Puerto Rico Strong

by Hazel Newlevant

Puerto Rico Strong is a comics anthology that explores what it means to be Puerto Rican and the diversity that exists within that concept, from today's most exciting Puerto Rican comics creators. All proceeds go to UNIDOS Disaster Relief & Recovery Program to Support Puerto Rico.

Despite being a US territory, Puerto Rico is often thought of as a foreign land, if it’s even a thought in the mind of the average American at all. Its people exist in all corners of America; some of them have parents who immigrated from the home island, others are a part of families that have been on the mainland for generations. Then there are those who have come to the states in search of a dream but struggle to integrate into an unfamiliar culture, while there are those who have lived in the United States all of their lives but still have the same struggle because of the color of their skin or their sexual identity. These stories follow individuals from diverse walks of life but are all part of the culture that is Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico Strong features art and writing by Rosa Colon, Vita Ayala, Naomi Franquiz, Javier Cruz Winnick, Sabrina Cintron, Ronnie Garcia, Fabian Nicieza, Joamette Gil, and many more!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Short Stories, History, Latinx, Nonfiction, Social Justice

208 pages, ebook

First published March 27, 2018

About the author

Hazel Newlevant is a Portland-raised, Queens-residing cartoonist. Their comics include Tender-Hearted, Sugar Town, No Ivy League, and If This Be Sin. They are the editor and publisher of the anthologies Chainmail Bikini and Comics For Choice. Their work has been honored with the Ignatz Award, Xeric Grant and the Prism Comics Queer Press Grant.

Reviews

[Victor *You Bow to No One* · Rating 3 out of 5]

This anthology features different styles of art so it was easy to like a few of them. I appreciate the effort in putting this together and the history lessons presented in some of the stories. My main issues have been shared by other reviewers here - some of the stories are too short and most are not very memorable.

I'll probably purchase a physical copy for my library.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an electronic version in exchange for an honest review.

[Jeimy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a lesbian, I have always recognized the importance of the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement. However, I had never considered how, as an adult, I needed to see my culture, my history,my viewpoint, until I read this collection.
Profits go to Hurricane María relief efforts and, trust me, we still need them.

[Bogi Takács]

Impulse borrow at the library, and it was really good - go buy it if you can! My complete review:

http://www.bogireadstheworld.com/puer...

Source of the book: Lawrence Public Library

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember Puerto Rico? That island surrounded by water? The one had got hit by not just one hurricane but two? The one that still hasn’t had its electricity completely restored? Yeah, that one.

This book is a compilation of different artists who either live or have lived in Peurto Rico. And unlike some anthologies that just says things like, hey, buy this book and help raise fund for brining Puerto Rico back from the brink, this one educates. I make it a point of knowing indigenous peoples history. I tell people everything I know, and the wrongs we have done, as white people, as colonists to the people who were here first, but wow, there is stuff in this book that I didn’t even have a ingling of.

There are stories of the original indigious peoples that lived on the island before first contact with Columbus, and the disaster that that brought. There are stories of the horrors of what the Spaniards brought, and then the Americans. There is even a story where the father is retelling history of the Spaniards, where the Indiginous peoples are taken care of, and live well. Even though there are no “tribes” of the original people left, most of the people in Peurto Rico have the DNA of those peoples.

So, while this is a good book to buy to help raise money for Puerto Rico’s recovery, this is also an excellent book to get educated with, while being entertained...and outraged at what the Puerto Rican’s have had to endure in the past and are still enduring.

Even though this is a review copy, I damn well am going to go out and buy this when it is published. It is a great collection to own, and learn from.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Adam Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's really tough to put out an anthology of comics for a good cause and make it memorable. This collection boasts a number of talented artists and writers from the comics industry. And while I found myself nodding (in agreement, not exhaustion) at several times while I read it, when I reached the end, none of it had stuck with me.

Most of the stories felt rushed and played more on sentimentality than on engaging with emotions. I don't blame any of the creative teams for this, as it's incredibly tough to pack a three to ten page graphic novel story with enough information and character to stay with a reader.

Also, at the end of the book were a series of pull quotes about how honored all the creators were to be involved, and it felt garish and self-aggrandizing rather than humble and sincere.

I recommend this mainly to people who enjoy the modern fund-raising anthology. It's for a good cause, and I don't doubt the intentions of anyone involved with this project.

