditional Mexican bread made only with flour,milk and eggs.Now,voice actor and comedian Jorge "El Tata" Arvizu used to dress himself as a decrepit and grumpy old man whom used to shout the catchphrase «¡Quiero mi cocol!» (I crave my cocol!).The catchphrase became very popular for poking fun on old people.

The other 4 characters in the lower corner are Chiss,a comic book parody of Kiss from the '80s.The Chiss name is a pun,as «chis» (pronounced as 'cheese') is Mexican slang for piss,and the characters literally had to urinate in order of activating their superpowers and transforming themselves into alternate versions of the Kiss characters.

Notas en Español
La banda Kiss tuvo un montón de fans en México en los 70's y 80's.Cuando era niño,me gustaba mucho su concepto visual pero nunca pude tomar en serio su música —es difícil cuando en un momento ves a Gene Simmons como un demonio malote y escupe-fuego,y al momento siguiente se le ve cantando «du-du-du-du...» en 'I Was Made For Loving You'.
Como sea,dibujé esté cartón a petición de algunos amigos mayores (fans de la banda,por supuesto) alrededor de la última semana de abril de 1999 —que fue cuando Kiss visitó la Ciudad de México durante la gira Psycho Circus.

Un cocol —también conocido como torito— es un tipo de pan tradicional mexicano hecho únicamente con harina,leche y huevos.Ahora bien,el doblajero y comediante Jorge "El Tata" Arvizu solía disfrazarse como un viejo decrépito y gruñón que acostumbraba gritar la frase de «¡Quiero mi cocol!».Dicha frase se volvió muy popular para hacerle burla a la gente mayor de edad.

Los otros 4 personajes en la esquina inferior son Chiss,una parodia en comic de Kiss de los 80's.El nombre de Chiss tiene un doble sentido con «chis»,que es un slang mexicano para decir pis,y viene del hecho de que los personajes literalmente tenían que orinarse primero para activar sus superpoderes y transformarse así en versiones alternas de los personajes de Kiss.

Razón #70

2008-03-10T11:01:00.002-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 70 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...Access —I'm a loser! Boo!! Boo-hoo!!
Doriancito —What's worrying Access,uh?
Samy —Nothing,only that he finally got sued for making uncalled amalgams...
Cablevision Caption —Cablevision! (Cable + Vision)
Mole Verde Caption —Green Mole! (The Thing + Green Lantern)
Marilyn Manson —Hey! I'm not just another amalgam!!
Marilyn Manson caption —Marilyn Manson! (Marilyn Monroe + Charles Manson)
Note —(original,isn't it? Geez!!)

Notes in English
Amalgam was this silly and fun project where Marvel and DC Comics created new characters by merging some others.The merged characters lived in a parallel universe known as Amalgam.

Back in the '60s and until the early '90s,in the Fantastic Four comics and animated series the Thing's name used to be translated as La Mole (The Bulk).But in Mexico,the word 'mole' in a male form (el mole) is also the name of a traditional chili sauce.There are many mole recipes,and one of those is mole verde (green mole),which is made with green tomatoes and pumpkin seeds,and is,well,green.The explanation sounds complicated but trust me,the 'Mole Verde' pun is very funny from a Mexican (and nerdy) point of view.

Notas en Español
Amalgam fue un projecto simplón y divertido donde la Marvel y la DC Comics crearon nuevos personajes al fusionar a algunos.Los personajes mezclados habitaban el universo paralelo conocido como Amalgam.

Allá por los 60's y hasta inicios de los 90's,en los comics y series animadas de los Fantastic Four,el nombre de The Thing solía traducirse como La Mole.Pero en México,la palabra 'mole' en su forma masculina (el mole) es también el nombre de una salsa tradicional para guisos.Hay varias recetas de mole,y una de ellas es la del mole verde,elaborado con tomatillos verdes y semillas de calabaza,y que es de color,pues,verde.La explicación suena rebuscada,pero créanme,el juego de palabras 'Mole Verde' es chistoso desde un punto de vista mexicano (y nerdo).

Razón #69

2008-03-09T15:07:00.000-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 69 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
Sign —TODAY! The Classic Among Classics!! Avengers vs JLA (drink beer and eat potato chips) —yummy-yummy!
Thor —These crossovers for raising the ratings are starting to bore me...
Superman —Yup...but what it's really starting to unerve me is that noisy baldhead...
"El Perro" Bermudez —A Rrrrreally nice shootout by Captein Am'rica! Right where the spiders spin their webs!
Spider-man —Watch it,you animal! That was an own goal!

Notes in English
In Mexico,El Clásico de Clásicos (Classic Among Classics) is the name given to the soccer match between the America Eagles and the Guadalajara Goats teams because of their old rivalry.Then again,it's not secret that said rivalry was created by the media and that it is used only for the ratings.

The bald man is Enrique "El Perro" (The Dog) Bermudez.He's a sportscaster with a deep voice and a peculiar,noisy accent that doesn't let him pronounce some vowels (hence his nickname —it is said he does not talk but barks).But besides that,he also likes to use a lot of invented words and funny catchphrases (like the one about spiders spinning webs) when reporting soccer games.

Notas en Español
En México,El Clásico de Clásicos es el nombre que se le da al encuentro de soccer entre los equipos de la Águilas del America y las Chivas de Guadalajara,debido a su ya larga rivalidad.En todo caso,no es ningún secreto que dicha rivalidad fue creada por los medios y es usada sólo para incrementar los ratings.

El tipo calvo es Enrique "El Perro" Bermudez.Es un cronista deportivo con una voz profunda y un acento peculiar y ruidoso que le impide pronunciar algunas vocales (de ahí su mote —se dice que más que hablar,ladra).Pero además de eso,le gusta usar muchas palabras inventadas y frases cómicas (como esa de los nidos de araña) al reportar juegos de soccer.

Razón #68

2008-03-08T11:22:00.002-06:00

Translation:
Asti —Woe is me! Darn pigeons,they "polished" my clothes!
Samy —That worries you,uh? If I were you I'd start running...here comes Hawkman with some very suspicious cramps...!!
Hawkman —Ah-ah-ahg...I-I won't...make it...won't...make it!!
Note on the right side —(Bombs away!!)
-Reason Nº 68 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...(or "Evildoers,beware of Hawkman's smooth moves!!")

Notes in English
Not much to add about this cartoon,besides the fact that Montezuma's Revenge is not an illness that affects only tourists visiting Mexico.

Notas en Español
No tengo mucho qué agregar respecto a este cartón,salvo el hecho de que la Venganza de Moctezuma no es una enfermedad que afecte sólo a los turistas que visitan México.

Razón #67

2008-03-07T22:16:00.003-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 67 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
Scully —You say you've kidnapped Mulder? Ha-ha! Don't even think I'll the ransom! I never liked him and his armpits smell really bad!! Besides,I've just started casting for a new co-star!! And also let me tell you that martians don't exist!!
Shaggy —Do you know if it will take much time? I left my van parked in second row!
Man in Black —You ask what I'm doing here? I need the cash!
Sign —Today casting for co-star of corny TV series and movies
Martian 1 —Hey,the broad doesn't believe me,What do we do now?
Martian 2 —Let me deattach one of his ears and then we'll call that Maussan guy!!
Mulder —No! Not the ear! How could I use the cell phone [without it]?
Frame on the wall —UFO Sweet Home
Poster —Miss October
Control panel —Stolen prop from El Santo's

Notes in English
Mulder & Scully are not super-heroes,but are included in this series of cartoons because The X-Files was a huge hit here in Mexico,airing simultaneously on 2 TV channels (3 if you include the original transmissions from the FOX network on cable).

The PGR letters in the background stand for Procuraduría General de la República —Office of the Attorney General of the Republic.That's the Mexican government agency that prosecutes federal crimes like the FBI does in the U.S..

In Mexican slang,extraterrestrials of all kinds are called marcianos —martians.
(Jaime) Maussan is a TV reporter that used to host the Mexican version of the 60 Minutes TV newsmagazine until he got interested only in aliens and UFOs.

The alien with the saw wants to cut Mulder's ear as a parody of the style of El Mocha-Orejas (The Ear-Ripper).El Mocha-Orejas was the nickname of Daniel Arizmendi,a kidnapper known for slashing his victims' ears off and sending them (the ears,not the victims) to their families when asking for a very high ransom.He got caught by the police in 1997.

Finally,the message in the control console is a mention about the classic sci-fi B-movies starred by the famous luchador (wrestler) El Santo (The Saint).

Notas en Español
Mulder & Scully no son superhéroes,pero se incluyen en esta serie de cartones debido a que la serie de The X-Files fue un tremendo éxito en México,transmitiéndose simultáneamente por 2 canales de TV (3 si contamos las transmisiones originales de la cadena FOX por cable).

Las letras PGR al fondo corresponden a Procuraduría General de la República,la cual es la agencia del gobierno mexicano que se ocupa de perseguir los crímenes federales como lo hace el FBI en E.U..

En el slang mexicano,a los extraterrestres de todo tipo se les llama marcianos.
(Jaime) Maussan es un reportero de TV que solía conducir la versión mexicana del informativo 60 Minutes,hasta que se interesó únicamente en extraterrestres y OVNIs.

El alien con el serrucho quiere cortar la oreja de Mulder parodiando el estilo de El Mocha-Orejas.El Mocha-Orejas era el mote de Daniel Arizmendi,un secuestrador conocido por cortarles las orejas a sus víctimas para luego mandárselas a sus familias y exigir sumas de rescate muy altas.Fue capturado por la policía en 1997.

Finalmente,el mensaje en la consola de control (que si no alcanzan a leer dice:«Robado a utilería del Santo») es una mención a las películas clásicas de ciencia ficción de serie B protagonizadas por el famoso luchador El Santo.

Razón #66

2008-03-06T21:49:00.000-06:00

Translation:
Commissioner Gordon —All right,Who was the prankster?!?
Simba —What happen? What's the emergency?
Lion-O —Wrong number,false alarm little pal...
Arrow caption —Hair à la Goku
Spider-man —Give me my belt back,you ©#£@ brat!!!
Doriancito —Cool! This one can also be projected [in the sky]!!
-Reason Nº 66 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
This cartoon is a favorite of mine because of its silliness.Then again,the sole idea of calling super-heroes with light signals in the sky is very silly by itself,you know.

The CFE letters on the bat-signal stand for Comisión Federal de Electricidad (Federal Commission of Electricity),the Mexican government-owned electric company.

Notas en Español
Este cartón es uno de mis favoritos por su simplonez.Ahora que también,la sola idea de llamar a los superhéroes usando señales de luz en el cielo es bastante simplona por sí misma,ya sabrán.

Las letras CFE en la bati-señal significan Comisión Federal de Electricidad,la compañía electrica mexicana propiedad del gobierno.

Razón #65

2008-03-05T20:58:00.002-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 65 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
Asti —Yay,how exciting!! I'm gonna ask Ant-man,Wasp and Atom for their autographs! They're my idols! Where are them? Where are them?
Ant-man —Watch your step you dumb...!
Doriancito —Aw,no! It's such a drag cleaning blood and guts stains from a carpet!!
Samy —Don't worry about small details...Oh,Are you leaving early,Atom Ant?
Atom Ant —Er...yeah,I'm going to the casting call for Antz 2,don't wait for my return!!
Sign —If you already pawned your collection of Capulinitas and Karmatrones so you could pay your ticket then:WELCOME TO THE BIG __________ '99
—Same event,same place,same stands,higher price
—(interactive gag:fill the line with the comic book convention you dislike the most...and yes,I know I already used this gag 56 reasons ago,but the situation has not changed...damn,indeed)

Notes in English
As the sign says,the satire about Mexican comic book conventions was first seen on Reason #9.

Capulinita and Karmatron were 2 comic book series for kids published back in the '80s.They were not particularly good or special at all,but since there are no reprints of them,back issues are very appreciated among older comics fans (yet said back issues are actually cheap in the collectors market and so their only value is of the sentimental kind —hence the irony of implying that they could be taken to a pawn shop).

Notas en Español
Como el letrero indica,la sátira sobre las convenciones mexicanas de comics se vió por primera vez en la Razón #9.

Capulinita y Karmatron fueron 2 series de comics para niños publicadas en los 80's.No fueron particularmente buenas o especiales del todo,pero desde el momento en que no hay reimpresiones de ellas,los ejemplares viejos son muy apreciados entre los fans viejos de comics (sin embargo dichos ejemplares viejos son en realidad baratos en el mercado de los coleccionistas y por tanto su único valor es del tipo sentimental —de ahí la ironía de insinuar que pudieran ser empeñados).

Razón #64

2008-03-04T17:18:00.001-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 64 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
Lois Lane —We finally found proofs that Lex Luthor killed Colosio,created the Fobaproa,that he was Salinas' boss and that he is the owner of Televisa...and you didn't capture him? Clark,what happened?!
Superman —Oh,What can I tell you Lois? He gave me some very ¢onvincing argument$...
Door sign —Latino-Luthor Tower
Lex Luthor —...I want to make the most of this press conference,and put forward my candidature for President...
Podium —Mega-Consortium Lexcorp-PRI-Televisa-Bimbo

Notes in English
Well,I guess everybody already knows the fact that in Mexico there're a lot of corrupt people —mostly businessmen and politicians.

Luis Donaldo Colosio was a presidential candidate that was murdered during his campaign in 1994.His murderer got caught but so far no one knows who plotted his death.
Fobaproa (FOndo BAncario de PROtección al Ahorro,Banking Fund for the Protection of Savings) was a government fund created in an attempt to fix some financial problems of the banking system during Mexico's economic crisis of 1994.But many corrupt government officers and businessmen mismanaged the Fobaproa money to get rich quickly.
Carlos Salinas was the President of Mexico from 1988 to 1994,and he was directly blamed for the already mentioned economic crisis.
Televisa is a big communications corporation that owns many TV channels,radio stations,magazines and sports teams.For many people it is also the typical example of a manipulative media corporation.

La Torre Latinoamericana (The Latinamerican Tower),also known simply as Torre Latino is a skyscraper in Mexico City's downtown.There was a time when it used to be the tallest building in the city.

PRI stands for Partido Revolucionario Institucional —that's Institutional Revolutionary Party.It used to be the strongest political party in Mexico.
And Bimbo is a huge baking corporation.

This cartoon became a prophetic one,as Lex Luthor did make a leap from corrupt bussinessman to corrupt politician when he became President of the U.S.A in 2000.

Notas en Español
Bueno,creo ya todo mundo sae el hecho de que en México hay un montón de gente corrupta —en su mayoría empresarios y políticos.

Luis Donaldo Colosio fue un candidato presidencial que fue asesinado durante su campaña en 1994.Su asesino fue capturado pero hasta ahora nadie sabe quién planeó su muerte.
Fobaproa (FOndo BAncario de PROtección al Ahorro) fue un fondo gubernamental creado en un intento de arreglar los problemas financieros del sistema bancario durante la crisis económica mexicana de 1994.Pero muchos funcionarios y empresarios corruptos desviaron el dinero del Fobaproa para hacerse ricos rápidamente.
Carlos Salinas fue presidente de México de 1988 a 1994,y fue culpado directamente por la ya mencionada crisis económica.
Televisa es una gran corporación de comunicaciones que posee varios canales de TTV,estaciones de radio,publicaciones y equipos deportivos.Para muchos,es también el ípico ejemplo de una corporación manipulativa de medios.

