Prepare to enter a world of murder, riots & resistance in gritty Chicano noir in Death to Pachuco from Henry Barajas and Rachel Merrill.
Published by Image Comics and Top Cow, comes an all-new 5-issue series Death to Pachuco, from Henry Barajas (La Voz de M.A.Y.O., Helm Greycastle), artist Rachel Merrill (Izzy n’ Jean), and colorist Lee Loughridge.
The official synopsis reads:
Set against the backdrop of 1943 wartime Los Angeles, Death to Pachuco is a story steeped in historical urgency and cinematic grit. It reimagines the chilling aftermath of the Sleepy Lagoon murder—an event that ignited widespread racial unrest—and explores themes of cultural identity, systemic injustice, and the cost of being seen as the enemy in your own country.
During the summer of 1943, Los Angeles became a hotbed of tension and conflict as a series of fierce clashes erupted between U.S. Navy members and Mexican American youth stemming from the murder of Carlos Urbano. Private eye Ricardo “Ricky” Tellez needs to find the Sleepy Lagoon Killer before the racist mob kills him in the Zoot Suit Riots.The clock is ticking—and it’s ‘a bad time to be a Mexican.’
The series features cover art by David Lapham (Stray Bullets) and Loughridge, Katie Skelly, Marco Finnigean and Gab Contreras, and Ramon Villobos.
“All the research and digging I did to make this comic a reality was with the best team and cover artists in comics,” said writer Barajas. “I’m lucky I get to tell this story with Rachel, Lee, and Will. We’re swinging for the fences.”
Artist Rachel Merrill added: “We are trying to tell a story that takes place during a dark time in history while living in one. Death to Pachuco comes from a place of love for comics, history, and film noir.” The authenticity of the zoot suit fashion, cityscapes, and cultural markers is matched by the emotional depth of the characters navigating a world where justice is elusive and survival is an act of resistance.
Check out the official preview pages:
Death to Pachuco #1 drops on Wednesday, October 8.
