Lowriders Blast from the Past

Lowriders in Space #3

by Cathy Camper, Raúl the Third (Illustrations)

When new friends Lupe, Flapjack, and Elirio are each bullied by Las Matamoscas, they know they're going to like one another. When they find out they all love lowrider cars, they know they'll be friends for life. But the bullies won't leave the Lowriders alone—and they don't let any girls or babies into car clubs. Can these three determined outcasts prove they deserve to be in the car show?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Comics, Graphic Novels Comics, Latinx, Childrens

128 pages, Hardcover

First published October 2, 2018

About the author

Cathy Camper is the author of the award-winning Lowriders in Space graphic novel series, the picture book Ten Ways to Hear Snow (2020), Bugs Before Time, and a forthcoming 2021 picture book, Arab Arab All Year Long. Lowriders to the Center of the Earth won the Pura Belpre Award for Latino Illustration in 2017. Her art work has been featured in Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People, by Amy Sedaris. She is a graduate of VONA/Voices writing workshops for people of color in Berkeley, California. Cathy’s a librarian in Portland, Oregon, where she does outreach to schools and kids in grades K-12.

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lupe Impala, El Chavo Flapjack, and Elirio Malaria are all mechanics who have one thing in common, that they love lowriders. You know, in the U.S., about the love for Monster Trucks, jacked up so high, hydraulic suspensions 6 feet off the ground, that you need a helicopter to get to the cab, with tires the size of Volkswagens. Well, in response to this tradition, Camper and Raúl go low, way low:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88od7...

Lowriders, that ride low to the ground, duh, also feature complex hydraulic systems, but the frames can move up and down, way down, or in other directions. The comics series is basically a love letter to lowriders from Camper and Raul.

Lupe is an Impala, Flapjack is an octopus and Elirio is a mosquito, and they also have in common that they have been bullied by Las Matamoscas. The basic idea of "Blast from the Past," is how they all got to know each other, and what they have in common. It's a comic, yo, you gotta have an origin story! Can the bullies keep them--outsiders, Mexican-Americans? Mexicans! from being in the car show? It's about standing up for what you believe, and Viva La Raza!

Raúl's art has taken off, off the charts (off the chain?), here; he's moved out of kid territory to all ages here, with his goofy retro homage to fifties comics as well as cars, and Raúl, is there in fact a nod for Dad (and Mom?) to Tijuana Bibles (don't ask, kids) as the art appears to be drawn on paper grocery bags? Okay, okay, it's more a tribute to vibrant and colorful and joyful Mexican-American (and indigenous) (and folk) art of all kinds. There's a bow to Asco, an East Los Angeles art collective, from 1972-1987, too. Blasts from the past for art fans of the obscure.

Here's about Asco, for the interested; the idea is for poor folks to make art out of anything, found objects, hit and run projects, street art, out of your dreams:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSQSe...

But it's all in fun, and about art, creativity, in the service of mankind and laughs. And on every page there's what the linguists refer to as "code-switching," as every page honors indigenous language and culture and educates you (via footnotes) about the language and culture. I don't know if middle grade kids would love this as much as adults, as much as I--a Dutch-American gringo, after all--do, but I would check this out. High energy.

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this series! The art is so unique and the stories are fantastic! Great way to learn new Spanish words! The art is really unique and vibrant; found myself looking at the detailed work and picking out little connections that helped to understand the story better. A really fun book that I think both children and adults will enjoy!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I might never have discovered this book if it hadn't been for a GR friend's review that piqued my curiosity! The illustrations are fabulous and I quickly became totally absorbed in the inventive and meaningful story!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series. I love the interplay of English, Spanish, and indigenous words in the text. I love the notes on the back. Most of all, I love Raul the Third's ballpoint pen illustrations. I could stare at them for a long time. I may not know anything about lowriders, but I love these friends.

[Rey]

I love this series, the art, the characters, the just attention to detail and story. All so good and feels like home for me.

[Jessie Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd installment in the series and I thought it was brilliant. So much fun, def recommend it to everyone.