La Torre Latinoamericana,también conocida simplemente como la Torre Latino es un rascacielos en el centro de la Ciudad de México.Alguna vez fue el edificio más alto de la ciudad.

PRI stands for Partido Revolucionario Institucional —that's Institutional Revolutionary Party.It used to be the strongest political party in Mexico.
And Bimbo is a huge baking corporation.

This cartoon became a prophetic one,as Lex Luthor did make a leap from corrupt bussinessman to corrupt politician when he became President of the U.S.A in 2000

Razón #63

2008-03-03T15:49:00.000-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 63 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
Samy —Hellooo! Hey,Have you ever wondered why Hulk is always so bad-tempered? And why is he green?
Doriancito —Incredible but true,even though Hulk can make his body expand about 5 times,thing is his briefs of the "Trueno®" brand are so resistant that their original size always remain the same! Because of that his granny always gives him them as Christmas gift!!
Note in the corner —*Consume Mexican products of high quality!!...

Notes in English
Trueno (Thunder) is a popular Mexican brand of male underwear,cheap but also very well known for its hard-wearing fabrics.

The note in the corner is the actual slogan of an old nationalist campaign against imported products.

Notas en Español
Trueno es una popular marca mexicana de ropa interior para varones,barata pero muy bien conocida por sus telas resistentes.

La nota en la esquina es el slogan real de una vieja campaña nacionalista contra los productos importados.

Razón #62

2008-03-02T21:34:00.003-06:00

Translation:
The Joker —That Batman [curse whistle].Let's see if one of these days I invite you and Robin to eat shrimp in La Zona Rosa,and then take you both to Pino Suarez looking to the Zocalo!
Brozo —You're doing fine,you're doing fine...
Robin —Holy barroom albures,Batman! The Joker's jokes have gone a lot down since he's friends with Brozo!!
Batman —I know,Robin...Go quickly to the Batmobile and bring me the Bat-gun...I'm going to do a Bat-euthanasia!!
-Reason Nº 62 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
Brozo El Payaso Tenebroso (Brozo the Creepy Clown) is a character created by comedian Victor Trujillo.Brozo is a dirty,unrefined and grumpy clown that satirizes the behaviour of the clowns from TV shows for kids.

La Zona Rosa (The Pink Zone) is a small district in Mexico City where many shops,restaurants,bars and nightclubs are located.Pino Suarez is a subway station in Mexico City's downtown and the Zocalo is a huge square right in the center of Mexico City.But if the Joker's words sound somewhat confusing,it's because he's talking using albures.In Mexican culture,an albur is phrase constructed with puns and lots of double entendres of sexual nature.The objective of an albur is to show superiority against someone else by implying that he's dumb and lacks virility.Albures can be very complex,because they may sound like casual talk or even poetry yet they have some very rude and offensive intentions.Because of their complexity,albures are one form of comedy,yet a very low and distasteful one.

I won't translate what the Joker actually said with all his albures.But I'll only let you know that Pino Suarez is used in a pun about bending over,the Pink Zone is used as an euphemism for butt,and shrimp is another euphemism for penis.

Notas en Español
Brozo El Payaso Tenebroso es un personaje creado por el comediante Victor Trujillo.Brozo es un payaso sucio,tosco y gruñón que satiriza la conducta de los payasos de los programas infantiles de TV.

La Zona Rosa es un pequeño barrio en la Ciudad de México donde hay varias tiendas,restaurantes,bares y centros nocturnos.Pino Suarez es una estacién del metro en el centro de la Ciudad de México y el Zocalo es una enorme plaza en el mero centro de la Ciudad de México.Pero si las palabras del Joker suenan un poco confusas,es por que está usando albures.
En la cultura mexicana,un albur es una frase construída con juegos de palabras de doble sentido de naturaleza sexual.El objetivo de un albur es demostrar superioridad ante alguien más al insinuar que es idiota y falto de virilidad.Los albures pueden ser muy complejos,pues pueden sonar como una plática casual o incluso poesía,y sin embargo tienen intensiones sumamente vulgares y ofensivas.Por su complejidad los albures son también un tipo de humorismo,aunque uno muy bajo y de poco gusto.

No explicaré los albures del Joker.Pero baste saber que 'en Pino Suarez' habla de empinarse hacia adelante,la Zona Rosa es usada como un eufemismo de la cola,y camarón es otro eufemismo,referente al pene.

Razón #61

2008-03-01T20:31:00.002-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 61 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...(May 10th,never forgotten...)
Lobo's mom —Looo-bobert!My dearest son,if you're going outside,put your sweater on and don't get back very late!
Lobo —...yes,mmmom...
Lobo's mom —And don't pull a face,you bratty boy!! And while you're out there,go get a haircut,too!
Sticker on the door —This is a home that believes [in religion] —sceptics get away!

Notes in English
May 10th is Mother's Day in Mexico.
Now,in Mexican culture there's nothing more sacred and revered than a mother.If you really want to piss off a Mexican,simply say something insulting about his or her mother —and if anyone can keep a Mexican in control,that's his or her mother.Because of this,Mexican mothers can also be quite overprotective sometimes —even when their sons and daughters have reached adulthood.

The sticker on he door is a parody based upon real stickers and cards that catholic families usually put on their doors and windows so they don't get disturbed by Jehovah's Witnesses or atheists (the later,sometimes also called despectively as 'sceptics').

Notas en Español
El 10 de mayo es el Día de la Madre en Mexico.
Ahora bien,en la cultura mexicana no hay nada más sagrado y reverenciado que una madre.Si de veras desean hacer enojar a un mexicano,sólo díganle algo insultante sobre su madre —del mismo modo,y si alguien puede mantener a un mexicano controlado,esa es su madre.Por todo ésto,las madres mexicanas pueden ser también bastante sobreprotectoras a veces —incluso si sus hijos e hijas han alcanzado ya laedad adulta.

La calcomanía en la puerta,por si no le alcanzan a leer,dice «Este hogar es creyente —¡Largo escépticos!».Es una parodia de calcomanías y tarjetas reales que las familias católicas usualmente ponen en sus puertas y ventanas para no ser molestados por testigos de Jehová o ateos (estos últimos,a veces también llamados despectivamente 'escépticos').

Razón #60

2008-02-29T23:11:00.000-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 60 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
Girl —Why,you filthy pervert! Go spank your grandmother!
Man —But I didn't...>ugh<
Elongated Man —What did I told you? Did I or didn't I?
Asti —Hoo-Ha! You da man,Elongated Man!
Plastic Man —That's nothing! Can you see the blonde hottie on the other side?
Girl off scene —Mister...Would you like to take off your "that" from my "these"?
Man off scene —Young lady,I swear I didn't..

Notes in English
Mexico City's subway and buses are crowded almost everyday,and many horny teenagers and perverts take advantage of that situation.It's not something that happens all the time,but if you are not careful you can be easily caught by a nasty surprise,no matter if you're a woman or a man.

Notas en Español
El metro y los autobuses de la Ciudad de México están muy concurridos casi todos los días,y varios pervertidos y adolescentes alborotados sacan provecho de dicha situación.No es algo que pase todo el tiempo,pero si uno no tiene cuidado,es fácil llevarse una sorpresa desagradable,sin importar si se es mujer u hombre.

Razón #59

2008-02-28T22:44:00.003-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 59 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
Ash —Oh my! Wasn't a fire [reported] here?
Firestorm —Yeah right,you f#¢k!ng Ash!!!
Firestorm's can —Beer
Ghost Rider —Hey...My migraine is gone!
Human Torch —Hello? Is José Quesada* there?
Caption —Or Joe Quesada,it's the same.

Notes in English
The character with the manga hair is Ash,a superhero firefighter.Currently very few people know who he is,but back in the '90s he was a popular character among comic book fans.

This cartoon is another favorite of mine because I achieved the impossible:drawing Ghost Rider smiling in a very happily way.

Notas en Español
El personaje con el peinada estilo manga es Ash,un bombero superhéroe.Hoy en día pocos saben quién es,pero allá en los 90's fue un caracter popular entre los fans de los comics.

Este cartón es otro de mis favoritos por que logré lo imposible:dibujar a Ghost Rider sonriendo con harta alegría.

Razón #58

2008-02-27T21:16:00.000-06:00

Translation:
Asti —Black Bolt...my homeboy:I know that as king of the Inhumans your wage is not enough and you need a second job...but here's my advice:selling gas cylinders is no for you,pal!
Black Bolt —But I only yelled "Gas"!!
Sign —Apartment complex "Martyrs of the Lypo" -Lucha Villa building -Population:~~350 families~~ 0
Doriancito —Whoah! Just a thought:I wouldn't like to be near Black Bolt after he drinks some tehuacan!
-Reason Nº 58 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
In most cities of Mexico,domestic gas is sold in cylinders,and said cylinders are delivered by trucks.When one of those trucks is visiting your street,the men from the gas company don't simply ring your doorbell:they yell «GAAAASS» from the street,in a very loudly way.

Then there's Black Bolt,whose voice is his main power,yet it's so destructive that he can't even talk in order of not making any accidents.So Black Bolt is practically mute,but I always wondered how could be possible that though he's a comic book character they don't even give him some thought bubbles.So,I drew this cartoon mostly because I wanted to see what is he thinking at least once.

Lucha Villa is a folkloric singer and actress.In 1997 she underwent a lypo suction,but then she entered in a coma due to complications after the operation.She survived the experience but also became the poster child of mature women willing to risk their own health in the name of losing weight quickly —hence the "martyrs of lypo" in the sign.

Tehuacan is a zone in the state of Puebla where there are some natural fountains of mineral water.That water,after being processed into sparkling water,is also known as tehuacan.The tehuacan water is very high in carbon dioxide gas,so you can guess why it's popular tool in the worldwide famous child game of burping.

Notas en Español
En muchas ciudades de México,el gas doméstico se vende en tanques,y dichos tanques son repartidos en camiones.Cuando uno de dichos camiones visitan la calle de uno,los gaseros no nada más tocan a la puerta:gritan «GAAAASS» desde la calle,de un modo muy sonado.

Luego tenemos a Black Bolt,cuya voz es su principal poder,pero es tan destructiva que no puede ni hablar por no provocar accidentes.Así pues,Black Bolt es prácticamente mudo,pero yo siempre me pregunté cómo era posible que siendo un personaje de comic ni siquiera le pusieran globos de pensamiento.Dibujé este cartón principalmente por que quería ver lo que pensaba,al menos por una vez.

Lucha Villa es una actriz y cantante folklórica.En 1997 se sometió a una liposucción,pero luego entró en estado de coma a causa de complicaciones tras la operación.Sobrevivió a la experiencia pero también se convirtió en el símbolo máximo de las mujeres maduras dispuestas a arriesgar su propia salud con tal de perder peso rápidamente —de ahí lo de "mártires de la liposuxión" en el letrero.

Tehuacan es una zona en el estado de Puebla donde hay unas fuentes naturales de agua mineral.Dicha agua,tras ser procesada como soda,es también conocida como tehuacan.El tehuacan tiene un alto contenido de dióxido de carbono,así que ya adivinarán porqué es una herramienta popular en el juego infantil de fama mundial de eructar.

Razón #57

2008-02-26T15:32:00.003-06:00

Translation:
Spider-man —I'M A DAD!! Mary Jane,How are you and the...baby?!?! Qué?!
Mary Jane —Aw,look tiger:he's got your eyes!
Baby —Agoo!
Samy —Where are you going Mr. Ezpaoon? Won't you stay for the baby shower?
Spawn —Er...I gotta go,my "Spider-sense" tells me that my mom is calling me...Smell ya!
-Reason Nº 57 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...(-Today's episode:Look who's spawning now...)

Notes in English
Back in the '90s,Spider-man was married to Mary Jane,and she got pregnant.In a confusing and awful plot twist,the baby died because the editors thought that making Spider-man a father figure would make him look older and then lose appeal among younger fans.I drew this cartoon as a homage of what could have been if the baby lived —kinda
ˆ_~

Spawn is included here because of a joke among friends.We didn't understand the popularity of the character among fans,and then we came to the conclution that it surely was because design-wise he was like «the bastard son of Spider-man and Batman».

Benito B. Bodoque was the name of Benny the Ball in the Spanish-dubbed episodes of Top Cat.That animated series is a cult thing in Mexico;and Benito's name is in the bed as a reference to the episode 'Top Cat Falls In Love',which begins with Benito in a hospital after a tonsillectomy.

Notas en Español
Allá por los 90's,Spider-man estaba casado con Mary Jane,y ella estaba embarazada.En un giro narrativo confuso y horroroso,el bebé murió debido a que los editores consideraron que convertir a Spider-man en una figura paternal lo haría verse más viejo y así perdería atractivo entre los fans más jóvenes.Dibujé este cartón como un homenaje a lo que pudo haber sido si el bebé hubiera vivido —más o menos
ˆ_~

Spawn está incluído aquí debido a un chiste entre amigos.No comprendíamos la popularidad del personaje entre los fans,y llegamos a la conclusión de que seguramente era por que su diseño lo hacía parecer «el hijo bastardo de Spider-man y Batman».

Benito B. Bodoque era,por supuesto,el nombre de uno de los canchanchanes de Don Gato en la serie animada homónima.Dicha serie es objeto de culto en México;y el nombre de Benito está en la cama en referencia al episodio 'Top Cat Falls In Love',el cual inicia con Benito en una cama de hospital tras haber sido operado de las amígdalas.

Razón #56

2008-02-25T15:45:00.003-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 56 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...(monkey business!!)
Scully —Aw,calm down Mulder,you're acting the goat!!
Mulder —Noo! You damn dirty apes! Damn you! I wanna become a monkey!!!
Ape #1 —Hey,Is here the casting for 2001:A Space Odyssey?
Ape #2 —Has anyone seen Marvo?
Ape #2's shirt —Jolly Heart
Doriancito —Confidentially,Where did all these monkeys came from?
Samy —Obvious:from the subway!

Notes in English
Mulder & Scully are not super-heroes,but are included in this series of cartoons because The X-Files was a huge hit here in Mexico,airing simultaneously on 2 TV channels (3 if you include the original transmissions from the FOX network on cable).

The statue behind Mulder is the Angel de la Independencia (Angel of Independence).This golden statue is a symbol of Mexico City the same as the Statue of Liberty is for New York.

Mulder's last phrase,«Me quiero volver chango» (I wanna become a monkey) is a reference from a Spanish-dubbed episode of The Simpsons,where Homer yells that in a moment of very tragic —and funny— despair (sorry,but I don't remember which episode it was nor what was exactly said in the original English version).

The Ape #2 is asking for Marvo,the astronaut chimp featured in the 'Space Monkey' episode of the Top Cat animated series.In Mexico,Top Cat is a cult series,mostly because of its genius dubbing.The shirt of that same ape is a reference to the name of the trained monkey from the Remi anime series —the original Japanese name of that series is Ie Naki Ko and it's based upon Hector Malot's novel Sans Famille (Without Family).Remi was a huge hit in Mexico in the '80s.
The Monchichis was another animated series that became a TV hit around these parts (hence the small note in the right).

