El Muerto to appear in nationally syndicated Baldo newspaper strip

[ENGLISH] Independent comic book character EL MUERTO will be appearing in the BALDO newspaper strip for a special Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) storyline. El Muerto, created by Los Angeles, California, artist Javier Hernandez and published through his own imprint Los Comex, follows the story of 21-year-old Diego de la Muerte, who while on his way to a Dia de los Muertos festival is abducted by Aztec gods only to return to Earth a year later with supernatural powers. A film version starring Wilmer Valderrama (That ’70s Show) was released in 2007, for which Hernandez served as Associate Producer.

Created by writer Hector Cantu and artist Carlos Castellanos, BALDO is syndicated by Universal Press Syndicate (UPS), BALDO features the gentle humor of teenager Baldo Bermudez and his family, including little sister Gracie and their Tia Carmen. It is the most widely syndicated Latino newspaper feature in the country, appearing in more than 225 newspapers.

The special Baldo story begins the week of Oct. 27, 2008, and ends with a full-color comic on Sunday, Nov. 2. Day of the Dead celebrations occur on the 1st and 2nd of November.

“The Day of the Dead is a special holiday for lots of Latinos and we thought this was a unique way for Baldo and his family to pray for and remember a special loved one in their lives,” says Baldo co-creator Hector Cantú.

Hernandez recalls, “When the chance came to work with Hector and Carlos on this project, I was really excited to collaborate. Bringing the Day of the Dead cultural celebration to their popular strip was very rewarding.”

“We’ve enjoyed teaming up with comic creators in the past and this was a great time for us to work with Javier and his character,” adds Baldo co-creator Carlos Castellanos.

El Muerto first appeared in a photocopied black and white preview comic titled Daze of the Dead: The Numero Uno Edition (February 1998). The latest issue of the comic, El Muerto: Dead & Confused, is debuting the weekend of Nov. 1 and 2 at the Alternative Press Expo in San Francisco, coinciding with Dia de Los Muertos and the Baldo appearance.

Javier Hernandez is currently working on a new comic book character, DEMOLITION DOVE, to be published in a new imprint with cartoonist Ted Seko. The imprint, XOMIX COMIX, debuts in 2009. Hernandez is also currently hosting a weekly interview podcast called PLANET COMIC BOOK RADIO, which can be heard via the http://PLANETCOMICBOOKRADIO.COM website live every Tuesday at 5pm (PT).