Smithsonian exhibits Bronx comic writer’s superheroine
Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez’s passion for
reading and creating comic books began as
a child growing up in Kingsbridge and University
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, D BTR ECEMBER 7-13, 2018 21
‘La Borinqueña - Issue #1’ is the only independent
comic book housed inside the
Smithsonian National Museum of American
History’s comic book collection and exhibition.
Photo courtesy of Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez
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Heights during the ‘Burning Bronx’
era. Photo by Kyung Jeon-Miranda
BY ROBERT WIRSING
A barrier-shattering superheroine
is making history at the Smithsonian!
West Bronx native and graphic novelist
Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez’s ‘La
Borinqueña’ comic book is the latest
addition to the Smithsonian National
Museum of American History’s comic
book collection and ‘Superheroes’ exhibition.
On display until September 2019, the
action-packed showcase features superhero
themed artifacts from the museum’s
collection including comic books,
original comic art, fi lm and television
costumes and props and memorabilia.
Incredible treasures on display include
George Reeves’ Superman costume
from the ‘Adventures of Superman’
television series, the shield used
by Chris Evans’ Captain America in the
fi lm ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’
and Halle Berry’s Storm costume
from the fi lm ‘X-Men: Days of Future
Past’ among many others.
The museum’s Graphic Arts Center
Collection houses approximately 900
original and reproductive comic art
drawings representing 375 artists and
nearly 400 titles.
Its extensive comic book collection
includes such illustrated illuminaries
as Superman, Batman, Wonder
Woman, Shazam, Black Panther, Daredevil,
Luke Cage and the X-Men.
La Borinqueña is writer and creator
Miranda-Rodriguez’s brainchild and
patriotic icon expressed in the classic
superhero narrative.
As depicted in the now historic 2016
comic book, Marisol Rios De La Luz, a
Columbia University Earth and Environmental
Sciences undergraduate and
Williamsburg, Brooklyn resident living
with her parents, takes a semester of
study abroad in collaboration with the
University of Puerto Rico.
While exploring Puerto Rican caves,
she discovers fi ve similarly sized crystals.
Upon uniting these crystals, Atabex,
the Taíno mother goddess, appears before
Marisol and summons her sons,
Yúcahu, spirt of the seas and mountains
and Juracan, spirit of the hurricanes.
The indigenous deities bestow superhuman
strength, fl ight and control over
storms upon Marisol who adopts the heroic
moniker, La Borinqueña.
Her alter ego’s namesake references
the Taíno name for the island of Puerto
Rico, Borinquén and Puerto Rico’s national
anthem.
According to Miranda-Rodriguez,
La Borinqueña’s trademark red, white
and sky blue costume draws inspiration
from the Lares revolutionary fl ag
of 1868 and the original Puerto Rican
fl ag of 1895.
The Somos Arte creative director
and owner confi rmed that La Borinqueña’s
costume which was worn by UC
Berkeley School of Law alumna Stephanie
Martin Llanes for the 2016 National
Puerto Rican Day Parade will also be
displayed at the Smithsonian’s Superheroes
exhibit.
The Colgate University Class of 1993
alumnus noted La Borinqueña is the exhibit’s
only independent comic book not
published by DC or Marvel.
“It’s defi nitely rewarding having my
comic book recognized as an important
piece of American and Puerto Rican history
and for it to be archived as part of
the Smithsonian’s historical records,”
he expressed.
The La Borinqueña Grants program
has raised approximately $150,000 to
help Puerto Rico rebuild following Hurricane
Maria.