The PJ letters in the gorilla's arm stand for Policía Judicial (Judicial Police).In Mexico and some parts of Latin America,violent soldiers and police men are sometimes called 'gorillas'.

Notas en Español
Mulder & Scully no son superhéroes,pero se incluyen en esta serie de cartones debido a que la serie de The X-Files fue un tremendo éxito en México,transmitiéndose simultáneamente por 2 canales de TV (3 si contamos las transmisiones originales de la cadena FOX por cable).

La estatua detrás de Mulder es el Angel de la Independencia.Esta estatua dorada es un símbolo de la Ciudad de México del mismo modo en que la Estatua de la Libertad lo es para Nueva York.

La última frase de Mulder,«Me quiero volver chango»,es una referencia a uno de los episodios doblados al español de Los Simpson,donde Homero grita eso en un momento de desesperación trágica —y chistosa (lo lamento,pero no recuerdo en cuál episodio fue eso exactamente).

El Simio que habla con Homero está preguntando por Marvo (sí,en el cartón está con falta de ortagrafía),el chimpancé astronauta del episodio 'Space Monkey' de la serie animada de Don Gato y Su Pandilla.En Mexico,Don Gato es una serie de culto,debido principalmente a su genial doblaje.La camiseta del mismo simio es una referencia al nombre del mico entrenado de la serie anime de Remi —el nombre original en japonés de esa serie es Ie Naki Ko y está basada a su vez en la novela Sans Famille (Sin Familia) de Hector Malot.Remi fue un gran éxito en México durante los 80's.
Los Monchichis fueron otra serie animada que se hizo exitosa por estos rumbos (ergo la nota del lado derecho).

Las letras PJ en el brazo del gorila corresponden a Policía Judicial.En México y parte de Latinoamérica,los policías y soldados violentos son ocasionalmente llamados 'gorilas'.

Razón #55

2008-02-24T15:05:00.001-06:00

Translation:
-It finally happened...the day on which Doctor Doom took his mask off!! (or:Reason Nº 55 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...)
Mr. Fantastic —It can't be!!
Dr. Doom —Fellow countrymen...
Cape tag —Souvenir from Ireland

Notes in English
That bald and mustachioed man using Dr. Doom's armor is Carlos Salinas de Gortari.He was the President of Mexico from 1988 to 1994 and won the election amid accusations of electoral fraud.Also,little before before his term ended,Mexican economy collapsed he was directly blamed for it.And then,his brother was found guilty of fraud and planning a political assassination.Because of all these things,for many Mexicans Salinas is the greatest villain of modern history.
«Fellow countrymen» was how he always started all his speeches.
The tag in the cape is because Salinas exiled himself to Ireland.

Notas en Español
El tipo pelón y bigotón usando la armadura de Dr. Doom es Carlos Salinas de Gortari.Él fue presidente de México de 1988 a 1994 y ganó las elecciones entre acusaciones de fraude electoral.Además,poco antes de que su periodo terminara,la economía mexicana se colapsó y él culpado directamente por ello.Y luego,su hermano fue encontrado culpable de fraude y de planear un asesinato político.Por todas estas cosas,para muchos mexicanos Salinas es el más grande villano de la historia moderna.
«Compatriotas» era el modo en que siempre iniciaba sus discursos.
La etiqueta de la capa se debe a que Salinas se autoexilió a Irlanda.

Razón #54

2008-02-23T11:30:00.001-06:00

Translation:
The Ray —Hey,I know that our electricity has been cut off and that I've got to make some merits...But I'm getting tired!!
Martian Manhunter —Oh...what's the matter,homes? Trust me,you have to put up with this and soon you won't be a simple reservist of the JLA anymore!
Plastic man —Damn!
Green Lantern —5 aces? Geez! Someone here is not cheating!!
-Reason Nº 54 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
I don't have much else to say except that yup,it's always the newbie or the youngest boy the one that does all the hard work.

Notas en Español
No tengo nada más qué decir,excepto que sí,siempre es el chico nuevo o el más joven el que siempre tiene que hacer todo el trabajo pesado.

Razón #53

2008-02-22T10:23:00.001-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 53 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
Wonder Woman —...No,but let me tell you,there's no one who can understand men! Blah-Blah-Blah-Blah
Freefall —I agree...by the by,what do you think of my manicure? Blah-Blah-Blah-Blah
Witchblade —Oh! It's gor-ge-ous!! It's totally super nice! You must tell me the address of your beauty parlor! Blah-Blah-Blah-Blah-Blah!
Asti —Holy cow! It's very high up here! Hey,I'd hate to interrupt but didn't you came here to rescue me? Hey! Can't you hear me? AUXILIO!!
Death —Aw,what's the worry!? JUMP,JUMP,JUMP!!
Arrow caption —Death appearing by courtesy of Neil Gaiman (even though he doesn't know about it...)

Notes in English
I know,I know.This cartoon is a bit sexist but trust me:when Mexican women gather and start talking,there's almost no human way to stop them.

Notas en Español
Ya sé,ya sé.Este cartón es un poco sexista,pero créanme:cuando las mujeres mexicanas se juntan y empiezan a platicar,no hay prácticamente poder humano que las detenga.

Razón #52

2008-02-21T23:00:00.002-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 52 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
Spider-man —Now that I think about it:Wasn't this the one that killed Superman?
Asti —We're live transmitting an interview with Spider-man;tell us,since you have spider powers,can you eat flies and lay eggs?...
Spider-man — >Gack!< Q-quick...call the JLA! >Gasp!<
Asti —There you have it:yet another clear example of censorship to the media,until when are we going to tolerate this? Olmec Informative Force reporting!!
Caption —PS.-Unnoticed,but Doomsday is wearing a white ribbon...

Notes in English
Olmec Informative Force is a pun on the name of Fuerza Informativa Azteca (Aztec Informative Force),the branch of the TV Azteca network dedicated to TV news.
Fuerza Informativa Azteca is famous for its yellow journalism,as well for its tendency of playing victim of "censorship to the media" whenever no one wants to talk with them for one reason or another.

The white ribbon is about a social campaign organized by Fuerza Informativa Azteca in the '90s.The original international white ribbon campaign is about men working to end men's violence against women,but Fuerza Informativa Azteca tried to impose it as a local campaign against violent crimes.In the end that initiative became just a meaningless fashion.

Notas en Español
Fuerza Informativa Olmeca es un juego depalabras sobre el nombre de Fuerza Informativa Azteca,la división de la cadena TV Azteca dedicada a noticieros de TV.
Fuerza Informativa Azteca es famosa por su amarillismo,así como por su tendencia de hacerse la víctima de "censura a los medios" toda vez que nadie quiere hablar con ellos por una razón u otra.

Lo del listón blanco es sobre una campaña social organizada por Fuerza Informativa Azteca en los 90's.La campaña original internacional del listón blanco se refiere a hombres luchando por erradicar la violencia contra las mujeres por parte de otros hombres,pero Fuerza Informativa Azteca pretendió imponerla como una campaña local contra los crímenes violentos.Al final,esa iniciativa se volvió sólo una moda sin significado.

Razón #51

2008-02-20T21:54:00.002-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 51 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
Captain America —All right! Let's go scr...kick those villains' butts!
Sign —Secret Wars 3 is an event organized and sponsored by Televizca. Gathering the Big Mexican Family! Another more star of you-know-where... (cheesy,isn't it?)
Daredevil —Hey,I feel ridiculous!
Colossus —More [than what you already are]? I mean,calm down;it's either this or participating in the Teleton!

Notes in English
When I drew this cartoon,the idea of a third sequel to the Secret Wars crossover was unthinkable since Secret Wars 2 wasn't really a hit that could guarantee more profits...but then,some years later,Marvel Comics did indeed publish a third crossover using the Secret Wars brand name —or more exactly,Secret War.
Anyway,Televizca (Cross-eyed TV) is a pun on the name of the Televisa entertainment corporation,and that company is well known for being quite opportunist when it's about making profits.

The sign satirizes 2 of Televisa's most popular slogans:«Uniendo a la Gran Familia Mexicana» (Gathering the Big Mexican Family) and «Una estrella más del Canal de Las Estrellas» (Another star of the stars' network).

The Teleton is an annual telethon organized by Televisa with the purpose of raising funds to help children with disabilities.That's a noble goal alrigth,but the event itself is very well known for its many cheesy and tear-jerker moments.

Notas en Español
Cuando dibujé este cartón,la idea de una tercera secuela al crossover de Secret Wars era inconcebible desde el momento en que Secret Wars 2 no fue tan exitosa como para garantizar más ganancias...pero entonces,algunos años después,la Marvel Comics siempre sí publicó un tercer crossover usando la marca de Secret Wars —o más exactamente,Secret War.
Como sea,Televizca es una parodia del nombre de la corporación de entretenimiento Televisa,y esa compañía es de sobra conocida por ser muy oportunista cuando se trata de hacer ganancias.

La pancarta satiriza 2 de los slogans más populares de Televisa:«Uniendo a la Gran Familia Mexicana» y «Una estrella más del Canal de Las Estrellas».

El Teleton es un maratón televisivo anual organizado por Televisa con el propósito de reunir fondos para ayudar a niños discapacitados.Ciertamente es un fin noble,pero el evento mismo es bastante conocido por sus muchos momentos cursis y sentimentaloides.

Razón #50

2008-02-19T12:27:00.002-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 50 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes... (yes-we-can,yes-we-can!!) (take that!)
Sentinel #1 —That's it,you pernicious mutant:you deserve an über-Tehuacan shot!
Sentinel #2 —What did I told you? There goes another street vendor!
Sentinel #3 —Boy,you da man,Unit SPGR-70
Spider-man —Hey,I'm not a mutant,Can I go home?
Batman —Darn,you're such a dolt! Because of that Mexico doesn't make any progress!!
The Watcher —Let me go! I'm only an observer,I don't participate in anything!
Sentinel #4 —No way,you voyeuristic foreigner! We'll apply the [article] number 33 on you right now! Sonuva Kirby!!

Notes in English
It was right after I drew this cartoon that I decided that I wouldn't stop until reaching number 100.

The letters in the first Sentinel armband stand for Policía Judicial (Judicial Police).
Tehuacan is a zone in the state of Puebla where there are some natural fountains of mineral water.That water,after being processed into sparkling water,is also known as tehuacan.And the most popular tehuacan is that of the Peñafiel brand.
Now,a tehuacanazo (tehuacan shot) is a torture technique used by many brutal policemen.Basicly,they take a bottle of tehuacan and shake it a lot,and then quickly put it against your nostrils so the pressure of the bubbles doesn't lets you breathe for a painful moment.

The 2nd Sentinel is killing Son Goku because back in the '90s most of the Dragon Ball merchandise was available only with sidewalk vendors —and of course,not many of them had a license for selling things in the streets.

Batman is scolding Spider-man with a passive-agressive Mexican cliche.By saying that the country is not progressing because of Spidey's situation,Batman's denying his own responsability in their mutual problems.

Back in the '90s,a lot of foreigners affiliated with non-governmental organizations
got interested in Mexican politics,and visited the country saying they were only international observers.Then some of them began using the international media for exposing Mexican corruption in many of the poorest zones of the country.Of course,the government didn't like that and so it started deporting the foreigners under the excuse of applying the article number 33 of Mexican constitution (that article allows the government to legally deport any foreigners without any explanations).

Notas en Español
Fue justo después de que terminé de dibujar este cartón,que decidí que no me detendría hasta llegar al número 100.

Las letras en la banda del primer Sentinel corresponden a Policía Judicial.
Tehuacan es una zona en el estado de Puebla donde hay unas fuentes naturales de agua mineral.Dicha agua,tras ser procesada como soda,es también conocida como tehuacan.Y el tehuacan más popular es de la marca Peñafiel.
Ahora bien,el tehuacanazo es una técnica de tortura usada por muchos policías brutales.Básicamente,agarran una botella de tehuacan y la agitan mucho,y luego rápidamente se la ponen a uno contra las fosas nasales para que la presión de las burbujas no lo dejen a uno respirar por un doloroso instante.

El 2º Sentinel está matando a Son Goku debido a que en los 90's mucha de la mercancía de Dragon Ball sólo se conseguía entre vendedores ambulantes —y por supuesto,muchos de esos no tenían licencia para vender cosas en la calle.

Batman está regañando a Spider-man con una muletilla mexicana del tipo pasivo-agresivo.Al decir que el país no progresa por la situación de Spider-man,Batman está negando su propia responsabilidad en sus predicamentos mutuos.

En los 90's,muchos extranjeros afiliados a organizaciones no-gubernamentales se interesaron en la política mexicana,y visitaron el país diciendo ser sólo observadores internacionales.Luego algunos empezaron a usar los medios internacionales para denunciar la corrupción mexicana en muchas de las zonas más pobres del país.Por supuesto,al gobierno ya no le gustó eso y procedió a deportar a los extranjeros bajo la excusa de aplicar el artículo número 33 de la constitución mexicana (ese artículo le permite al gobierno deportar legalmente a cualquier extranjero sin dar ninguna explicación).

Razón #49

2008-02-18T11:04:00.001-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 49 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...(afróntenlo...)
Eres mag —[You Are (or you're simply posing)] Evil Ernie & Fey:and you...are you a rebel?!
Tele-Guía mag —[TV Guide] —We are not a couple! —Hi ma! —New hosts of 'Otro Rollo'! (Adal Ramones was outed as a pernicious mutant...)
Semanario de lo Insólito tabloid —[Uncanny Weekly] —I married a Skrull! Big photo feature!!! —Weird transvestite changes every time he gets wet! And he also has bug eyes (pervert!) —Maussan stalks me! (a real drama)
Buenissima mag —[Juicy] Lady Death:As You Wanted To See Her! (nekkid!) —Special edition with a poster-calendar —Catwoman nude! (centerfold)
¡Alarma! tabloid —[Alarm!] J.C. Chavez seeked a return match with the Juggernaut! —(and he lost it again...) —[in the photo,Juggernaut says:«wimp!»]
Sex-sacional del Espaun comic —[Sex-sational (book of) Ezpaoon]
Arrow caption —Chromium cover (unnoticed because of the lame drawing...)
Note in the bottom —(On a second thought...it's a pity that magazines are not like these)

Notes in English
Eres used to be the most popular magazine for teenagers.Each month its cover featured two unrelated teen celebrities.
Fey was a pop singer with a chipmunk voice that said to be between 16 or 18 years old,until it was revealed that she actually was around 30.

Tele-Guía was the Mexican version of the long-running American TV Guide mag.
Adal Ramones is a pompous TV presenter (and unfunny comedian) that used to host the late-nite show Otro Rollo (Another Topic).

Semanario de lo Insólito is a weekly tabloid that publishes weird and paranormal news.
(Jaime) Maussan is a TV reporter that used to host the Mexican version of the 60 Minutes TV newsmagazine until he got interested only in aliens and UFOs.

Buenissima was a porn magazine commercialized as a hardcore one,but it actually was very soft (there were more skin shown in lingerie ads than in that mag).

¡Alarma! is a tabloid specialized in crime news.Its main feature is that it publishes very graphic photos,almost in a gore way.

Sex-sacional del Espaun is a parody of Spawn as a typical soft-porn Mexican comic book.A popular inside joke among Mexican fanboys was that if Todd McFarlane were born in Mexico,he wouldn't be rich and he'd be either drawing a soft-porn humor comic (instead of a dark and violent one) or driving a bus as his day job.

