As timely as the latest headline, the graphic novel El Peso Hero: Border War was released on May 5, 2025. El Peso Hero is a superhero created by visionary storyteller Héctor Rodríguez. The 17th edition of the comic book series imagines the United States engaging in military strikes against Mexico, a devastating decision made when the villain El Grito, a character representing Mexico’s elite class, is revealed to be in cahoots with the cartels. The narrative and art design include cameos of Trump administration officials and Mexico’s current president Claudia Sheinbaum.
When asked what the most controversial aspect of the story may be, Rodriguez replies, “Depicting Trump and key leaders of his administration as cartoon characters who make this high-stakes decision.” In real life, alternative solutions are certainly hoped for. 

Rodríguez’s unique perspective comes from  being raised in Eagle Pass, Texas, a border town along the Rio Grande and a significant hot spot for illegal border crossings in recent years. He believes a solution to such a vast and complex humanitarian crisis may only come forth through immigration reform based on “mutual respect for the sovereignty of each nation,” something that both nations still have a lot to learn about. 

El Peso Hero, whose real name is Ignacio Rivera, has special powers that include bullet proof skin and superior strength that he uses to fight cartels, corrupt officials, and human traffickers, while protecting the innocents caught in the crossfire between exploitation and a new life in the United States. He received his powers from a massive selenite crystal found in the Cueva de las Espadas, or Cave of Swords, located within the Naica Mine in the state of Chihuahua. 

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When Ignacio receives his power from the crystal, he loses his memory. Though he comes from a family tied to a criminal organization, the Rivera cartel, he forgets all about that. He gets taken in by his grandmother, a medicine woman with entirely different values that become his new moral compass in the chaotic border world. Ironically, his cousin Angel, who was his closest childhood companion, grows up to be the leader of the cartel. When a character can hold the dark facets of his origins along with his purity and humility, when he grapples with faith and conscience beyond the duality of good guys versus bad guys, a more compelling superhero is born. 

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At first, Ignacio is resistant to his newly acquired powers, but ultimately embraces his new identity, recognizing the necessity of defending the marginalized people who are voiceless and are endlessly suffering abuses along the border. He serves as a symbol of resilience and hope, embodying the spirit of those who navigate the complexities of identity and belonging in the borderlands. U.S. border patrol agents begin calling him El Peso Hero as a way of belittling his heroics, as in, “El Peso Hero is not worth a devalued peso.” But the people embrace that nickname, a rite of passage along the border, as their own.

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“El Peso Hero has a fourteen-year story arc with threats of military intervention weaving throughout it,” says Rodríguez, who published the first issue in 2011. “And now, with the new administration and the possibility of actual military strikes against Mexico, many of the narratives I wrote as fiction are becoming nonfiction.”

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As an educator living in Dallas, Rodríguez is well-versed in the history of American intervention in Mexico and says, “You can go back to when Texas broke away from Mexico. The Texas independence movement was fueled by resistance to Mexico’s slavery bans, cultural and religious differences and linguistic divides. When Texas joined the United States, it was controversial because Texas remained a slave state, and when Mexico went after them, the U.S. intervened.”

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El Peso Hero’s belt buckle, emblazoned with the initials PH, holds significant cultural symbolism, representing the norteño culture of northern Mexico. His attire, which includes cowboy boots, wide-brimmed hats, and blue jeans, is emblematic of the rugged, working-class identity prevalent in the borderlands. The norteño culture is a blend of Indigenous, Spanish colonial, and American frontier influences, and the people of this region are known for their humble, independent spirit. By incorporating these elements into El Peso Hero’s graphic design, Rodríguez emphasizes the character’s deep roots in the border region and his role as a protector of its people. Therefore, the belt buckle is not just a fashion accessory, but a symbol of pride, resilience, and cultural identity. Rodríguez states that it’s important that his hero be “down to earth and grounded. He doesn't wear a mask, because he believes that masks are for cowards and capes are for games.”

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What is the creator of El Peso Hero's opinion on current border events? “I think it's very unpredictable now,” he says, “Border War continues a story arc that began back in 2014 during the Obama administration, when the Americans try to capture El Peso Hero in Nuevo Laredo, entering Mexico with Black Hawk helicopters. El Peso Hero had been disruptive freeing refugees from detention facilities in Texas, so he became a threat to the American President. I was very critical of Obama for his lack of reform. I’m even more so now with Trump, but the abuses happen regardless of who is in the White House.”

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The previous installment of the series, El Peso Hero: Eagle Pass, is a tribute to his hometown that has seen significant militarization due to Operation Lone Star, a Texas-led border security initiative that supports an increasing number of National Guardsmen posted there. “When I draw, it's very cathartic,” Rodríguez shares, “I have to do something, right? In this case, I wrote, drew, and published Eagle Pass last year. In this story, El Peso Hero rescues a little girl that's drowning, and her family needs help, but the soldiers are not paying attention. They're ignoring them, so it's compassion that’s also needed.” 

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In Border War, military strikes occur in different parts of Mexico with drone attacks, as well as special forces entering Mexico. Rodríguez continues: “For me, it's critical to respect the rights of a nation. Attacks are also very destabilizing, and knowing the history of American intervention in countries, we know that collateral damage is very likely. That would be such a horrible thing for Mexico to experience, as well as Mexican Americans in the American military, who’ve been involved early on in the nation's history. They’ve contributed so much.”

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Even for someone who has been living in the borderlands for most of his life, the situation remains complicated for Rodríguez. There’s no easy solution. “The criminal drug activity and human trafficking are problematic,” he says, “but so is the influx of weapons into Mexico. Tariffs and embargos also trigger migration. There needs to be serious immigration reform.”

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Rodríguez observes that Trump is often a conduit for special interest groups and that he can be easily manipulated: “I think that he’s not well-educated in world history, and that there are lots of folks around him and in other countries trying to take advantage of that. Furthermore, I disagree with how he ignores the Supreme Court, which is unlawful and has a very authoritarian feel. I love to read sci-fi, and a lot of stories in science fiction paint the United States as authoritarian and nationalistic, as though the days of democracy are gone, and I hope we don’t go that route.” 

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Rodríguez acknowledges the humanitarian disaster that began in the early 2000s, with migrations from Central and South America impacted by American intervention that destabilized these regions. With fans from both sides of the political spectrum, he reveals that most people are aware that criminal organizations need to be confronted and dealt with, but we also need to do this with compassion and take care of one another.

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In 2017, Rodríguez founded the Texas Latino Comic Con, now an annual event in Dallas, celebrating Latino artists, writers, and creators in the comic book industry. The convention aims to provide a platform for Latino voices in comics and pop culture, and is scheduled for Saturday, August 9, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM CDT. It will be held at the Latino Cultural Center in Dallas, located at 2600 Live Oak St. The convention features a range of activities, including guest panels, artist alley, cosplay contests, and family-friendly programming. Admission is free, making it accessible to fans of all ages. For more information and updates, visit www.txlatinocomiccon.com.

 

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