[Paul Decker · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received this book as an eARC from Lion Forge via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

This comics anthology features stories from all different aspects of the Puerto Rican people. There are stories about the history of the island and its people, the present day reach of the Puerto Rican people, and the future. There's romance. There's historical facts, mythology, and more. There's even some fantasy and sci-fi stories.

I wasn't familiar with the Taino culture before this. The island has such rich history, merging many different cultures through many different means. I loved seeing a peek into a world I'm not very knowledgeable of.

This comics anthology is a great effort to raise support for and knowledge of the Puerto Rican people. Every story is full of so much heart. I give this book a 5/5.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good cause is supported by a fairly consistent anthology that offers a good balance between being educational and entertaining. My one gripe is that most of the strips had an inspirational or hope-filled bent that seem sort of passive in the big picture. I would have liked to see a little more outrage like in Tom Beland's entry or some concrete proposals for next steps in the recovery of the island.

[Roxanne (The Novel Sanctuary) · Rating 3 out of 5]

My heart gives it a 5*, my head a 3. More thoughts to come in a future wrap up on my channel.

[Adriana Martinez Figueroa · Rating 3 out of 5]

there were some highlights, i marked about 17 (?) pieces that i really liked, but otherwise it was incredibly fetishizing of the Taino people and their culture, pandering to liberal white folks who insist "puerto ricans are americans! they've gone to war for us!"
idk i had a lot of feelings about it. but here's the list of the ones i liked:
*madre de dios (daniel irizarri oquendo) - that play on maria as a protector and destroyer really killed me
*pasitos grandes (tristan j. tarwater, art by cynthia santos) - i enjoyed that futuristic story! pretty heavy on the exposition and history, and it pretty much gives incorrect information on taino people, and didn't shy away from the realities of colonization.
*stories from my father (adam lance garcia, art by heidi black) - it's always interesting how diasporic puerto ricans interpret and romanticize puerto rico, but this one was pretty realistic about the return to a place you may not fit in anymore.
*el vampiro de moca (leonardo gonzalez) - incredible artwork! would love an expanded storyline based on that art.
*family ends with me (lilliam rivera, art by allison strejlau) & ally schwed's two pieces - these three contributions on the sterilization of puerto rican people between the 60's and 70's based on white supremacist views on eugenics were incredible.
*breaking bread (tara martinez, art by rod espinosa) & cocinar (vito delsante, art by yehudi mercado) - both stories centered around food, how food is part of the culture, part of the way we communicate how we feel, and how we also carry on traditions. the two have very different approaches, but i loved both.
*the dragon of bayamón (jeff gomez & fabian nicieza, art by adriana melo) - another story about a boy's time in puerto rico after being raised in the U.S., and his feelings about said stay. it was a poignant look at the displacement of puerto ricans and issues of identity and assimilation.
*on traditions and being homesick (jesenia santana) - as someone who studied in the u.s. for college, this piece really moved me. receiving a care package from my family was usually a highlight every month or so, and juan bobo was an intrinsic part of my childhood canon. it really spoke to me.
*con amor, l.e.s. (kat fajardo) - i just really enjoyed kat's art.
*macondo, puerto rico (javier morillo, art by dan méndez moore) - of all the views on imperialism in this collection, this one was the most interesting to read. it didn't romanticize the military presence in PR, in fact, the author was raised in a military base. it tackles disaster capitalism, and how the u.s. has oppressed the island in a myriad of ways, all without hitting us over the head with it. there are some Hot Takes in the book about the military and puerto ricans but this one was the most nuanced one.
*the heart of puerto rico (alexis sergio, art by jules rivera) - even when the overall theme of the story is "the spirit of puerto rico is within us all along," this was still the gayest story in the book, which i salute as a queer puerto rican girl.
*ojala (mike hawthorne) - another stunning piece that draws on the melancholy that followed the hurricane.
*what remains in the dark (amparo ortiz, art by eliana falcón-dvorsky) - my favorite writer is julia de burgos. the fact that the author of this last piece drew on the history of julia de burgos and my favorite poem of hers, "yo misma fui mi ruta," to inspire us, it really got me. fantastic way to end the collection.

if you wanna know a little bit more about the taino nation, read and respect their decision to be a closed culture that does not share its beliefs or language with outsiders: http://www.tainon.org

[Elizabeth]

Like many reviewers, I wanted to like this anthology more than I actually did.