Notas en Español
Eres solía ser el más popular magazine para adolescentes.Cada mes en su portada salían 2 celebridades juveniles sin relación alguna.
Fey era una cantante pop con una voz como de ardilla que decía tener entre 16 o 18 años,hasta que se reveló que en realidad tenía como 30.

Tele-Guía era la edición mexicana de la longeva revista estadounidense TV Guide.
Adal Ramones es un presentador de TV creído (y un comendiante sin gracia) que solía conducir el show nocturno Otro Rollo.

Semanario de lo Insólito es un tabloide semanal que publica noticias raras y paranormales.Por si no alcanzan a leerle,los textos debajo del Ranma dicen «y tiene ojos de marciano (cochinote!)», y «Maussan me acosa! (Drama Real)»
(Jaime) Maussan es un reportero de TV que solía conducir la versión mexicana del informativo 60 Minutes,hasta que se interesó únicamente en extraterrestres y OVNIs.

Buenissima era una revista porno comercializada como si fuera hardcore,pero en realidad era muy blanda (se podía ver más piel en un anuncio de lencería que en esa revista).

¡Alarma! es un tabloide especializado en nota roja.Su mayor gancho es que publica fotos muy explícitas,rayando casi en lo gore.

Sex-sacional del Espaun es una parodia de Spawn en forma de un típico comic mexicano de porno suave.Un chiste local popular entre los fanboys mexicanos era el de que si Todd McFarlane hubiera nacido en México,no sería rico y estaría o dibujando un comic porno de humor (en vez de uno oscuro y violento) o bien sería chofer de autobús.

Razón #48

2008-02-17T22:28:00.004-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 48 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...(yee-haw!)
Asti —As you can see,we now rehabilitate criminals using music therapy! Here is Arkham Asylum's mariachi!
Chorus —The crazy mariachi wanna sing...The crazy mariachi wanna have fun!
Two-Face —Dammit! I wanted to play 'Stayin Alive'!!!
Doriancito —Cool! They play some wicked music! After that,can they play 'Stairway To Heaven' or 'Bohemian Rhapsody'?
Talking penguin —Daddy!
Talking penguin's badge —Beakman's World
Chair —Property of the Mago Frank Club

Notes in English
This is one of my favorite cartoons because is way too silly.

El Mariachi Loco (The Crazy Mariachi) is a mariachi song that rose to popularity in the mid-90s.It still is a very popular party song —check the audio below to understand why.

El Mago Frank (Magician Frank) is a famous magician who also is a ventriloquist.

Notas en Español
Éste es uno de mis cartones favoritos por ser exageradamente simplón.

El Mariachi Loco es una canción de mariachi que se popularizó a mediados de los 90's.Es aún una canción de fiesta muy popular —checa el audio acó abajo para ver porqué.

El Mago Frank es un mago famoso que también le hace de ventrílocuo.

Razón #47

2008-02-16T18:44:00.003-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 47 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
Samy —Where're you going,Hulk?
Hulk —I'll be back in a moment,I'm going to smash the faces of that Chapoy woman and her gang for what they said about my animated series! —I'm gonna teach them the meaning of 'Smash puny human' in this country!! Not even back in the days when Cesar Costa acted like me in 'La Carabina de Ambrosio'!
Doriancito —Okey-Dokey,pal...say,now that you're going outside,could you drop by at the corner shop on your way back and bring 2 Pepsis and a big bag of Doritos?
TV —Well,I would have given the leading role of 'Mirada de Mujer' to Lady Death!!

Notes in English
Paty Chapoy is the producer and host of the Ventaneando [Window-talking] TV show.In that show,Chapoy and some of her friends are supposed to review and criticize soap operas and TV series,but they actually only gossip about the celebrities starring TV programs.And when they do give any reviews and crits,they only talk about the bad things just for the sake of pissing the actors and producers off.

Mirada de Mujer (Glance of a Woman) was a '90s popular soap opera,and its plot was about the romantic relationship between a mature woman and a man younger than her.

Cesar Costa was a pop singer back in the '60s.In the '80s he started a new career as a comedian.In the cult comedy TV show known as La Carabina de Ambrosio (Ambrosio's Rifle,or more properly translated as 'The Poultice On The Wooden Leg'),Costa sometimes made a parody of the Bill Bixby as he appeared in the classic Hulk TV series,only using very cheap effects (the Hulk in the parody was actually a rubber suit).

Notas en Español
Paty Chapoy es la productora y conductora del programa de TV Ventaneando.En dicho show,la Chapoy y algunos de sus amigos se supone que hacen reseñas y críticas de telenovelas y series de TV,pero en realidad sólo se dedican a chismorrear sobre las celebridades que protagonizan los programas de TV.Y cuando se acuerdan de hacer reseñas y críticas,sólo hablan de los puntos malos por el puro gusto de molestar a los actores y productores.

Mirada de Mujer fue una popular telenovela de los 90's,cuya trama era sobre la relación romántica entre una mujer madura y un hombre más joven.

Cesar Costa era un cantante pop de los 60's.En los 80's inició una nueva carrera como comediante.En el show cómico de culto conocido como La Carabina de Ambrosio,Costa a veces hacía una parodia de Bill Bixby tal como aparecía en la serie clásica de Hulk,sólo que usando efectos muy baratos (el Hulk de la parodia era de hecho un traje de goma).

Razón #46

2008-02-15T12:59:00.001-06:00

Translation:
Bane —Bwa-Ha-Ha-Ha! Now,with my Venom formula improved with Choco-Milk,Gamma rays and strenght-calcium,no one wil defeat me! Nyak-Niak!!
Azrael —Holy Mackerel! Just now when the pilot light of my blades turned off!
Robin —I told you to get a gas cylinder of 30 [kg] rather than one of 20 [kg]! Or,haven't thought about a stationary gas engine?
-Reason Nº 46 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
Choco-Milk™ is a Mexican brand of cocoa powder with vitamins and minerals.
Forti-Calcio (Strenght-calcium) is the commercial name for plain calcium used by the Kellogg company in their Cocoa Krispies™ cereal (also known in other countries as Choco Krispies™ or Coco Pops™).

In most of Mexico,domestic gas is sold in cylinders of 15,20 and 30 kg.A common mistake,is buying a small cylinder thinking it will have enough gas and then finding out you actually consume much more gas than you thought.

Notas en Español
Choco-Milk™ es una marca mexicana de chocolate en polvo con vitaminas y minerales.
Forti-Calcio es un nombre comercial para el calcio común,usado por la compañía Kellogg en su cereal Choco-Krispis™.

En gran parte de México,el gas domésico se vende en tanques de 15,20 y 30 kg.Un error muy común,es comprar un cilindro pequeño creyendo que tendrá gas suficiente,para luego caer en cuenta que uno consume más gas del que creía.

Razón #45

2008-02-14T12:24:00.003-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 45 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
Green Arrow —Hey...Did you see an arrow flying by?
Nightwing —Mmmh...nope,I didn't see anything;hey,by chance do you have an aspirin?
Newspaper —The Hair Braid
Batman kidnapped by the Ear-ripper
Hawkeye —Can you tell me where's the archery contest?
Samy —It's easy;just follow the opposite direction the arrow is pointing to! It's logical!

Notes in English
Geez,this sure is the dullest gag in the whole series...what was I thinking when I drew it?

Oh swell.The newspaper name is actually a popular pun of the tabloid La Prensa (The Press;and a trensa in Spanish is a hair braid).
El Mocha-Orejas —The Ear-Ripper— was the nickname of Daniel Arizmendi,a kidnapper known for slashing his victims' ears off and sending them (the ears,not the victims) to their families when asking for a very high ransom.He got caught by the police in 1997.

Notas en Español
Chale,éste es seguro el chiste más sebo de toda la serie...¿En qué estaba pensando cuando lo dibujé?

Oh bueno.El nombre del diario es una popular parodia del nombre del tabloide La Prensa.
El Mocha-Orejas era el mote de Daniel Arizmendi,un secuestrador conocido por cortarles las orejas a sus víctimas para luego mandárselas a sus familias y exigir sumas de rescate muy altas.Fue capturado por la policía en 1997.

Razón #44

2008-02-13T11:42:00.002-06:00

Translation:
Wolverine —¡Venga,pinche tipejo!*
(char) —¡Me la pelas,jijo de puta!**
(char) —¡Cállense el hocico,culeros,escucharlos es peor que verles las pinches jetas!***
Arrow caption —Satellite transmission in a giant screen at the Zocalo
Captions in the screen —Pay Per View (Not):presents the fight of the century:
Wolverine vs Lobo! (featuring Preacher as referee)
Translation and captions by:Audio Master 3000
*-Let's get started,kind gentleman
**-It would be a honor,respectable colleague
***-Please,be kind and start the match,distinguished gentlemen
Samy —Hey,can you understand the captions?
Doriancito —More or less...but trust me,better this than the dubbed version!!*
Corner caption —*In that version,Eugenio Derbez is Lobo's voice and Enrique Iglesias sings the official theme!!
-Reason Nº 44 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
First,sorry for all the bilingual swearing.
Audio Master 3000 was a company that used to monopolize the translation work of American movies and TV series,both by captions or dubbed audio.The problem with them was that their translations were not always accurate at all,and they softened language a lot —you could be watching a bloody massacre and the actors could be shown speaking in a too polite manner.Either that,or the actors chosen for the dubbing would end up with voices that didn't match the characters on the screen at all.
Eugenio Derbez is a comedian with an annoying voice (he was the Mexican voice for Shrek's Donkey).And Enrique Iglesias is a pop singer.

The Zocalo is a huge square right in the center of Mexico City.Back in the '90s,the city government used to set up giant screens there,so the people could gather there and watch sport events.They don't do that anymore after some conservative politicians said it was a populistic idea.

Notas en Español
Antes que nada,perdón por las palabrotas bilingües.
Audio Master 3000 era una compañía que solía monopolizar la labor de traducción de películas y series de TV estadounidenses,tanto a través de subtítulos como de audio doblajeado.El problema con ellos era que sus traducciones no siempre eran fieles del todo,y suavizaban mucho el lenguaje —uno podía estar viendo una masacre sangrienta y los actores salían habblando con demasiada propiedad.Eso,o que los actores elegidos para el doblaje salieran con voces que no coincidían con los personajes en pantalla.
Eugenio Derbez es un comediante con una voz fastidiosa (él fue la voz en México del Burro de Shrek).Y Enrique Iglesias es un cantante pop.

El Zócalo es una enorme plaza en el mero centro de la Ciudad de México.Allá en los 90's,el gobierno de la ciudad solía montar pantallas gigantes ahí,para que la raza se reuniera para ver eventos deportivos.Ya no hacen eso desde que algunos políticos conservadores rezongaron con que era una idea populista.

Razón #43

2008-02-12T23:06:00.001-06:00

Translation:
The Spectre —Access!! You big dumb@$$!! What did you do!!
Access —I didn't mean it,I simply opened a breach to the Amalgam Universe! Honest!
Barneyzilla —I love you...You love me...
Samy —But what wicked mind could amalgamate Barney with Godzilla?
Doriancito —I suppose one that amalgamated Hulk with Chabelo...I think we'd better run from here!
Chabelo-Hulk —Chabelo aplasta a la patética catafixia!!
-Reason Nº 43 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
Amalgam was this silly and fun project where Marvel and DC Comics created new characters by merging some others.The merged characters lived in a parallel universe known as Amalgam.

Chabelo is the alter ego of comedian and TV host Xavier Lopez.Mr. Lopez is quite tall and robust,and as Chabelo he dresses up as a child,so he looks like one of those kids that grow too tall and strong for their age.Chabelo has appeared in many movies,and has hosted a long-running Sunday morning contest show for kids.The catafixia is the most popular contest of that show.Before the end,a kid contestant is randomly selected and is offered the chance of changing his prizes for the things hidden behind 1 of 3 curtains.The catch is,you can either win a bigger prize (like a car,a vacation trip or a year's supply of candy),or lose everything by "winning" a mock prize (like a rock,a box of paper clips or something like that).Of course,is very fun watching both the joy and the frustration of the contestants of the catafixia,but it can also be a stressful experience while you wonder if they'll choose a cool prize or a phony one.

Notas en Español
Amalgam fue un projecto simplón y divertido donde la Marvel y la DC Comics crearon nuevos personajes al fusionar a algunos.Los personajes mezclados habitaban el universo paralelo conocido como Amalgam.

Chabelo es alter ego del comediante y conductor de TV,Xavier Lopez.El Sr. Lopez es bastante alto y robusto,y como Chabelo se viste como niño,de modo que se ve como uno de esos niños que crecen demasiado altos y fuertes para su edad.Chabelo ha aarecido en varias películas,y ha conducido un longevo programa infantil de concursos de domingos por la mañana.La catafixia es el concurso más popular de dicho show.Antes del final,un niño concursante es elegido al azar y se le ofrece la oportunidad de cambiar sus premios por lo que hay oculto detrás de 1 de 3 cortinas.El truco es,que uno puede igual ganar un premio más grande (como un auto,un viaje de vacaciones o una dotación de dulces por un año),o perderlo todo al "ganar" un premio en falso (como una piedra,una caja de clips o algo por el estilo).Por supuesto,es muy divertido ver lo mismo la alegría que la frustración de los concursantes de la catafixia,pero también es una experiencia muy stressante mientras uno no sabe si escogerán un premio chido o uno chafa.

Razón #42

2008-02-11T20:59:00.002-06:00

Translation:
Crowd —Yes We Can! Yes We Can! Oleee-Ole-Ole-Ole!
Asti —Er...Hey,can we borrow the place for at least 5 wee minutes for celebrating the triumph of the Toros Neza [soccer team]?
Iron Fist —No way! We must celebrate that we defeated Onslaught!
Cannonball —"We"? But it was the Avengers those that...
Wolverine —Shut up and come here,let's go break windows on Reforma [Avenue]...
-Reason Nº 42 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
These super-heroes are at the Angel de la Independencia (Angel of Independence) —that's the statue in the tower in the background.This golden statue is a symbol of Mexico City the same as the Statue of Liberty is for New York.And for that reason,whenever a Mexican sports team wins an important game,lots of people gather there to celebrate.

Toros Neza,or more exactly,Los Toros de Ciudad Neza [The Bulls of Neza City] was a small soccer team that disappeared in 2000.But in the '90s it was a popular underdog team.

Onslaught was the main villain in the crossover of the same name.At the end of that storyline,the Avengers defeated him but were apparently dead.In the original comics,the other heroes mourned them,they didn't took the credit of that victory.Anyway,it's a typical Mexican conduct to say «We won» when a sports team wins,and to say «They lost» when the contrary happens.

Reforma Avenue is where the Angel de la Independencia is located (it actually is an avenue that crosses almost all Mexico City from East to West).There are a lot of stores,business buildings and hotels in said avenue,so it's an easy target for teenage vandals who like to spray paint walls and break windows during political demonstrations.

Notas en Español
Estos superhéroes se encuentran en el Angel de la Independencia —la estatua sobre la torre que se ve al fondo.Dicha estatua dorada simboliza a la Ciudad de México del mismo modo en que la Estatua de la Libertad simboliza a Nueva York.Y por tal razón,toda vez que un equipo deportivo mexicano gana algún juego importante,mucha gente se reune ahí para celebrar.

