Migra Mouse: Political Cartoons on Immigration

by Lalo Alcaraz

Cultural Writing. Cartoons. Latino/Latina Studies. LLalo Alcaraz is a Los Angeles-based political cartoonist who has drawn editorial cartoons for the L.A. Weekly since 1992 and is the creator of the first nationally syndicated Latino-themed political daily comic strip, "La Cucaracha." Lalo illustrated Latino A Cartoon History (HarperCollins, 2000, with text by Ilan Stavans) and produced the book La Cucaracha, La Cucaracha, the first collection from his daily comic strip. He has been the recipient of many awards and prizes, including the Southern California Journalism Award and the Rockefeller New Media Fellowship.

Genres: Humor, Politics, Graphic Novels

125 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2004

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of my favorite strips - the Bill "O'Really" and Fake News segment, in which O'Really attacks Cruz Bustamante (who ran against Schwarzenegger in the CA governor recall election) for being part of a fringe political group during college, saying that the group advocates "that young Latinos get a college education."

Discussing immigrants having trouble getting drivers licenses in CA - A man takes an immigrant's license. Then the man throws the immigrant a set of car keys and says "Now park my car."

Overall, there were some witty strips, some easy strips, and some strips that probably would've been more relevant if I lived in CA and understood the implications of the propositions being lampooned.

I would've liked it if Alcaraz had spent a little more time showing the pluses of immigration rather than mostly just taking (well deserved) shots at Pete Wilson and Arnold.

I thought it could've been a little more insightful, but there were some good barbs in the book.

[Tollula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of political drawings really made you think. Lalo Alcaraz's cartoons bring Latino issues to the forefront.

[Ms. Wayne]

From the Publisher

Through humorous and poignant stories based on the author's childhood as the son of Mexicans living on the United States/Mexico border, Leave it to Beaner explores themes of immigration, biculturalism and the inevitable reverse-assimilation of America.

Along with side-stops detailing the history of Chicanos, Mexican-Americans, Mexicanos, Latinos, Hispanics, the border, Mexican -wrestling, La Migra, mass deportations and mucho mucho mas, Leave it to Beaner promises to entertain and maybe make you think.

Lalo Alcaraz is a Los Angeles-based political artist who has drawn editorial cartoons for the L.A. Weekly since 1992. He is the creator of the first nationally syndicated Latino-themed daily comic strip, "La Cucaracha." Alcaraz illustrated Latino USA: A Cartoon History, published in 2000 by Harper Collins.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this back in 2005. My journal notes:

>>A great book. Lalo satirizes and lampoons the current anti-immigrant wave, and he does so with gusto, pulling no punches. This cartoon collection goes from the late 1990s to today looking at issues such as the English Only movement, 9/11, and the future. This collection gathers his editorial cartoons. Anyone interested in Latino culture, and definitely any Latino, should be reading this. <<

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

A conglomeration of Alcaraz's political cartoons based on immigration. I didn't understand a handful of them, simply because I was unaware of the situation from when he illustrated them, but they are all pretty spot-on. I had to analyze it for a history course, but I've re-read it recently and found them funny.

[Claudias Orozco Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talks about politics and BS on Latinos.