Countywide : ‘Super-Hero’ Has Lessons for Latinos

He wears a green suit and red gloves. His eyes are white to reflect truth and purity. And he carries books under his arm because education is his weapon.

A thin, Zorro-like mustache stands out on his partially masked face, and his chest bears an Aztec shield to battle evil in the name of achievement.

Introducing “Hispanic Man,” the warrior of education, whose mission is to teach young people that “a super-hero” lives within them and that they can overcome the challenges of life to achieve and succeed.

Hispanic Man is the creation of Gerard D. Martinez, who has brought his super-hero to life in a comic book intended to inspire and teach not only Latino children but youth of all cultures.

“He is a positive image of Hispanics all over the world,” said Martinez, 35, of Orange. “Kids now have a positive image and role model that’s Hispanic like themselves.”

Martinez said that Hispanic Man is a teacher and that his mission is to educate children. The super-hero is not violent. Instead, he teaches children to channel negativism into positivism, Martinez said. In the comic strip, Hispanic Man fights the evil serpent who represents negative forces, a metaphor to illustrate the battles within everyone.

“The evil serpents destroy dreams and hopes by glamorizing the deadly fruits of the streets and poisoning young minds to quit school,” Martinez said.

For the last 12 years, Martinez has worked with troubled, abused and neglected youngsters and believes that the youth of today need somebody such as Hispanic Man to look up to and learn from.

The idea to create the comic book hero struck Martinez three years ago. But it has taken time, a $6,000 investment and perseverance to produce the first issue, released in February. Martinez designed, wrote and hand-colored the covers of each book because he could not afford the printing costs. The issue, themed “Search for the Power Within,” sells for $2.50 plus 95 cents for shipping.

The comic book features Jaime A. Escalante, the teacher made famous in the movie “Stand and Deliver,” and inventor Thomas Edison, a Latino, born as Tomas De Alva and adopted by Samuel Edison Jr.

Martinez, who is married and has two sons, uses real-life Latino role models and heroes to show children, especially Latinos, that they can be successful too. He said he has spent hours researching information on Latino history and culture and Latino achievers to use as story lines in the comic books.

His second issue, entitled “The Soul-Sa Within” and due out in July, will feature Latin jazz singer Poncho Sanchez and disc jockey Jose Rizo of KLON-FM in Long Beach.

Martinez’s father, Gilbert, a retired graphic artist who lives in Montebello, is the comic book’s illustrator.

“I give my son a lot of credit for coming up with it because I really believe in what his intentions are,” said Gilbert T. Martinez, 71. “It’s double satisfaction for me because what I do helps him to bring his ideas to life--and I believe in the philosophy of giving kids someone to look up to.”

The younger Martinez said the comic book has been well received by youths and parents alike.

“It’s another key to show our children what Hispanic people are all about,” said Diana Valenzuela of Aliso Viejo, who bought the comic book for her 14-year-old daughter, Gabriella.

“The comic book reinforces that they are somebody and that they can be anything they want to be,” she said.

Comic books may be ordered by calling Martinez at (714) 633-1498.