Toros Neza,o más exactamente,Los Toros de Ciudad Neza,fue un pequeño equipo de soccer que desapareció en el 2000.Pero durante los 90's fue un popular equipo que ascendió de 2ª a 1ª división.

Onslaught fue el villano principal de el crossover del mismo nombre.Al final de esa historia,los Avengers lo derrotaron pero aparentemente murieron.En los comics originales,los otros héroes los echaron de menos,no se adjudicaron el crédito de dicha victoria.En todo caso,una típica conducta mexicana es la de decir «ganamos» cuando un equipo deportivo gana,y decir «perdieron» cuando pasa lo contrario.

Avenida Reforma es donde se localiza el Angel de la Independencia (de hecho,es una avenida que atravieza casi toda la Ciudad de México de este a oeste).Ahí hay muchas iendas,edificios empresariales y hoteles,así que es un blanco fácil para los adolescentes vándalos que gustan de pintar muros con spray y romper ventanas durante manifestaciones políticas.

Razón #41

2008-02-10T20:44:00.001-06:00

Translation:
Caption —The Place:The Batcave
The Time:Robin a.k.a. Tim Drake's training session
Robin —Uh-oh! Would Captain America still accept me as the new Bucky?
-Reason Nº 41 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...(and reason Nº 1 why Batman does not procreate kids of his own...)

Notes in English
Fun fact:this cartoon is based upon a real life experience I had when I took some martial arts lessons when I was younger and brattier.

Notas en Español
Dato curioso:este cartón está basado en una experiencia real que tuve cuando tomé algunas lecciones de artes marciales siendo más joven y malcriado.

Razón #40

2008-02-09T12:53:00.004-06:00

Translation:
Asti —Whoah!
The Spectre —Oh my! This is not Dr. Strange's house!
Ghost —Of course it's not,you idiot Spectre:we got the wrong Ouija board again!!
Samy —Well,I've brought directly from Catemaco one of the real ghostbusters,Can he be of any help?
Shaman —Aaah! [Spirit,] Manifest yourself! [Spirit,] Manifest yourself! Kaleemaaah!
-Reason Nº 40 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
In Mexico there are a lot of mediums and shamans —known as brujos ("he-witches").Some of them practice real native rituals,but most of them are just con-men that feel no shame in mixing pre-hispanic traditions with astrology,santeria,voodoo,hinduism and any other esoteric ideas.Anyway,most of them are said to be able to both summon and exorcise spirits,hence the 'real ghostbuster' pun.
Catemaco is a town in the state of Veracruz,famous for being the home of many brujos.

Notas en Español
En México hay muchos mediums y shamanes —conocidos como brujos.Algunos de ellos practican auténticos ritos indígenas,pero la mayoría son sólo charlatanes que no tienen empacho en mezclar tradiciones prehispánicas con astrología,santería,vudú,hinduismo y cualquier otra idea esotérica.Como sea,se dice que muchos de ellos son capaces de tanto invocar como exorcisar espíritus,y de ahí lo de 'verdaderos caza-fantasmas'.
Catemaco es un pueblo en el estado de Veracruz,famoso por ser el hogar de muchos brujos.

Razón #39

2008-02-08T11:39:00.000-06:00

Translation:
Airplane —Control tower...this is Aeromexico's flight 439,Is there any air traffic in the area?
Tower —Control tower here;you've got Silver Surfer at 200 feet,the Dukes of Hazzard's General Lee at 800 feet,Superman at 1300 feet,and both Birdman and Hawkman at 500 feet...and if you're thinking about landing,hurry up,because we are also waiting for an UFO from the ID4 movie and 2 Shi'ar star cruisers! May God help you!
American Godzilla —Yummy-yummy!
Godzooky —Daddy?
Running man —Hey! I did like your movie!
-Reason Nº 39 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
Can you find Waldo in this pic? Okay,Waldo is not actually there,but still there's a lot of characters and not all of them are super-heroes.
Mexico City's airport is very crowded,so it's not hard to think how chaotic it would become if there were flying super-heroes everywhere.

(And yes,I'm a fan of the Japanese Godzilla,but I didn't thought the American version was very bad at all)

Notas en Español
Por si no alcanzan a leerle,el Godzilla gringo dice «Yomi-Yomi!»;Godzooky dice «Papi?»;y el vato huyendo dice «Oye! A mí sí me gustó tu película!»

¿Pueden encontrar a Wally en esta imagen? Okay,Wally no está realmente ahí,pero igual hay hartos personajes y no todos son superhéroes.
El aeropuerto de la Ciudad de México está muy congestionado,así que no es muy difícil imaginar qué tan caótico sería si hubieran superhéroes voladores por todos lados.

(Y sí,soy fan del Godzilla japonés,pero la versión americana no se me hizo tan mala)

Razón #38

2008-02-07T10:51:00.001-06:00

Translation:
Bishop —There's no doubt:Charles Xavier died of a Viagra overdose!
Nightcrawler —Viagra overdose?
Wolverine —Yup,the dumb baldhead swallowed the pills with the jar included!
Cyclops —But I still wonder why he would need to use Viagra,What do you think Jean?
Jean Grey —Ø Uh? Ah! Er...I have no idea,Scott my darling!
-Reason Nº 38 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...(...remember kids,always measure yourself,nothing in excess —except for comics,doughnuts and rock...)

Notes in English
I drew this cartoon right after the beginning of the Onslaught crossover.It was revealed in that storyline that Charles Xavier did have a crush on Jean Grey,so I decided to play with that idea.It was nothing new though,as it was subtly hinted before in other comics (then again,there was a time when Jean was the only woman in the X-men team,so all men around her had a crush on her).

Notas en Español
Dibujé este cartón poco después de que iniciara el crossover de Onslaught.En esa trama se reveló que Charles Xavier llegó a sentirse enamorado de Jean Grey,así que decidí jugar con esa idea.Que tampoco era nada nuevo,pues ya antes se había insinuado sutilmente en otros comics (ahora que por otra parte,hubo un tiempo en que Jean era la única mujer en el equipo de los X-men,así que todos los hombres a su alrededor estaban enamorados de ella).

Razón #37

2008-02-06T22:53:00.002-06:00

Translation:
Scully —Don't be fool Mulder! How can you say that the Chupacabras killed this dude on the Doctores slum? Just look at his gunshot wounds!!
Mulder —Scully,don't be naive,Do you believe the Chupacabras knows how to use a gun? He rather used telephatic hate images! A telephatic hate image in a bullet kills anyone!
Clodomiro Chupacabras —Why me! Why me! I didn't do it,dagnabit!
Arrow caption —Chupacabrus Alienigenus
-Reason Nº 37 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes... (and don't complain,either Mulder & Scully have super-powers or they have a pact with the devil!!)

Notes in English
Yeah,I know that Mulder & Scully are not super-heroes,but back when I was drawing this series of cartoons The X-Files was a huge hit —in fact,here in Mexico the series aired simultaneously on 2 TV channels (3 if you include the original transmissions from the FOX network on cable).

In Mexico City,the Doctores (Doctors) slum is a popular poor and middle-class neighborhood.
The PGR letters on both agents' badges stand for Procuraduría General de la República —Office of the Attorney General of the Republic.That's the Mexican government agency that prosecutes federal crimes.

Notas en Español
Sí,ya sé que Mulder & Scully no son superhéroes,pero allá cuando dibujé esta serie de cartones,The X-Files fue un tremendo éxito —de hecho,aquí en México,la serie se transmitió simultáneamente por 2 canales de TV (3 si contamos las transmisiones originales de la cadena FOX por cable).

En la Ciudad de México City,la Colonia Doctores es un popular vecindario pobre y de clase media.
Las letras PGR en los gafetes de ambos agentes corresponden a Procuraduría General de la República,la cual es la agencia del gobierno mexicano que se ocupa de perseguir los crímenes federales

Razón #36

2008-02-05T21:53:00.004-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 36 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
X-men:The Soap Opera
Rogue —No,Gambit Alfonso...Ours is...an impossible [love]!!
Gambit —As you wish,Ana María De La Rogue...I'll marry Macarena Psylocke then!
Professor X —Oh no...
Wolverine —Professor...tell me the truth:Will I ever get my adamantium back?
Doriancito —"X-men:The Soap Opera"? Give me a break!
Samy —This is Mexico,bub! What were you expecting? An animated series? If you want to,I can turn to channel 13:they are airing "Spider-man:The Other Soap"* there!
Caption —*Featuring a new musical theme by Armando Manzanero!!

Notes in English
In Mexico,there are very few animation studios and they make TV ads mostly because TV channels get much more money by producing not animated series,but melodramatic —and cheesy— soap operas.
Then again,the X-men books feature a lot of angst and drama anyway.
The long names that Gambit and Rogue are using is a parody of a cliche in Mexican soaps:characters usually have names like those.

Armando Manzanero is a composer and sometimes singer known for their romantic songs.There was a time when many of those songs were used in some of the most cheesy soap operas.

Notas en Español
En México,hay muy pocos estudios de animación y hacen principalmente anuncios de TV debido a que las televisoras sacan más dinero produciendo no series animadas,sino telenovelas melodramáticas —y cursis.
Ahora que por otra parte,los comics de los X-men contienen mucho sufrimiento y drama,de todos modos.
Los nombres largos que usan Gambit y Rogue son una obvia parodia de los típicos nombres telenoveleros.

Armando Manzanero es un compositor y cantante ocasional conocido por sus canciones románticas.Hubo un tiempo en que muchas de dichas canciones se usaron para las telenovelas de las más cursis.

Razón #35

2008-02-04T21:28:00.002-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 35 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
Asti —Whoah,Aquaman! Is the eyepatch part of a full 'bum-pirate' look?
Aquaman —I wish! No,it happened that I got something in my eye,and I forgot I had the hook on...>snif!<

Notes in English
It was clear that when they redesigned Aquaman the people at DC Comics wanted him to look tougher.And he did,but he still looked both as an unshaved bum and a Captain Hook wanna-be.Hence the term 'bum-pirate',which was how me and some friends used to call him.
And yes:Flash is drinking Tequila Cuervo —or more exactly,Tequila The Crow,like the Brandon Lee movie.

Notas en Español
Era bastante claro que cuando rediseñaron a Aquaman,la gente de DC Comics quería que se viera más rudo.Y así fue,pero igual lucía también tanto como un vago sin afeitar,como un simulacro del Capitán Garfio.De ahí el término 'pirata pordiosero',que era como le decíamos yo y algunos amigos.
Y sí:Flash está bebiendo Tequila Cuervo —o más precisamente,Tequila The Crow,como en la película de Brandon Lee.

Razón #34

2008-02-03T15:42:00.002-06:00

Translation:
Asti —Are you taking Venom to a psiquiatrist for talking with his simbiot? But he does that all the time!
Samy —By placing a collect call? Let's go 'Venny'
Magazine —Legion of Super-heroes —rulez!
-Reason Nº 35 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
Venom sure is a cool looking character but I never could think of him seriously because of that silly habit of his of talking with a simbiot that actually never said something.I mean,it's comics,dammit,why not putting speech or thought ballons showing what is the simbiot saying? Until they do that,I will think that Venom only talks with himself as any normal schizo.

Ah,and about the Legion of Super-heroes mention,it was just that I was enjoying a lot the series back when I drew this cartoon.

Notas en Español
Venom sin duda es un personaje con un diseño chido pero yo nunca he podido tomarlo en serio debido a ese bobo hábito suyo de hablar con un simbiote que nunca ha dicho nada realmente.Digo,son comics,caraxo,¿Porqué no ponerle un globo de diálogo o de pensamiento mostrando qué tanto dice el simbiote? Hasta que no hagan eso,siempre creeré que Venom sólo habla solo,como cualquier otro esquizoide normal.

Ah,y respecto a la mención a la Legion of Super-heroes es solo que estaba disfrutando mucho esa serie cuando dibujé este cartón.

Razón #33

2008-02-02T15:12:00.002-06:00

Translation:
Punisher —Hold on! If we are the though,macho and merciless super-heroes,something isn't right!
Cable —Why? Ghost Rider gets revenge,Logan is the best at what he does,I go against the enemies of the mutants and...
Ghost Rider —I get it:after a while we would be the only 5 left alive!
Lobo —...and I've got my doubts about you,you bastiches!!
-Reason Nº 33 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
The '90s was the golden age (?) of the grim & gritty super-heroes,the ones willing to kill villains rather than simply catching them.They are said to be more realistic,but often they are among the silliest characters of them all —has anyone else noticed how they selectively only kill generic characters,but never do that with the main villains?

Notas en Español
Los 90's fue la época dorada (?) de los superhéroes oscuros y sombríos,aquellos dispuestos a matar a los villanos en vez de simplemente capturarlos.Se dice que son más realistas,pero con frecuencia están entre los personajes más simplones de todos —¿Alguien más ha notado cómo selectivamente matan sólo personajes genéricos,y nunca le hacen nada a los villanos principales?

Razón #32

2008-02-01T11:17:00.000-06:00

Translation:
Caption —The place:The airport,during the return of the national soccer team right after playing in the FIFA World Cup...
Moans —>Ugh!< >Penalty!< >Mercy!< >Mommy!<
Superman —Stop waving that white flag,the goal massacre is over!!
Asti —...we're live on TV,coach Richards,What do you say about the bad performance of the national team?
Mr. Fantastic —Gee...It wasn't our fault,How could we know that Brazil's team had Dr. Doom as their coach?
Background —Gate 2
-Reason Nº 32 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...(and even if there were,they'll never would win a game in the group stage of the FIFA World Cup)

Notes in English
Soccer is the most popular sport in Mexico.Oddly,the national team (supposed to be a dream team of the best players in all the country) that participates in any international tournaments hardly wins any games.
Mexican fans are used to it though,but it is always fun to hear the excuses from the different coaches —in a cynical way at least.

Notas en Español
El soccer es el deporte más popular en México.Extrañamente,la selección nacional (supuestamente un equipo de ensueño con los mejores jugadores de todo el país) que participa en todo torneo internacional difícilmente gana al menos un partido.
Los hinchas mexicanos ya están acostumbrados de todos modos,pero siempre es divertido escuchar las excusas de los diversos directores técnicos —al menos desde una postura cínica.

Razón #31

2008-01-31T09:53:00.001-06:00

Translation:
Asti —Darn! Alex,Crimsy! Talk to me!
Alex Elder —...'cking...daylight-saving...time...!
Clodomiro Chupacabras —Ugh! Smells like something's burning!
Arrow caption —Creatureus Chupacabrus
Samy —Hullo? Humberto? Hey,confidentially,Didn't you ever thought rather making the 'Sensational Chupacabras Book' instead of Crimson?
Doriancito —Don't forget to call Luis de Llano cancelling the soap opera project,uh?
-Reason Nº 31 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...(and reason Nº 1 why Image [comics] is printing Crimson and not Ejea)

Notes in English
1998 was the year when penciller Humberto Ramos co-founded the Cliffhanger imprint (a sub-division of Wildstorm comics,then a part of Image Comics).It was big news among Mexican comics fans,and his comic Crimson became a huge hit (at least while the series kept on schedule and before its ending was rushed,but that's another story).So,even though the Alex Elder character was not a true super-hero,I had the moral duty of featuring him at least once in this series of cartoons.