[Ruben]

I like the book because it took back long ago when they were kids and how they met

[Cyndy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lowriders, friendship, and bullying. There are three friends, a girl, a mosquito, and an octopus that are bullied by an ocelot, a buzzard, and a turkey that are in a gang together. Good story line in English with some Spanish mixed in.

[Siina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've known Cathy for years (although we've never met) and I've had the privilege to read her Lowriders. This surely doesn't affect my review, since the series is perfect and needed even without our friendship. Blast from the Past is about our friends' childhood and how Lupe, Flapjack and Elirio met and became friends. They all had their interests already since way before, but felt incomplete in a sense (it was cute). The three of them have to face bullying because of who they are and what they like and everything is easy to identify with. Especially I liked how these friends fight male chauvinism and how they stand for everyone being able to be themselves. We should all think outside the box and we should all be different so that there wouldn't be us vs. them. We should learn to use "all" instead. Girls can do what boys can do and only by doing things together can we truly become one. I love it how the comic doesn't preach, but silently teaches us. That combined with the appreciation of indigenous people is a killer combination and makes this so important.

The art is once again breathtaking and Raúl is amazing. He can breathe life into the series like no other and his art is full of emotion. Lowriders looks like no other and is like no other! I hope this comic would be used in schools to teach kids about acceptance. It's fun, wise and awesome too, so you learn without even knowing it. Also, remember to read the last pages where there's interesting info boxes. Sadly so the font is very small, but otherwise I have nothing to complain about. I want more!!

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Along with his brothers, the young mosquito Elirio Malaria has a great passion for farting contests, but he is also an artist with a passion for words and painting murals, but when a bunch of bigger bullies deface his art, he is both outraged and broken-hearted. Suddenly the bullies are distracted by a runaway bicycle speeding down the street. The jam the spokes to stop it, throwing its rider Flapjack Octopus del Mar, Jr. from his seat and right into Elrio’s arms. He’s glad to be saved but horrified that his new bike is bent out of shape. Fortunately for both Flapjack and Elrio, Lupe Impala is riding by. She stops to help them fix the bike, and then invites them to her moms’ junk shop and workshop. This is the beginning of a lowrider car club that will someday soar into the heavens.

But first, for our young heroes, there are famous artists to be recognized, a kitten to be adopted, papel picados to be created and admired, the workings of an airbrush to be explained, a car contest to be won, discrimination to be overcome, and bullies to be defeated. Plus, many Spanish and indigenous words to be learned and painted. It’s a cultural fiesta in vivid black, white, blue, red and green to be explored and savored!

[Trudy Zufelt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lupé, Flapjack and Elirio travel back in time to when they first met and became friends. They bonded after being bullied by Las Matamoscas. The bullies pull every punch to keep the Lowriders out of the car show. They simply won't let girls into the show but Lupé, and her friends are determined to get her two mothers, Mamá Impala and Mamá Gazelle into the show. Will they be able to master the art of making sure no visible brush strokes are on their car or can they keep a 5-gallon jar of agua fresca from spilling around the track?

While it takes some time to get to the heart of the story, slap stick humor keeps the pages turning. In the end, a heartwarming lesson about standing up for what is right prevails. An amusing look into the lowrider culture with an easy way to learn some new Spanish words.

Original review as it appears on my blog, Boys To Books

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute book that integrates English and Spanish with a wonderful glossary for the Spanish words. The plot is about a mosquito who loves to paint murals and collect words, old words. An impala who is good at mechanics and a tiny octopus who is a whiz at cleaning. It deals with bullies who don’t think these kids can do as well as them and they also won’t let girls into the lowrider competition, because they are girls. This book looks at diversity from many angles and celebrates differences. And, it is a graphic novel to boot. The illustrations are great.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's an origin story. It's how Lupe, Flapjack, and Elirio first met and got into fixing up lowriders. Elirio loves making graffiti from indigenous words his traveling salesman father teaches him. Flapjack has a new bike and loves to keep it clean. Lupe is proud of her two mothers and their beautiful lowrider.

http://pussreboots.com/blog/2018/comm...

