Marvel Makes Latino Superhero/Santero


Hmm, I’m not sure how I feel about this one:

NEW YORK — Like many who become superheroes, Nestor Rodriguez’s transformation is rooted in loss: His father, a civil rights activist and New York City councilman, is murdered in front of him. Yet unlike other superheroes who gain their powers through the bite of a radioactive spider or through birth on an alien planet, Rodriguez is changed through an Afro-Caribbean religious ceremony…

And then there is Eleggua, the character that Rodriguez becomes. Quesada says Eleggua and the team he leads, the Santerians, are the first all-Latino comic book team whose powers are derived from the Afro-Caribbean religion of santeria.

Via: www.newsday.com/news

Eleggua is the Orisha of doorways and crossroads. He is one of the warriors, with Chango, Ogun, Ochosi, and Osun, and one of the Seven African powers. In the Yoruban tradition that is parent to the Lukumi and Palo faiths, the Orishas are emissaries of God, ruling the forces of nature and the fortunes of mankind. Their aspects are generally determined by their elemental natures. Eleggua is the mediator between humans and all of the other Orishas. Eleggua is the keeper of the gateway between the divine and material worlds. Eleggua is the trickster, a force of chaos and entropy who serves to shake off stagnacy.

On one hand, i’m glad to see a latino superhero, since there are so few (I guess we aren’t superhero material, huh? Why do I feel like the geico caveman all of sudden?) on the other hand, why perpetuate the stereotype that latinos are all involved in Santeria, which is most often miscontrued as voodoo.

There is also an underlining lack of respect or blasphemy in taking a religious from one religion and making him into a cartoon character, imagine if it were a more mainstream religion and or someone like Moses…there would be an uproar.

Read more here:
http://www.santerians.com/press.html

Spread the love

More Articles for You

How DNA, Haplogroups, and Genetic Markers Reveal Taíno Heritage

The Genetic Echoes of the Taíno People The Taíno people, the first known inhabitants of the Caribbean, have long been …

Spread the love

Unearthing the Invisible in Ben Brisbois’ Banana Capital: Unpeeling the Layers of Capitalism and Racism

The banana. Simple, ubiquitous, and unassuming. Yet, as Ben Brisbois reveals in his forthcoming Banana Capital, it’s anything but ordinary. …

Spread the love

Ditching The Algorithm: Why I Joined Bluesky (And You Should Too)

For years, social media has been both a megaphone and an equalizer, a place where anyone can share art, advocate …

Spread the love

Latina/o Bloggers, Content Creators, Influencers: This Is Your Year

The Latina/o Bloggers Group is back and ready to uplift you. Join the community to tap into resources, connect with like-minded creators, and be part of something bigger than just a platform. Let’s rewrite the digital narrative together.

Spread the love

Nosferatu Reimagined: Mythology, Symbolism, & Storytelling in the Digital Age

When F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu first graced the silver screen in 1922, it set the stage for a century of fascination …

Spread the love

What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About Death, Technology, and Social Change

In a world where technology seems to dominate every facet of our lives, there’s something profoundly humbling about turning back …

Spread the love