1998 also was the year when Mexico started using daylight-saving time.So you can guess that there were —and still are— a lot of people getting confused waking up at 6:00 am with no sunlight,and finding out that at 7:00 pm there were no sunset yet.

Ejea was a local imprint known mostly for its soft-porn comics,usually titled as 'Sensacional de...' (Sensational [book] of...).It was despised by many readers of American super-hero comics.
Luis de Llano was a then famous musical and TV producer.

This cartoon maybe its not very funny at all,but it's a personal favorite because it features the very first appearance of my character Clodomiro Chupacabras.At this point he was supposed to be just a random chupacabras,but later I started using him again and again,until he developed a personality of his own.

Notas en Español
1998 fue el año en que el trazador Humberto Ramos co-fundó el sello editorial Cliffhanger (una sub-división de Wildstorm comics,entonces parte de Image Comics).Fue todo un suceso entre los fans mexicanos de comics,y su comic Crimson fue un gran éxito (al menos mientras la serie salió a tiempo y antes de que su final fuera apresurado,pero esa es otra historia).Entonces,aunque el personaje de Alex Elder no era un superhéroe del todo,pues tenía el deber moral de incluírlo al menos una vez en esta serie de cartones.

1998 fue tambié el año en que México empezó a usar el horario de verano.Así que pueden adivinar que entonces hubo —y aún hay— mucha gente que se confunde al despertar a las 6:00 am sin ver la luz del sol,y encontrarse con que a las 7:00 pm el sol aún no se oculta.

Ejea era una editorial local conocida principalmente por sus comics soft-porno,usualmente titulados como 'Sensacional de...'.Era repudiada por muchos lectores de comics de superhéroes estadounidenses.
Luis de Llano era un entonces famoso productor musical y de TV.

Este cartón igual no es muy gracioso,pero es uno de mis favoritos ya que presenta la primerita aparición de mi personaje Clodomiro Chupacabras.En este punto se suponía era sólo un chupacabras genérico,pero más adelante empecé a usarlo de nuevo y de nuevo,hasta que desarrolló una personalidad propia.

Razón #30

2008-01-30T14:27:00.001-06:00

Translation:
Green Lantern —Yes,he's here,just a moment —J'onn! Jaime Maussan is calling you!
Phone —Hullo...?
Martian Manhunter —What the...? I've already told you that whenever he calls you should tell him that I'm not here! Surely he only wants to keep insisting on featuring me in his TV show!
Marvin The Martian —Grampa J'onn,keep on reading the tale,I wanna know what was what the Little Red Riding Hood said!
Book —Martian Chronicles
Martian from Mars Attacks —Wonder how can I go to Campo Marte?
-Reason Nº 30 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
Jaime Maussan is a TV reporter that used to host the Mexican version of the 60 Minutes TV newsmagazine until he got interested only in UFOs.He's quite professional as a reporter but he's also a bit gullible and has been involved in at least 2 or 3 UFO hoaxes and so has lost some of his respectability.

About all those martian puns,well,in Mexican slang,extraterrestrials of all kinds are called marcianos —martians.Of course,everyone knows that there's no life forms in Mars yet the term stuck in Mexican culture.The irony in this cartoon is obviously that I drew only 'true' martians.
Campo Marte (Camp Mars) is the most notorious military camp in Mexico City.

Oh,and the number 30 is underlined because this cartoon was my first landmark in the series,as many of my friends didn't believe I could reach that number (at this stage,I wasn't sure about how many cartoons I was going to draw).
(inglish)

Notas en Español
Jaime Maussan es un reportero de TV que solía conducir la versión mexicana del informativo 60 Minutes,hasta que se interesó únicamente en OVNIs.Es bastante profesional como reportero pero también es algo ingenuo y se ha involucrado en al menos 2 o 3 feaudes de OVNIs,por lo que ha perdido algo de respeto.

En cuanto a todos los chistes de marcianos,pues resulta que en el slang mexicano,a los extraterrestres de todo tipo se les llama marcianos.Claro,ya todo mundo sabe que no hay formas de vida en Marte,pero el término pegó dentró de la cultura mexicana.La ironía en este cartón es que obviamente dibujé sólo marcianos 'verdaderos'.
Campo Marte es el campo militar más notable de la Ciudad de México.

Oh,y el número 30 está subrayado por que fue mi primer marca dentro de la serie,pues muchos de mis amigos no creían que pudiera llegar a esa cifra (en este punto,no estaba seguro aún de cuántos cartones iba a realizar).

Razón #29

2008-01-29T23:11:00.001-06:00

Translation:
Supergirl,Steel and Superboy —Hello! Anyone here called for the Superman Team...? Peen-pohm >snap-snap< Potatoes!! Peen-pohm >snap-snap< Potatoes!!
Superboy —Dammit! I never can snap my fingers right!
Doriancito —Uh-Oh! What do we do now?
Samy —Do you have a phone card? We still can call Gen 13...
-Reason Nº 29 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
Back in the '80s in Mexico there was a cult comedy TV show known as La Carabina de Ambrosio (Ambrosio's Rifle,but a more proper translation would be 'The Poultice On The Wooden Leg').In this show,comedian Alejandro Suarez sometimes appeared as a parody of Superman,using the name of Supermam —a pun meaning Super-Dolt.His catchphrase was a very silly one (Peen-pohm,Potatoes! —he was supposed to be a simpleton,you know) and was accompanied by some even more sillier hand movements and a double finger snap.

Yeah,it all sounds a bit complicated and not very funny at all —except of course for nostalgic people who watched La Carabina de Ambrosio.

Notas en Español
Allá por los 80's,en México hubo un show cómico de culto conocido como La Carabina de Ambrosio.En dicho show,el comediante Alejandro Suarez a veces salía como una parodia de Superman,usando el nombre de Supermam —una abreviación de Super-Mamón.Su frase personal era una muy boba (Pin-pom,Papas! —se supone que era un babas,después de todo) y la cual iba acompañada de unos aún más bobos movimientos de manos y un chasquido doble de dedos.

Y sí,todo suena muy rebuscado y no muy gracioso del todo —excepto por supuesto para la gente nostálgica que veía La Carabina de Ambrosio.

Razón #28

2008-01-28T22:25:00.002-06:00

Translation:
Federal agent —Okay,that pernicious Deadpool is hidden somewhere here in Chapultepec,he has no food,he's a mutant,and he's alone...We come well armed,we're 7 and...HEY! Didn't we came following his tracks with some dogs? Where are they?! Those were the finest hounds of the PGR!!
Deadpool —Naaah...I wouldn't say they were the 'finest' at all,but I guess that in my situation I can't ask for more >Burp!<
Book —Cooking On Credit
-Reason Nº 28 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
Chapultepec is a forest inside Mexico City.It's big but the idea of hiding inside it as if it were a wild zone is ridiculous.

PGR stands for Procuraduría General de la República —Office of the Attorney General of the Republic.That's the Mexican government agency that prosecutes federal crimes...think of it like the Mexican FBI.

Notas en Español
Chapultepec es un bosque dentro de la Ciudad de México.Es grande,pero la idea de esconderse ahí como si fuera una zona silvestre es ridícula.

PGR son las siglas de Procuraduría General de la República.La cual es la agencia del gobierno mexicano que se ocupa de perseguir los crímenes federales...algo así como el FBI mexicano.
(Por cierto,si no alcanzas a leer el título del libro,es 'Cocina En Abonos')

Razón #27

2008-01-27T21:12:00.001-06:00

Translation:
The Darkness —Keh?! How comes that you are gonna fine me and take me to the police station? It was that darn Witchblade who threw me out from the window!
Policeman —'xactly,I'll fine her for littering...and you're coming with me as evidence of that crime! Now get on the car!
-Reason Nº 27 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
I guess I already mentioned the fact that Mexican policemen can be abbusive against common criminals,but they also have some really weird ways to interpret the law.

Notas en Español
Creo haber mencionado ya el hecho de que los policías mexicanos pueden ser abusivos con los criminales comunes,pero también tienen unos modos muy torcidos de interpretar la ley.

Razón #26

2008-01-26T20:38:00.002-06:00

Translation:
-Reason Nº 26 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...
Asti —Good morning Flash! Ah,by the way,watch your step as I've just waxed the floor!
Flash —Come off iiiiiiiiiiiit!
Sound effect & caption — >Darn it!< (remember this,kids:when falling down speed doesn't kill you but the sudden stop!)
Bucket —Property of JLA's Janitorial Cleaning Service

Notes in English
Accidents with slippery floors are not exclusive of Mexico,but too many Mexican janitors are specialists in cleaning floors exactly when other people need to walk over there.

Notas en Español
Los accidentes con pisos resbalosos no son exclusivos de México,pero muchísimos consejes mexicanos son especialistas en ponerse a limpiar los pisos en el momento justo en que más gente necesita caminar por ahí.

Razón #25

2008-01-25T19:09:00.002-06:00

Translation:
Samy —ØØØHeigh-ho,heigh-ho,It's polishing what we doØØØ
Iron Man —But let me tell you something:it's such a drag that at every red light there's a brat with a cloth and bottle of soapy water!
Silver Surfer —I know what you mean...
Doriancito —Mr. Surfer,Would you be kind enough to stand up so I can wax your cheeks?
-Reason Nº 25 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
In Mexico City,street children can't get jobs because they're too young,and because of that many of them choose to earn some coins by washing cars' windshields while they stop in front of red lights.Many car owners don't like them because children usually jump on the cars' hoods for reaching the windshields,and they don't usually ask first if you want them to clean your glass or not.

Notas en Español
En la Ciudad de México,los niños de la calle no pueden conseguir empleos dada su corta edad,y por eso muchos de ellos optan por ganarse unas monedas lavando parabrisas de los autos que se detienen frente a los semáforos en rojo.A muchos propietarios de autos no les gusta ésto,pues los niños usualmente se trepan sobre los cofres de los autos para alcanzar los parabrisas,y usualmente nunca preguntan primero si uno quiere que limpien o no el vidrio.

Razón #24

2008-01-24T18:32:00.002-06:00

Translation:
Wolverine —Grrrr! This is so humiliating!
Lobo —Shaddup you runt,you are not the only one!
Aquaman —Should I change this harpoon for a swiss army knife like McGiver's?
Warblade —I really hate the crowds in waiting lines!
-Reason Nº 24 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
Sharpening knives,scissors and all kinds of blades can be done at special shops,but in many parts of Mexico that task is usually done by ambulant knife sharpeners on bycicles.And yes,I've always wondered how super-heroes with blades keep them always sharp.

Notas en Español
Para afilar cuchillos,tijeras y toda clase de navajas se puede ir a tiendas especializadas,pero en muchas partes de México esa labor es usualmente hecha por afiladores ambulantes en bicicleta.Y sí,siempre me he preguntado cómo es que los superhéroes con armas punzo-cortantes siempre las conservan afiladas.

Razón #23

2008-01-23T13:13:00.002-06:00

Translation:
-Keeping everyone safe,always fighting for peace and justice! Yes,in the 30th century there is the Legion of Mexican Super-Heroes! (or,Reason Nº 23 Why There Ain't No —and there won't ever be— Mexican Super-heroes...
Capulina-boy —Has anyone seen Alushe-boy?
Caption on the right —(Sorry,we don't know anything about Simon Simonazo boy,Ultrapato 2099,Katy la Oruga girl...)

Notes in English
The characters depicted here are all parodies of old Mexican super-heroes.In American comic books,heroic mantles are inherited all time,but that doesn't happen in Mexican comics and so the irony of depicting futuristic versions of them.

Aguila Solitaria (Lone Eagle) was a Western hero,an Apache raised by eagles and with the power of flight.
Zor was a heroic robot in a comic for kids.
Karmatron was a space-opera hero (and was a male).
Chanoc was a Mexican fisher who had Tarzan-like adventures.
Kaliman was a hero with martial arts skills and some mystic superpowers.
El Charro Negro (The Black Charro) was not a comic book character.Actually and originally he is a legendary ghost,dressed all in black and that haunts solitary roads.
Capulina is the alter ego of comedian Gaspar Henaine.Not a true super-hero,but in his comics,movies and TV show he usually was featured as a parodic adventurer.In his TV series,he had the luchador (wrestler) Tinieblas as his sidekick/guardian angel,and Alushe (a cute Ewok-like furry creature) was Tinieblas' sidekick.
El Santos is a parody of El Santo,the most famous Mexican luchador.El Santos was kind of a unrefined and cynical version of El Santo,hence the fact that his hand is censored.

Finally,Simon Simonazo was a humor comic book featuring low-class young men.Ultrapato (Ultraduck) was a super-hero miniseries featuring anthropomorphic characters.And Katy La Oruga (Katy the Caterpillar) was this cute character from a children's storybook that was later adapted into an animated movie,and later into a comic book series for kids.

Notas en Español
Los personajes aquí presentados son todos parodias de viejos superhéroes mexicanos.En los comics estadounidenses,los mantos heróicos se heredan todo el tiempo,pero eso no ocurre en los comics mexicanos y de ahí la ironía de mostrar versiones futuristas de ellos.

Águila Solitaria era un héroe Western,un apache criado por águilas y con la capacidad de volar.
Zor era un robot heróico de un comic para niños.
Karmatron era un superhéroe espacial (y era hombre).
Chanoc era un pescador mexicano que tenía aventuras similares a las de Tarzan.
Kaliman era un héroe con habilidades de artes marciales y algunos superpoderes místicos.
El Charro Negro no fue realmente un personaje de comic.En realidad y originalmente,es un espectro legedario,vestido de negro y que merodea los caminos solitarios.
Capulina es la identidad alterna del comediante Gaspar Henaine.No es un superhéroe realmente,pero en sus comics,películas y show de TV usualmente se le presentaba como un aventurero paródico.En su serie de TV,tenía al luchador Tinieblas como su asistente/angel guardián,y Alushe (una criatura peluda linda parecida a un Ewok) era el asistente de Tinieblas.
El Santos es una parodia de El Santo,el más famoso luchador mexicano.El Santos era algo así como la versión guarra y cínica de El Santo,de ahí el que su mano salga censurada.

Finalmente,Simon Simonazo era un comic de humor basado en jóvenes de clases bajas.Ultrapato fue una miniserie de superhéroes protagonizada por animalitos.Y Katy la Oruga era un personaje tierno de un libro infantil que luego fue adaptado a película animada,y luego a serie de comic para niños.

Razón #22

2008-01-22T12:25:00.002-06:00

Translation:
Superman —Great Krypton! I demand an explaination!
Asti —Here is,here is,the video of the Death of Superman and the wedding of Lois and Clark! On Beta,VHS and laser deesc!
Samy —Hey...Do you have the caption edition of "Magneto's Good-bye"? And I mean the villain,of course...
Table sign —Sale and rent of videos
-Reason Nº 22 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
Outside of almost all subway stations in Mexico City,you can find stands of people selling all kinds of stuff.The most of them sell illegal copies of movies —all of them,in any version you like (dubbed or with captions).Sometimes you can even find movies long before they premiere on theaters.
Check out that when I drew this cartoon,DVD technology wasn't available (I feel so old now!).