663333 (M, R, BH)

[Bethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars! I love this prequel/backstory for the Lowriders in Space gang. I originally thought from the title that they were headed back in time to the dinosaur age (which would be a great idea also) so I was pleasantly surprised to see the gang in their younger years. Adore the artwork, fascinated by the back matter as well. Hoping for another adventure soon! Be sure to check out the case cover art.

[Erin Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third title in the Lowriders series follows our three friends (Lupe, Flapjack, and Elirio) as young ones navigating a world of bullies and hard times. This title made me laugh at times while showing really authentic life experiences. As always, I loved the art and appreciate the style. WTG!

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lowriders are back, this time with a prequel. The plot is basic, but what I can never get over is Raul the Third's artwork - rarely do I see illustrations in a graphic novel done with so much heart. Every page is a mural. Recommended for pretty much everybody.

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lowriders gang is back and this time it's the story of how they met. I love all the details pertaining to creativity, female empowerment and standing up to bullies.

[Genevieve · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, gorgeous art (loved the addition of green pen) and a sweet story.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was awesome! It was a look at how the Lowriders came to be friends. They look so cute as little kids. I loved how they came together and overcame bullies and created awesome art. Fantastico!

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series so much. It was great to get an origin story!

[ara · Rating 5 out of 5]

i super loved this
+ gay moms

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Makes my librarian heart sing!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the artwork, storyline, word interplay and the humor. So keep them coming and I’ll keep on reading them. I’m a big fan.

[Luke Pete · Rating 4 out of 5]

If for me slightly less exciting than the first two, there is still so much joy and zany little cultural illuminations packed into this little story.

[Library To-Go]

Booktalk on 08/22/19

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the third title in this graphic novel series, the creative team takes readers to a car show whose organizers are more than a little bit sexist. The three protagonists--Lupe, Flapjack, and Elirio--become friends and allies after experiencing mistreatment from a local gang, Las Matamoscas, and they decide to band together against them. When Lupe's two moms try to enter the show but are told that they must adhere to certain made-up rules, the three friends use their own special skills to beat the gang members at their own gang and maybe make a friend or two among them while earning their respect. Sprinkling in Spanish terms that are translated at the bottom of the pages and tidbits about artwork, street artists, and even the (presumed) extinct Ivory-billed woodpecker, this series also features cars--lowriders--that can do tricks and loving, supportive family members. This series is really starting to grow on me, and I will be interested to see what happens next. I love how it covers territory not frequently explored in a graphic novel for a young audience and how the good folks win in the end.

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Find out how the Lowriders met as kids and discovered that their passions make them the perfect team to work on cars together. They band together to take on some bullies and help Lupe's moms enter a car show run by a gang who doesn't want women in the show.

I really like how the Lowriders dealt with the bullies by inviting them to join their work. Using psychology instead of fists is always a great idea. Not my favorite Lowriders book, but it was interesting to have a back story of how they all met and discovered their talents. I like that Raúl added green pen to the illustrations in this book. I am constantly amazed with what he can do with normal ball point pens. Recommended for those who have enjoyed the other books in this graphic novel series and those who want to work on their Spanish (there's lots of Spanish vocabulary in the text, with translations in footnotes).

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. Violence is threatened, but only vandalism happens.

[Ashtyn Butler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of the art in this story was very close up to the character’s faces which allowed us to see the facial expressions of the characters throughout the story. As the story progresses, you get to see the reactions of the characters and how they are feeling about things. It also triggers you to feel a little bit more of what the characters are feeling. I have never read a graphic novel before and I actually found it a bit overwhelming, however it is a cool concept and I would like to get more comfortable with it.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The third book in the series, this one takes us back in time to how the low-riders met, combined their talents, and got the idea for their future business.

Although I love the art style and the unique characters, this third book in the series felt very heavy-handed and a bit preachy. I also missed the sci-fi aspect that was definitely in the first two books. It felt like a genre shift. This also wrapped up a little too neatly and unnaturally. I didn't like it as much as the beginning of the series.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume of Lowriders is the backstory of the group. I especially enjoyed meeting their families and seeing them developing their skills. I appreciated Lupe's two mom's as well as the message about not letting bullies stop you from your dreams.