It's sweet (I teared up at times -- often while reading the book's prefatory matter) and educational, and we get some futuristic stories so yay for that, and none of it is bad, it's just fairly simplistic.

We start off with some pieces set around the destruction of Hurricane Maria, with memories of the island, which segue into histories of the island -- and then the remainder of the book is a mixture of memories of the island, the aftermath of Maria, and imagined futures.

Tristan J. Tarwater's "Pasitos Grandes" does a nice job outlining the history of Puerto Rico, and we get a trio of pieces about the history of sterilization ("Family Ends with Me" by Lilliam Rivera, and Ally Shwed's "La Operación" and "The Puerto Rican Birth Control Trials"). And from Javier Morillo's "Macondo, Puerto Rico":

Puerto Ricans were made U.S. citizens by the Jones Act of 1917 (and over the objections of the only elected body on the island)

The U.S. was intent on proving it was a liberator, not a colonizer

Within weeks of the Jones Act, Puerto Rican men were drafted to serve in WWI. (But we’ve been assured this was just a coincidence!)

Hurricane Maria hit in 2017, the 100th anniversary of the Jones Act. 100 years of Puerto Ricans fighting in every U.S. war

I’m a product of this history. My parents followed one of the only paths out of poverty in Puerto Rico in the early 60's

Dad joined the Army.

Just days after I was born, the Army sent Dad to Vietnam for his second tour of duty as an infantry-man

He experienced all the horrors of war on the front lines.

When he came home, he never talked about it.

He almost had to go a third time, until a letter-writing campaign of Puerto Rican wives to our resident commissioner in Washington, which Miami helped organize, alerted D.C. to something a Congressional Black Caucus investigation proved true: Black + Latino soldiers were getting third orders to Vietnam

when many of their white "brothers-in-arms" hadn’t gone once. Dad’s orders were reversed.

I also learned that the reason many Puerto Ricans refer to themselves Boricuas is that pre-colonization, the island was called "Borikén."

I'm glad to have read the anthology for the education if nothing else -- and like I said, none of the pieces are bad.

Having recently read the March 20, 2018, Intercept article "Puerto Ricans and Ultrarich “Puertopians” Are Locked in a Pitched Struggle Over How to Remake the Island," I was a little bummed that the pockets of PR providing sustainable food/energy didn't get any mention (especially since at the end of "Macondo, Puerto Rico," Javier Morillo writes, "I read the news obsessively, talk with my family, message Ileana on Facebook. I see the dreadfully slow recovery and wonder why we don't have a plan. We know what Wall Street wants to make of Puerto Rico: Prioritize bank debt over people, lower minimum wage, turn the island into a playground for the rich, like Cuba in the 1950's. But what about the Left and those who love Puerto Rico? Why weren't we ready to replace coal with sustainable power? Can the island once again produce food for itself? What is our answer to disaster capitalism?").

Possibly my favorite moment was the gut punch at the end of Tony Bedard's "Reality Check" -- children are playing in the street to a narrative backdrop of some history of the island as told by the father, and then we turn the page and the woman who has been standing silently next to the father says to him, "You know, Francisco, one day they’re going to find out just how wrong your stories are. [...]" To which he replies: "I know, Marta. I know. But for now, this is all a big adventure for the kids, and I want that to stay that way for as long as possible."

Marta: "Come on, Francisco . . . how long can we keep this up? How many hungry nights on a sweat-soaked mattress before their ‘adventure’ turns into a nightmare? I mean, God only knows when things will get back to normal."

Francisco: "Look, all I know for sure is that we’re not the conquistadors in this story. We’re the Taínos. The Empire may have changed, but our future's still in someone else’s hands."

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Puerto Rico Strong is a comics anthology that explores what it means to be Puerto Rican and the diversity that exists within that concept, from today’s most exciting Puerto Rican comics creators.” The proceeds from this book sale will go to UNIDOS Disaster Relief & Recovery Program after the back-to-back hurricanes that devastated the island in 2017.