Magneto is of course the name of the X-men's arch-enemy,but it also was the name of a popular but awful Mexican boy band.When they disbanded,they sold a video of their farewell tour.The video's title was "El Adiós de Magneto" (Magneto's Good-bye).

When I drew this cartoon,the idea of selling a video of Superman's death seemed too shameless,yet in 2008 the Warner Bros. did release a video of said death.

Notas en Español
A las afueras de casi todas las estaciones del metro en la Ciudad de México,es posible encontrar puestos de gente vendiendo toda clase de cosas.La mayoría de ellos venden copias ilegales de películas —de todas,y en cualquier versión (dobladas o con subtítulos).A veces se pueden conseguir películas incluso desde mucho antes de que se estrenen en cines.
Nótese cómo cuando dibujé este cartón,la tecnología del DVD aún no estaba disponible (¡Para sentirse viejo!).

Magneto es por supuesto el nombre del archienemigo de los X-men,pero también era el nombre de una popular pero horrenda banda pop masculina.Cuando se separaron,sacaron a la venta un video de su gira de despedida.El título del video fue "El Adiós de Magneto".

Cuando dibujé el cartón,la idea de que se vendiera un video con la Muerte de Superman sonaba bastante desvergonzado,ysin embargo en el 2008 la Warner Bros. de hecho sacó a la venta un video de dicha muerte.

Razón #21

2008-01-21T11:14:00.004-06:00

Translation:
Daredevil —Enough,you pestering brat! I've already told you I won't give you my autograph because I'm not that Chapulin Colorado!
Doriancito —My,watch your temper!
Samy —Forget him,he's not worth it! Besides,there goes Blue Demon!
Bane —Me?
-Reason Nº 21 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
El Chapulin Colorado ('The Crimson Cricket') is a TV character created by Mexican comedian Roberto "Chespirito" Gomez Bolaños.The character is a parody of American super-heroes and wears an all red bug costume —hence the 'confusion' with Daredevil's red costume.

Blue Demon on the other hand was a famous luchador (wrestler) whom starred some action/horror movies.The connection with Bane comes from the fact that when this villain was first introduced in Batman:The Animated Series he looked too much like Blue Demon —just check the images here below:

Notas en Español
El Chapulin Colorado es un personaje televisivo creado por el comediante mexicano Roberto "Chespirito" Gomez Bolaños.Es sumamente conocido en toda Latinoamérica,pero si de chiripa no sabes quién es,baste con saberse que es una parodia de los super-héroes estadounidenses y que usa un traje de bicho totalmente rojo —ergo la 'confusión' con el traje rojo de Daredevil.

Blue Demon por su parte fue un famoso luchador que protagonizó algunas películas de acción/horror.La conección con Bane surge desde el momento en que cuando este villano apareció por primera vez en Batman:La Serie Animada,se veía igualito a Blue Demon —nomás checa las imágenes aquí abajo:

Razón #20

2008-01-20T19:21:00.001-06:00

Translation:
Birdman —Razzen-frazzen,©#§·@$!
Doriancito —Hey...Who's that?
Samy —That? Ah,that's Birdman! He stablished his headquarters at the volcano,but he didn't expect the volcanic ash!
-Reason Nº 20 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
Mexico City is in a valley surrounded by mounts and 2 volcanos:the Popocatepetl and the Iztacihuatl —the Popo and the Izta for shorten.Popocatepetl in nahuatl language means 'Smoking Mountain',and it has that name because it's an active volcano that every now and then expels clouds of smoke —actually volcanic ash.

Now,Birdman may be considered a second-rate character,but in Mexico he was the most popular of all the super-heroes created by Alex Toth for Hanna-Barbera.In fact,reruns of his show were aired on public TV since the '70s and well into the early '90s.

Notas en Español
La Ciudad de México está en un valle rodeado de cerros y 2 volcanes:el Popocatepetl y el Iztacihuatl —o el Popo y el Izta,para abreviar.Popocatepetl en idioma nahuatl significa 'Montaña que humea',y se le dió ese nombre por que es un volcán activo que de vez en vez expulsa fumarolas de ceniza volcánica.

Ahora bien,Birdman puede ser considerado un personaje segundón,pero en México fue el más popular de todos los superhéroes creados por Alex Toth para la Hanna-Barbera.De hecho,las repeticiones de su show se mantuvieron al aire en la TV pública desde los 70's hasta bien entrados los inicios de los 90's.

Razón #19

2008-01-19T21:24:00.001-06:00

Translation:
Adobo Chalulosky —Tonite on 24 Hoaxes,a new adition to the talents of Telerisa! From now on,we own Spider-man,and he'll start a singing career with Mercurio!
Spider-man —(Live) I wanna say 'Hi!' to my missus,Mary Jane!
Adobo's paper —Sit straight,you stupid!
Javier En La Torre —Thiiis niiight on Candid Camera!! TV Olmec has more talent in its ranks,as today Spider-man joined us,and he will star a new soap opera along with the Bichir Bros. and Brozo!
Spider-man clone —(Live) I wanna say 'Hi!' to my aunt May,as she sure is watching me right now!
Javier's badge —Caritele Club
Javier's paper —Look to the camera,you loudmouth!
-Reason Nº 19 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes... (epilogue:Spider-man/Parker quit later and went to TV Olmec,he starred 2 TV shows and then was never seen again.Spider-man/Reilly abandoned the soap before its final episode,and was substituted by Ana Colchero...)

Notes in English
Adobo Chalulosky is a parody of Jacobo Zabludovsky,the TV newsman that hosted the '24 Hours' late-nite news program for the Televisa network.Javier en la Torre is a parody of Javier Alatorre,the host of the 'Hechos' news program for TV Azteca network.
This cartoon is obviously about Spider-man's Clone Saga,but it also pokes fun at the way Televisa doesn't make quality entertainment,and the way TV Azteca is always badly imitating whatever Televisa does.

Mercurio was a crappy boy band.Eco (seen in Adobo's 'I love Eco' button) was a failed attempt of Televisa at trying to imitate the style and formats of CNN.
Caritele (Cartoon-tube) used to be TV Azteca's Saturday morning cartoon programming.The Bichir brothers are a famous family of actors.Brozo is a clown character created by comedian Victor Trujillo.
And Ana Colchero was this actress that starred a very popular soap opera produced by TV Azteca.When the soap became a ratings hit,she blackmailed her producers with leaving the show in mid-production unless they gave her more privileges.But her plan didn't work,as her producers found a substitute actress (and explained the change of faces by making the character have a car accident and undergoing some plastic surgery).

Notas en Español
Adobo Chalulosky es una parodia de Jacobo Zabludovsky,el antiguo conductor a cargo del noticiero nocturno '24 Horas' de la cadena Televisa.Javier en la Torre es la parodia de Javier Alatorre,el conductor del noticiero 'Hechos' de la cadena TV Azteca.
Este cartón es obviamente sobre la Saga del Clon de Spider-man,pero también es una burla al modo en que Televisa no elabora buen entretenimiento,y el modo en que TV Azteca siempre anda imitando de mal modo todo lo que Televisa hace.

Mercurio fue una chambona banda masculina pop.Eco fue un intento fallido de Televisa por imitar el estilo y formatos de CNN.Caritele solía ser la barra de dibujos animados de sábado por la mañana de TV Azteca.Los Bichir son una familia famosa de actores.Brozo es el personaje de un payaso,creado por el comediante Victor Trujillo.
Y Ana Colchero era una actriz que protagonizó una telenovela muy popular producida por TV Azteca.Cuando la telenovela se volvió un éxito de ratings,la Colchero amenazó a sus productores con abandonar el show a media producción a menos que le dieran más privilegios.Pero su plan le falló,pues sus productores encontraron una actriz sustituta (y explicaron el cambio de rostros al hacer que el personaje tuviera un accidente automovilístico y se sometiera a cirugía plástica).

Razón #18

2008-01-18T20:22:00.004-06:00

Translation:
Asti —Whoah! What happens with Galactus,uh?
Doriancito —Boo...He's such a wuss,he only ate one serving of suadero! Better give me my order for taking out,I don't wanna be here when he finishes the digestion of the enchiladas and chickpeas he had for breakfast!
Taco stand Suadero (brisket) $1.00
Bark-beque $3.00
German shepherd kebab $2.00
Bow-wow Sushi $2.50
Chihuahua special $1.50
Sweaty skirt steak $3.00
Blood milkshake $4.00
Warm soda $2.00
(Pedigree Dog; $2.00 extra)
-Reason Nº 18 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
In all Mexican cities you can find taco stands.And just like all kinds of fast food sold on the sidewalks around the world,well,it's not always cooked as cleanly and healthy as one would expect —just ask any unaware tourist.Then again,Mexican food is also very hot and spicy,so eating sidewalk tacos can be quite an...er,adventure.

Anyway,in Mexico there's also an urban legend that tacos from street vendors are made with dog meat —hence the puns in the menu of the taco stand in this cartoon (unfortunately I couln't translate all of them and I think said puns don't sound as funny in English as they do in Mexican slang).

Notas en Español
En todas las ciudades mexicanas se pueden encontrar puestos de tacos.Y al igual que toda clase de comida rápida vendida en las calles alrededor del mundo,bueno,no siempre es algo que se prepare con la limpieza y salud que uno quisiera —sólo pregúntenle a cualquier turista despistado.Aunque también,la comida mexicana es muy picante y condimentada,así que comer tacos callejeros puede ser tona una...er,aventura.

Como sea,en México hay también una leyenda urbana que dice que los tacos vendidos en la calle son hechos con carne de perro —de ahí los juegos de palabras en el menú del puesto de tacos de este cartón (que probablemente no suenen tan graciosos si no estás familiarizado con el slang mexicano).

Razón #17

2008-01-17T13:56:00.001-06:00

Translation:
Thor —For Asgard!
Captain Marvel —Shazam!
Superman —I don't know what I'm doing here! Somebody call Mike Carlin or Dan Jurgens!
Man —Er...excuse me,I'm from the electric company,before you go to save the world,you must pay your bill,you owe us $3 millions and that's just the electricity you used yesterday!
-Reason Nº 17 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
As you can guess,I drew this cartoon a little after Superman got electric powers.Mike Carlin was the editor in chief of the Superman comics,and Dan Jurgens was the most popular writer and artist in said titles.

Notas en Español
Como podrán adivinar,dibujé este cartón poco después de que Superman obtuviera poderes eléctricos.Mike Carlin era el editor en jefe de los comics de Superman,y Dan Jurgens era el escritor y artista más popular de dichos títulos.

Razón #16

2008-01-16T14:30:00.000-06:00

Translation:
Spider-man —Here comes...The Sensationalist Spider-man!!
Doriancito —You know what? It really worries me this dude always coming into a room through the windows!
Samy —If you were dressed like him,would you come in by walking through the door? Wait a bit here,I'll bring some DDT!
-Reason Nº 16 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
Not much to say about this cartoon —it's too simple and silly.

Notas en Español
No hay mucho qué decir respecto a este cartón —es muy simple y muy simplón.

Razón #15

2008-01-15T12:00:00.001-06:00

Translation:
Doriancito —Swamp Thing?! What are you doing here?
Aquaman —Swamp Thing schmanthing!! It's me,Aquaman! And you people should try at least a little cleaning up here in Xochimilco!
Duck caption —Brown duckling
Rat caption —Water rat
Shark caption —This ain't a garfish
-Reason Nº 15 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
Xochimilco is a small town in the South of Mexico City.It is built over artificial islands in a lake,and transportation is made with these boats called trajineras.
Xochimilco is a very popular touristic zone,and unfortunately because of that,too many people litter in the water.

In Mexico,muskrats are also known as water rats,and some people get confused with that term,as they usually think of them as common sewer rats living in rivers and lakes.
Garfish is used in many typical dishes in southern Mexico,and so its name is used a lot when jokingly speaking about fish or people from the South.

Notas en Español
Xochimilco es un pequeño pueblo en el sur de la Ciudad de México.Está edificado sobre islas artificiales en un lago,y la transportación se hace a través de unas lanchas llamadas trajineras.
Xochimilco es una zona turística muy popular,y lamentablemente por lo mismo,mucha gente tira basura en el agua.

En México,las ratas almizcleras son conocidas también como ratas de agua,lo que para algunos crea confusión,al creer que se trata sólo de ratas comunes de alcantarilla que viven en ríos y lagos.
El pejelagarto es un pez comestible usado en muchos platillos típicos de la región sureña de México,y por lo mismo el término es usado mucho cuando se le quiere hacer burla a los pescados o a la gente oriunda del sur.

Razón #14

2008-01-14T11:17:00.000-06:00

Translation:
Vampirella —I SAID NOOO!!! I don't work in a table dance bar of the Zona Rosa!
Asti —Ah! Then you work in one at the downtown...and how much for a dance?
-Reason Nº 14 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
The Zona Rosa (the Pink Zone) is a small district in Mexico City where many shops,restaurants,bars and nightclubs are located.Many of the first topless and nude bars were there —nowadays most of them are gay bars.

Notas en Español
La Zona Rosa es un pequeño barrio en la Ciudad de México donde hay varias tiendas,restaurantes,bares y centros nocturnos.Muchos de los primeros bares nudistas y topless se ubicaron ahí —hoy en día muchos son ahora bares gay.

Razón #13

2008-01-13T12:15:00.001-06:00

Translation:
Man —DEATH SENTENCE?!? Noo! Don't kill me,Mr. Judge Dredd! I did rob the bank,but it was because my granny died at Chenalho,I got fired from my job,they seized my TV,I'm wanted for tax evasion,I owe 3 months of my rent,and I've got a wife,a lover and 7 brats to feed! It doesn't move you? Mercy!!
Judge Dredd —'xactly because of that is that I'm gonna kill you,to stop your suffering! But now that you've shown me you're such a crybaby,don't expect me to even take you to the Ajusco!
-Reason Nº 13 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes... (Why for? We already have Zorros,Jaguares,Lobos,Judicials,Military Police,Preventive Police,PGR,etc.)

Notes in English
As far as I know,Judge Dredd was created as a satire of police brutality in the U.K.,but Mexican police men are also known for their violent and abbusive methods against common criminals.The ones mentioned in the title of this cartoon are some of the many police agencies and groups in the country.

Chenalho is a town in the Chiapas State where a paramilitary group made a massacre of native americans in 1997.
The Ajusco is a forest and mountain zone in the South of Mexico City.Until the '90s it used to be your typical remote place where you would drop a corpse that you wouldn't like to be found.

Notas en Español
Hasta donde sé,Judge Dredd fue creado como una sátira de la brutalidad policiaca en el Reino Unido,pero la policía mexicana es también conocida por sus métodos violentos y abusivos contra los criminales comunes.Los que están listados en el título de este cartón son algunos de los varios grupos y agencias policiales en el país.

Chenalhó es un poblado del estado Chiapas donde un grupo paramilitar hizo una masacre de indígenas en 1997.
El Ajusco es una zona boscosa y montañosa al sur de la Ciudad de México.Hasta la década de los 90's solía ser el típico lugar remoto donde uno botaría un cadáver que no quisiera que fuera hallado.

