Julio Anta Interview - The Beast of Boriken And The Chupacabra As A Revolutionary Symbol

Comics writer Julio Anta joins Byron on the show to explore his new ‪@darkhorsecomics‬ project, The Beast of Boriken. Part of ‪@WatchTinyOnion‬'s True Weird series, this tropical horror story uses the legend of the Chupacabra to address the complex history of colonization, activism, and trauma in Puerto Rico. Julio breaks down his collaboration with artist and Puerto Rica native Daniel Irizarri, and how they blended indigenous Taino culture weaving it with the legend of El Chupacabra and applying that formula to highlight modern-day political struggles. We also discuss his extensive background in the YA and middle-grade graphic novel markets, and why he believes comics are a unique medium for what he calls Revolutionary Optimism. Interview Breakdown: Julio shares his childhood memories of El Vampiro de Moca and the 1995 sightings that popularized the cryptid. A look at Loli, the main protaginist and an activist radicalized by the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. How the comic mirrors real-world issues like the Esencia project and modern land grabs in Puerto Rico. The importance of working with a Puerto Rican creative partner to ensure cultural accuracy from the landscapes to the botanica spiritual scenes in the book. Why Julio develops comprehensive guides for schools and libraries to keep graphic novels relevant in classrooms. 👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more comic book recommendations. Follow Comic Book Yeti: 🔗 BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/comicbookyet... 🔗 Instagram:   / thecomicbookyeti   🔗 Facebook:   / comicbookyeti   🔗 TikTok:   / thecomicbookyeti   🔗 Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thecomicbook... Follow your host: 🔗 Byron O’Neal: https://bsky.app/profile/byrononeal.com For partnership and ad inquiries, please contact: [email protected] From the publisher A thrilling new True Weird series from Tiny Onion by co-creators Julio Anta (Frontera; Sí, Se Puede) and Daniel Irizarri (Xino, Cementary Kids Don't Die) bringing el Chupacabra to life! In contemporary Puerto Rico, Loli Flores is a fierce activist fighting the overdevelopment of the island by outside investors. When a ground-breaking ceremony is violently interrupted by a supernatural force, Loli discovers that the stories of el Chupacabra are not just echoes from the past, but a brutal protector of generations extending back to the indigenous people of the island. As Loli uncovers the horrors firstand, el Chupacabra is on a parallel path with elemental destruction left in his wake. This issue includes a haunting True Weird short story by Justin Jordan, Tony Akins and Aditya Bidikar! Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Guest Julio Anta 00:36 Free Comic Book Day Recap 02:22 Choosing El Chupacabra as a Subject 02:44 Origins: El Vampiro de Moca 04:36 Connecting Cryptids to Taino Culture 07:05 The History of Colonization in Puerto Rico 08:40 The Human Story: Activism and Hurricane Maria 11:13 Bouncing Between Time Periods in Narrative 13:58 Hurricane Maria as a Radicalizing Inflection Point 18:13 Collaborating with Artist Daniel Irizarri 19:37 Defining Revolutionary Optimism in Activism 23:22 Portraying Developers and Modern Land Exploitation 25:52 The Essencia Project and Beach Access Laws 28:17 Ensuring Cultural Accuracy and Expert Interviews 32:02 Revolutionary Optimism vs. Fatalism in Media 34:40 Addressing the Family Separation Crisis in Home 38:43 Benefits of the Young Adult Graphic Novel Market 42:11 The Hillside Valley Middle Grade Series 45:20 Developing Comprehensive Educator Guides 48:33 Final Shout-out to Texas Librarians and Volunteers #comics #comicbooks #indiecomics