As with any anthology, this collection was uneven. Pair that with a graphic novel format, and there are some illustration styles that will not appeal to everyone, but the art as a whole is well done. Written with the best of intentions, these one-shot stories which are only a few pages, vary in tone and authenticity. Also included were one-page splash pages, which I thought were a lead-in to a story, but indeed were only that page- which proved off-putting. Some of the comics were powerful and made me tear up, or even better, made me think about the issues beyond that page. Others were trite and lacked depth.

I appreciated learning more about Puerto Rico and the history that has shaped this US territory. Several stories spotlighted their Taíno heritage, who were the first inhabitants before Columbus and Spanish conquistadors destroyed their culture. Paired with their early history, was modern-day history and how misguided US involvement has caused financial, ecological and cultural disasters. In addition, a few of the stories dealt with the eugenics that women endured as pharmaceutical companies preyed on those they felt that they could manipulate.

Favorites:

Thanks for Nothing by Tom Beland- I was surprised that there wasn’t more anger directed specifically at Trump, only Beland’s righteous barbs referred directly to Trump’s epic mismanagement of disaster relief.

La Casita of American Heroes by Anthony Otero & Charles Ugas- Lovely story of a woman soldier coming home with her child to the island to check on her parents’ safety. She teaches her daughter about all the soldiers on both sides of her family who have fought for America, but often are not considered American.

The Dragon of Bayamon by Jeff Gomez, Fabian Nicieza & Adriana Melo- An 11-year heads to Puerto Rico to stay with his abusive father for the summer and has to deal with not speaking Spanish fluently and his father’s moods. I liked this story, but it desperately needed fleshing out.

Reality Check by Tony Bedard & John R Holmes- This story rubbed me the wrong way on the first page but the father’s explanation of the conquistador’s role on the island in relation to the Taíno was shocking, but he juxtaposed it to other nation’s helping now after the hurricanes. Still not on board with his reasoning, but it truly was thought-provoking.

I have to applaud this book, for these artists did not just sit back and send their best – no, they did their best and donated their time and talent to help a hurting community. The stories open lines of communication, and I love how authors and illustrators who were Puerto Rican added their own voices to the dialogue. While often too sentimental, the right intent is there, and purchases of this book will benefit those in need. (Actual rating 3.5/5)

This review can also be found on my blog: https://graphicnovelty2.com/2019/06/2...

[Yaritza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly a powerful comic anthology that reflects what it means to be Puerto Rican. The moment I found out about this comic and how the proceeds were going to support relief and rebuilding efforts in PR I had to be part of this project also. I was born in Puerto Rico and most of my family lives there. It was a hard time hoping to hear from your family members. I loved the comics in this book. It is a book that will teach all who read it about PR's history, culture, values, strong family support but it also goes over the number of events that made them vulnerable and caused hurt to my people. What is truly amazing is that even though there home is destroyed, no power,no lights or food they stood strong and will continue to rebuilt the "Isla Precious" back to its glory. I learned so much from this book about the history that we here in the USA do not learn. I think this is a great book to bring everyone up to speed that yes Puerto Ricans are US Citizens since March 2, 1917, the Jones–Shafroth Act was signed. Lets stand strong with Puerto Rico!!!

[Tom Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this anthology just to support the people of Puerto Rico, but ending up finding it quite enjoyable. Honestly, I wasn't enjoying it very much until I changed my way of thinking about it. I have only ever read comics for pure entertainment, but this one was much more for education and, at times, political expression. I changed my point of view by trying to think like a Puerto Rican. It must be very strange to be considered American but to be from what is essentially a foreign island nation. {When I lived in Colombia, I noted that Puerto Rico was always spoken of as though it were independent from the U.S.] Though there were a few moments when I suspected that this was thrown together rather quickly (which I expect is true), I appreciated and enjoyed the bittersweet Puerto Rican perspective.

Here's one quote from "Stories from my Father" by Adam Lance Garcia (art by Heidi Black): "How can I be proud of a heritage that does not feel like my own?" With more Puerto Ricans living off the island than on it, that must ring true for a lot of them.

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a Puerto Rican on the island when hurricanes Irma and Maria hit I was ready to love this book-- but it's not very good. There are some enjoyable and important segments but most are either too short or the artwork too off. For the price it is worth it though because it does have standouts. But I had hoped for better quality.

[Loz · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent example of what an anthology can and should be. With a powerful unifying message, each story adds a unique flavor of art and narrative, paying homage to a vital and vibrant part of our world.

