'La Borinqueña' Comic Book is Out, Proud Creator Talks of Latina Superhero

She's powerful, strong, helps save her environment and gets her superpowers from the Taíno gods of her Puerto Rican ancestors: The first issueof a new comic book with a female superhero — La Borinqueña — is now available, and artist and activist Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez tells NBC Latino about his creation, which could be described as a labor of love.

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The New York-based graphic novelist, who is of Puerto Rican origin, gathered a crew of "boricua" designers and writers who helped create Marisol, a superhero that enlightens and inspires with a message of environmental activism and cultural pride.

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticism

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThe debate over AI’s future rages on both coasts

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDecades-old march dispute reignites in Northern Ireland, threatening political crisis

"When people say to me, "Ella se parece a mi," I say of course she looks like you," says Miranda-Rodriguez, explaining that he made the curvy, brown, smart, powerful and socially engaged superhero to reflect her community. He says it's especially important as Puerto Rico is grappling with tough economic and environmental issues, though its message of cultural pride and social activism is an inspiration to all readers.

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