International Artists Celebrate La Borinqueña's 10th Birthday With Limited-Edition Covers

The beloved Puerto Rican superhero series supports charitable causes

To celebrate La Borinqueña‘s 10th anniversary, the Puerto Rican superhero series will reprint its first issue with 10 limited-edition original covers created by international artists. 

La Borinqueña is an independent graphic novel series featuring Marisol De La Luz, a Columbia University student who gains mystical powers and becomes a patriotic symbol for the country. 

The superhero series exists to support charitable work. It is the brainchild of Brooklyn-based graphic artist, creative director and philanthropist Edgardo Miranda-Rodríguez, who also writes for Marvel Entertainment. 

Miranda-Rodríguez was inspired to launch the series in 2015, after the then-Governor Padilla of Puerto Rico announced that the U.S. territory had accrued $74 billion debt it could not repay.

“I knew this would lead to an inevitable humanitarian crisis and that perhaps via pop culture awareness could be made of this socioeconomic situation,” explains Miranda-Rodríguez. “Marvel had just published my debut as a comic book writer, but I pivoted and decided to independently publish my own superhero series that is still growing 10 years later.”

Contributing to the anniversary reprint edition are Marvel and DC Comics artists Ariel Jesús Colón (Isabela, PR); Humberto Ramos and Edgar Delgado (Mexico City); Manuel Preitano (Italy); Juan Paolo Cagampan (Great Britain); Kei Zama (Japan); Puerto Rican artists Nik Virella and Chris Sotomayor (both of New York); Nacho Rodríguez (Argentina); Elena Casagrande (Italy); and American Dave Wilkins.

“Having international artists donate their talent shows that La Borinqueña is a hero for Puerto Rico and the world,” says Miranda-Rodríguez. “It’s truly inspiring to see artists interpret our character in their own beautifully unique style-we’re very fortunate to have the love and support from the global community.”

La Borinqueña graphic novels are part of the permanent collections of the Smithsonian, New York Public Library and the Archivo General y Biblioteca Nacional de Puerto Rico. Schools teach La Borinqueña internationally on the primary and graduate level, Miranda-Rodríguez also says.

The celebration also features public art components in cities including New York, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, San Juan and more.

Miranda-Rodríguez says his desire is to have the series made available in other languages and countries so as to create a global community. Beyond that, the creator aspires to produce more books, animation, theater and film. 

“The power of storytelling can be transformational, especially when the characters are created by authors and artists who have a shared value of our culture and heritage.”

To support the 10-year marker, Miranda-Rodríguez is running a crowdfunding campaign designed to support storytelling and philanthropy in Puerto Rico. The effort seeks to bring awareness to the country’s debilitating crisis.

“Currently there is a drought and water crisis leading to a 48-hour water rationing schedule affecting half a million Puerto Ricans,” says Miranda-Rodríguez. “Our stories and charity work bring awareness to these issues that have been prevalent since 2015, since Hurricane Maria in 2017, and today. It’s a human rights issue that all of us should be passionate about.” 

“Superheroes save the day in the pages and panels of their stories, we take that premise and apply it to the real world by celebrating real superheroes,” Miranda-Rodríguez also says.