[Emmah · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the longest time, I didn't know Puerto Rico was part of America, as they didn't teach us this in school. They should have every right that us on the Mainland have.

It was great learning more about their culture.

[Jessica Rossana Sawin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is what comics is about. People coming together to tell their stories and help each other.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ✨
I am trying to learn more about my Puerto Rican side and I felt that this graphic novel really helped me learn about the history and the culture of Puerto Rico. There were some stories that I did not connect with as much as others but overall the art was beautiful and showed the beauty of what it is like to be Puerto Rican. I felt connected to the stories involving the children who do not speak Spanish. I highly recommend everyone check this out.

[Alejandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most cohesive comics anthologies I've read in a long time, each one of these short stories brims with pride and love and emotion. The book may have overdone it with the taino-related stories at the expense of Puerto Rico's African roots but that is a mere quibble (especially for a book that ends with such a moving image as that of a little girl reading out loud to her afro-Boricua family, by the light of a lamp, darkness surrounding them, the poems of Julia de Burgos). Highlights include: Anthony Otero's "La Casita of American Heroes," a tribute to all the Boricuas who served in the U.S. military since World War I; Alberto "Tito" Serrano's "Blame it on 'Rico," the story of a Puerto Rican cartoonist in Rio and how he keeps definining and redifining his identity to the citizens of a country who can't find us in the map; and "The Last Pirate of the Caribbean" about, of all things, Puerto Rico's own pirate, Roberto Cofresi. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Highly recommended!

[Renata · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful collection for a good cause. This volume has a fine line to walk--there are obviously a lot of very heavy topics to cover here but overall succeeds at being an interesting and enjoyable read without just hitting you over the head about how terrible the hurricane damage was. I especially enjoyed some of the comics that went deeper into Puerto Rican history--there are a few about the horrible practice of American public health policy essentially tricking a third of Puerto Rican women into getting sterilized! (I had learned about that practice among other marginalized groups in the US but didn't realize it was so widespread in Puerto Rico.)

I also really liked Tristan Tarwater's futuristic story about Puerto Rico's future-history, and the handful of lighter-in-tone stories about food. (Also: I'm hungry, someone pls bring me an empanada.)

I also enjoyed the wide range of art styles in this anthology.

[Isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn more about the history, culture, and strength of Puerto Rico. An illustrated anthology, this book contains tons of information that inform readers about the richness of Puerto Rico. I found myself smiling as I read, enjoying the affirming stories being told. I learned that our name for 'Hurricane" comes from Juracan, the Taino god of chaos - cool! More books like this are needed, so that young kids of color can remember that they've been here and will continue being here as the history of this nation continues.

[Acacia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful anthology of stories about Puerto Rico. There was a nice mixture of personal stories, political statements, and history. I do wish there was a bit more about the African influences in Puerto Rico, but I love all the history about the Tainos. Reading a lot of these stories reminded me of all the stories my dad would tell me growing up (and continues to tell me). This book made me sad for the things that were lost, but hopeful for the future.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this comics anthology. Not only can you find great illustrations and narratives with various expressions and techniques, you can also finds stories of among other things the culture, history and folklore from Puerto Rico. A big bonus is that all the proceeds go to UNIDOS Disaster Relief & Recovery Program to Support Puerto Rico.

[Jacob Betts · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite being for a charitable cause, some of these stories have truly awful artwork. I don't mean this to sound like a jerk, because this is for a great cause, but objectively speaking a great deal of these stories are lackluster. Worth the read, though!

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fantastic anthology, so well done.

[AleJandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pop Sugar Reading Challenge 2018
Un libro ambientado en un país que te fascine

[R. G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I teared up like a goober.

[Cappy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an anthology and written quickly. That can make it uneven in places. But the best of it is really good, and its work to give voice to the voiceless is worth honoring with your time.

[Alishia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and inspiring introduction to Puerto Rican history and resilience.

[Maia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very strong comic collection created to bring awareness and raise money for Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. The pieces include fiction, history and personal histories. I learned quite a bit that I never heard about in school, including the fact that many words from the naive Taino language are in current use today (the word "hurricane" is one) and about the non-consensual drug trials of early birth control pills on Puerto Ricans. The US has not done well by this island; they deserve full state status.