Razón #12

2008-01-12T11:47:00.001-06:00

Translation:
Spawn —©&#~@$!
Man —Not again! Someone should forbid Spawn using the subway with that huge cape of his!
Asti —Oh swell,pal,that's everyday life for us!! Mister Chilo! Bring us here the big crowbar! The ezpaoon got himself stuck in the tourniquet!!!
Mr. Chilo —Again? Damn!
-Reason Nº 12 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
A very popular joke among comic book readers back in the '90s was poking fun on Spawn cape,so I just jumped on the bandwagon.Still,as a matter of fact,Mexico City's subway does have some very narrow tourniquets.

Notas en Español
Un chiste muy popular entre comiqueros durante los 90's era burlarse de la capa de Spawn,así que simplemente seguí la tendencia.Sin embargo y de hecho,el metro de la Ciudad de México tiene unos torniquetes muy estrechos.

Razón #11

2008-01-11T10:56:00.001-06:00

Translation:
President —And so,Provida members,Fathers' Association,partners,fellow countrymen,I'll show you the new look of the hero formerly known as Captain America:from now on,Subcommander Mexicalpan!
Captain America —Somebody shoot me and end my suffering,for mercy's sake!
-Reason Nº 11 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
Well,it's obvious that if Captain America were created in Mexico he wouldn't be dressed as the American flag...but if he were Mexican,he would be using a very goofy and kitschy costume.The name of Subcommander Mexicalpan is just me poking fun on Mexicans' sense of pollitical correctness (being a subcommander emphazises he's an upper rank than a captain,yet he's clearly below a supreme commander).

Provida is a Mexican civil association with an almost fundamentalist interest in right-wing politics,morality and nationalistic values.

I think it's funny how I put Captain America wishing to be shot,and then that's exactly how he got killed after the Civil War crossover.

Notas en Español
Vale,es obvio que si el Captain America hubiera sido creado en México no estaría vestido como la bandera estadounidense...pero si fuera mexicano,usaría un traje muy kitsch y ridículo.El nombre de Subcomandante Mexicalpan es una burla a lo que es el sentido de los mexicanos de lo políticamente correcto (al ser un subcomandante,se enfatiza que es superior a un capitán,pero no deja de ser claramente inferior a un comandante supremo).

Provida es una asociación civil mexicana con un interés casi fundamentalista en política de derecha,moralidad y valores nacionalistas.

Se me hace curioso cómo fue que pinté al Captain America deseando que le den un tiro,y fue exactamente así como lo mataron tras el crossover de Civil War.

Razón #10

2008-01-10T16:43:00.004-06:00

Translation:
Dr. Fate —Doctor Strange? What are you doing here?
Dr. Strange —The same you do,Doctor Fate,starting a quack business because I need the money!
Dr. Fate's sign —Do your problems afflict you?
·Keeping the evil eye away
·Soul cleansings
·Exorcisms
·Tarot and Spanish cards
·Direct contact with Etrigan The Demon
Dr. Strange's sign —Sorcerer Supreme for hire
·Aura readings
·Future predictions using a crystal ball
·Astrology chart without any extra fee
·Gipsy curses
·Hotline with Mephisto
-Reason Nº 10 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
In Mexico there are a lot of native medicine men and brujos (sorcerers) who offer their services for healing and fixing any kind of problems.Some of them actually get results with their methods,but too many of them are con men that don't mind using any esoteric beliefs they see fit for their scams.

Notas en Español
En México hay muchos curanderos indígenas y brujos que ofrecen sus servicios para curar y resolver toda clase de problemas.Algunos realmente obtienen resultados con sus métodos,pero la gran mayoría de ellos son charlatanes (merolicos,según el slang local) que no les importa usar cualquier creencia esotérica que se ajuste a sus estafas.

Razón #9

2008-01-09T15:47:00.003-06:00

Translation:
Batman —Let me go,you bunch of opportunistic geeks! Don't you see the Joker is fleeing away?
Fanboys —I thought you were taller...
—Adam West!
—When is the new movie due?
—I want you to go to my shop to sign autographs!
—Can you sign my Spawn/Batman [copy]?
—Photo! Photo!
—Are you going to be here all three days [of the con]?
—Batman!
—Is it true you're now [working for] the Ejea imprint?
—Where're the restrooms?
—When is the TPB due?
—When is the manga due?
—If Robin battles Goku,Who wins?
Sign —Only if you already paid your ticket:WELCOME TO THE BIG __________ '98 (interactive gag:fill the line with the comic book convention you dislike the most...)
The Joker —Nyuk-nyuk-nyuk!
-Reason Nº 9 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
I think that the gag of Batman being mobbed by his fans was first done by Sergio Aragones in MAD Magazine.Then again,the focus in this cartoon is a satire of local comic book conventions,which many times were —and still are— coordinated by very cheap and greedy persons,and attended by rude fanboys.
All the fanboys' captions are based upon real quotes of fans talking to special guests and heard over and over in many cons.The only apocryphal caption is the one about Ejea,which was a local imprint known mostly for its soft-porn comics.It was despised by many readers of American super-hero comics,hence the irony of suggesting about Batman "working" there instead of DC Comics.

Don't be fooled by the 1998 date,I actually drew this cartoon during the winter of 1997.

Notas en Español
Creo que el gag de Batman acosado por sus fans fue usado primero por Sergio Aragones en la revista MAD.Sin embargo,el enfoque principal de este cartón es una sátira de las convenciones locales de comics,las cuales muchas veces eran —y aún son— coordinadas por personas muy avaras y codiciosas,y visitadas por fanboys groseros.
Todas las frases de los fanboys están basadas en citas reales de fanboys hablando con invitados especiales,escuchadas una y otra vez en muchas convenciones.La única frase apócrifa es la de Ejea,la cual era una editorial local conocida principalmente por sus comics soft-porno.Era repudiada por muchos lectores de comics de superhéroes estadounidenses,y de ahí la ironía de insinuar que Batman estuviera "trabajando" ahí en vez de la DC Comics.

Que no los engañe la fecha de 1998,en realidad dibujé este cartón durante el invierno de 1997.

Razón #8

2008-01-08T14:45:00.003-06:00

Translation:
The Thing —Hey,What happened with that emergency call some minutes ago?
Mr. Fantastic —Oh,it was nothing,just a gas leak on San Juanico! I just sent the Human Torch there!
Newspaper headlines -Reforma
—We go the [FIFA] World Cup!
—Punisher:"I have no relations with Chapa Bezanilla"
—Spawn in jail
-Reason Nº 8 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
San Juan Ixhuatepec,better known as San Juanico,is a small town in the outskirts of Mexico City,in the Tlalnepantla county.The 19th of November of 1984,there was a tragic accident there:a huge explosion originated in a gas factory located there.

Reforma is one of the most important newspapers in the city.
The FIFA World Cup headline is because soccer is the most popular sport in the country.
(Pablo) Chapa Bezanilla was a federal attorney comissioned to investigate some important murder cases,but later was found guilty of fabricating false evidence in many of said cases.

This cartoon is still a personal favorite of mine,mostly because of how cool and relaxed Mr. Fantastic looks.

Notas en Español
San Juan Ixhuatepec,mejor conocido como San Juanico,es un pequeño poblado en las afueras de la Ciudad de México,en el municipio de Tlalnepantla.El 19 de noviembre de 1984,hubo un trágico accidente ahí:una enorme explosión originada en una factoría de gas localizada ahí.

Reforma es uno de los diarios más importantes de la ciudad.
El titular de [la copa] Mundial de soccer es por que el soccer es el deporte más popular del país.
(Pablo) Chapa Bezanilla era un fiscal federal encargado de investigar algunos casos importantes de asesinato,pero luego fue hallado culpable de fabricar evidencias falsas en muchos de dichos casos.

Este cartón es uno de mis favoritos personales,principalmente por lo fresqui y relajado que se ve Mr. Fantastic.

Razón #7

2008-01-07T13:33:00.003-06:00

Translation:
Chorus —Avengers Assembled,will never be defeated
Sign —Impeach Rob Liefeld!
Hawkeye —The Blob,the Kingpin and the Juggernaut will join us later during the sit-in in front of Palacio [Nacional].
Black Knight —A demonstration at the Zocalo?! I thought we were going to fight HYDRA!
Spider-boy —Gee...sorry,wrong demonstration!
Spider-boy's sign —You see it,you feel it...Amalgam is it.
Sign in front of the Avengers —Fair Treatment.(Single) Syndicate of Avengers.
-Reason Nº 7 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
Political demonstrations with lots of people are very common in Mexico —there's at least one or two each week.In Mexico City,demonstrations are usually people marching through the streets before reaching a government building in particular.Palacio Nacional (National Palace) is where the President's offices are,and it's located right in front of the square known as Zocalo.

This cartoon was directly inspired by the relaunch of the Avengers ongoing series right after the Heroes Reborn event (hence the Rob Liefeld sign).For the relaunch,George Perez drew a cover with almost all the Marvel super-heroes who were members of the Avengers,and I joked with some friends about it looked almost like a syndicate in a political march —the rest is drawn here as you can see.

Notas en Español
Las manifestaciones políticas con harta gente son cosa común en México —hay al menos una o dos por semana.En la Ciudad de México,las manifestaciones usualmente se tratan de gente marchando por las calles hasta llegar a un edificio del gobierno en particular.Palacio Nacional es donde están las oficinas del presidente,y se localiza justo enfrente de la plaza conocida como el Zócalo.

Este cartón fue inspirado directamente por el relanzamiento de la serie regular de los Avengers justo después del evento de Heroes Reborn (de ahí el letrero sobre Rob Liefeld).Para el relanzamiento,George Perez hizo una portada con casi todos los superhéroes de la Marvel que han sido miembros de los Avengers,y con unos amigos se me ocurrió el chiste de que se veían casi como un sindicato en una marcha política —el resto está plasmado aquí,como pueden ver.

Razón #6

2008-01-06T13:50:00.001-06:00

Translation:
Jay Garrick Flash —WALLY! WALLY! Darkseid is attacking Pemex Tower!
Wally West Flash —That's not in our borough...let the X-men or the WildC.A.T.s take care of that!! Grab a seat,'Ventaneando' is on!
TV —Guess who I saw Wonder Woman with?
-Reason Nº 6 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
The Pemex Tower is a skyscraper in Mexico City,and until 2003 it used to be the tallest building in the city.
Now,the city itself is divided into 16 delegations or boroughs,so you can guess it sometimes creates jurisdiction and bureaucracy problems.
'Ventaneando' ("Indiscreet-windowing") is a very popular gossip show.

Notas en Español
La Torre de Pemex es un rascacielos de la Ciudad de México,y hasta el 2003 solía ser el edificio más alto de la ciudad.
Ahora,la ciudad está divida en 16 delegaciones administrativas,así que ya se imaginarán que a veces surgen problemas de jurisdicción y burocracia.
'Ventaneando' es un programa de chismes de celebridades muy popular.

Razón #5

2008-01-05T11:59:00.002-06:00

Translation:
Police Chief —Whoah! What happened to Robocop?
Police Officer —Just nothing,boss,the moron went to investigate that auto parts [illegal] business at Buenos Aires slum...
Sign on the desk —Cops' Boss (so what?)
Front of the desk —Judge Dredd is my hero
-Reason Nº 5 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
In Mexico City,the Buenos Aires slum is a zone with lots of small auto parts shops.It is also said that many of said auto parts are stolen merch,taken by thieves said to be able to dismatelate a car in seconds.
I know Robocop ain't exactly a comic book super-hero,but being a fan of his movies I wanted to draw him in the series anyway.

Notas en Español
En la Ciudad de México City,la Colonia Buenos Aires es una zona con muchos negocios pequeños de autopartes.Se dice también que muchas de las autopartes son robadas,obtenidas por ladrones que se dice son capaces de desmantelar un auto en segundos.
Sé que Robocop no es exactamente un superhéroe de comic,pero siendo fan de sus películas igual me latió dibujarlo en la serie.

Razón #4

2008-01-04T11:28:00.001-06:00

Translation:
Angel —I don't see him...
Storm —Iceman doesn't show up yet?
Cyclops —No,let's keep looking for him
Beast —Where can he be?
Asti —SHAAAVED ICE! Delicious shaved ice for this hot day!
Solovino —I only hope the board of health doesn't catch us.
Street sign —Lil' Street;Lost slum
Bucket —Non-organic trash
Stand —Shaved ice $2.00
-Reason Nº 4 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
In Mexico City,lemonade stands are seen only in American cartoons and movies.Instead of those,you can find people selling shaved ice —known locally as 'raspado'.
I don't have much to say about this cartoon —it's very simple and silly.

Notas en Español
En la Ciudad de México,los puestos de limonada sólo se ven en caricaturas y películas estadounidenses.En vez de esos,es más fácil hallar gente vendiendo hielo raspado —o 'raspado',a secas.
No tengo nada más que agregar sobre este cartón —es muy sencillo y simplón.

Razón #3

2008-01-03T22:41:00.006-06:00

Translation:
Panel 1 —Now what the Ø#@$!...
Alfred —Uh? Yeah,you dialed the 1-800-BAT-PHONE...Who? The comissioner? [Wants to talk] with Batman? Nyaaah! "This is the night watch" Try calling again next Monday!
Arrow caption —Dirty internet site
Computer —Bat-PC
Junk food —Bat-Potato Chips
-Reason Nº 3 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
This cartoon is a parody of a popular TV ad.It was for a bank offering services on weekends and it featured someone calling the helpdesk of his bank on a weekend and finding no one but the rude night watchman answering his call with the phrase "This is the night watch" —and then a voice would invite viewer to choose the other bank that worked on weekends.
About this cartoon,personally,I liked the way to feature Batman without actually showing him in the drawing.

Notas en Español
Este cartón es una parodia de un anuncio popular de TV.Era el anuncio de un banco ofreciendo servicio los fines de semana y presentaba a alguien llamando al depto. de atención al cliente de su banco sin encontrar a nadie mas que al velador grosero contestando su llamada con la frase "Aquí es vigilancia" —y ya luego entraba una voz invitando al público a cambiarse al banco que sí trabajaba los fines de semana.
En lo personal,me gustó de este cartón el modo de presentar a Batman sin tener que plasmarlo directamente en el dibujo.

Razón #2

2008-01-02T22:01:00.003-06:00

Translation:
Robin —Hey,Is this the line for the UNAM admission exam?
Impulse —Yup.
Superboy —Say...Can I bum you a spare #2 pencil?
Captain Marvel Jr. —I'm so dumb! I forgot the 4 credential-size photographs!
-Reason Nº 2 Why There Ain't No Mexican Super-heroes...

Notes in English
Mexican teenagers whom want to study in a public high school or university must do the UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico) admission exam.That means making long lines,carrying strictly #2 pencil and a lot of documents —including your own photos for your future student ID card.For many kids,this is almost a rite of passage,as this is the first of many bureaucratic process they must face during his life in Mexico.

Notas en Español
Los adolescentes mexicanos que aspiren a estudiar en una preparatoria o universidad pública,deben presentar el examen de admisión de la UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México).Eso implica hacer largas filas,cargar específicamente con un lápiz del #2,y con un montón de documentos —incluyendo fotos de uno mismo para las futuras identificaciones oficiales de estudiante.Para muchos mozalbetes,es casi un rito de iniciación,considerando que es el primero de los muchos trámites burocráticos que tendrán que hacer durante su vida en México.