The Zoot Suit Riots is an important part of American history that many people might not know about or will fall through the cracks of education. And that’s a travesty because it’s a key moment in Mexican American history and the prejudice they often suffered at the hands of their fellow citizens. In 1943, servicemen and the police targeted young Mexican Americans, stripped them of their clothing—zoot suits—and abused them.
Comic creators Henry Barajas, Rachel Merrill, and Lee Loughridge are putting the spotlight on this key event in some Americans’ treatment of people of color in their new comic Death to Pachuco. Now on Kickstarter, the book focuses on the Zoot Suit Riots using a Chican noir framework. It’s a novel premise and angle in the world of historical fiction and true crime and looks to prove to let readers dive into worlds criminally sometimes left out of the high school curriculum.
I spoke with Henry Barajas and Rachel Merrill recently about the idea behind Death to Pachuco, the inspiration behind the comic, the Kickstarter itself, and their favorite noir tales that influenced this project.
I’m a history teacher and this project has me pumped. Not only do we have a powerhouse creative team at the helm, but it’s clear from talking with them that this a passion project, both to get the knowledge of the subject matter out there and to weave a compelling tale.
FreakSugar: For folks reading this, what is the conceit of Death to Pachuco?
Henry Barajas: Death to Pachuco is a historical fiction based on a true crime and a horrific racist moment in Los Angeles’ history. Death to Pachuco is a Chicano noir that takes place a day after the Sleepy Lagoon murder trial and the Zoot Suit Riots. Death to Pachuco paints a picture of a time when it wasn’t a good time to be a Mexican. Death to Pachuco is unlike anything anyone has seen before.
FS: Who are some of the characters we meet in the comic?
HB: Ricky Tellez is the character we see the world through. He’s the guy black and brown folks call when they can’t call the cops. We slowly learn Ricky was an orphan and has been bouncing around foster home to foster home. Due to unfortunate circumstances, he meets Esmeralda Garcia and her mother desperate for his help. Esmeralda’s twin sister, Rosie, is getting punished for being at the wrong place and wrong time. Ricky seeing this family torn apart while having been caught up in the dragnet gives him reason to believe he could be of help. Another big character is fashion. The Zoot Suit in itself plays a big part in this story. It represents the defiance of the youth and their attempt at bodily autonomy. Rachel’s keen eye for fashion is going to play an important part in the comic.
Rachel Merrill: One of my absolute favorite things is developing a character’s “look.” It takes all my interest in history, fashion, and costume design and brings a visual life to the written image. My home office is overrun with period costume books and now I get to put them to use!
Death to Pachuco art by Rachel Merrill, color art by Lee Loughridge, and letter art by Henry Barajas.
FS: This book is steeped in history, which, as a history teacher, I love. What was it about this particular time in history and the Zoot Suit Riots that moved the creation of your story?
HB: I would like to say it’s all the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies’ fault. I loved their song Zoot Suit Riot when I was a lad. The real genesis was researching the Dolores Huerta biographical comic I wrote for the Civics For All group that provides educational comics for students enrolled in NYC public education. She talked about how her passion for becoming a lifelong civil rights activist was inspired by police violence committed against her brother and community. This leads me down the rabbit hole of the Sleepy Lagoon murder trial and Zoot Suit Riots. I did a majority of my research at the LA County Library pouring over their incredible collection of newspaper clippings and reference books. This made me feel like a Private Dick piecing together the still unsolved murder of Jose Diaz.
RM: Just from a purely selfish standpoint, the characters are such fun to draw. You read quotes from Cesar Chavez and see young photos of Malcom X adopting the zoot suit and realize it was one of the earliest documented “youth/alternative” styles. It was also more wide ranging than people realize-one of the ways German youths “Swingjugend” would thumb their noses at the Nazi’s was adopting a similar wide silhouette style in their suits while dancing to American swing music.
All of this a full decade before most historians claim the white suburban youth of the 50’s “created” teen culture.
Death to Pachuco characters and color guide by Rachel Merrill.
FS: Following up on that, what kind of research did you two have to do for the book?
HB: I think the best way to absorb the Sleepy Lagoon murder trial and Zoot Suit Riots is by watching the incredible PBS documentary. Thankfully, Los Angeles loves Los Angeles. The public libraries have various reference books and newspaper clippings. While I was at SPX this year, I was able to use the Library of Congress’ periodical reference department. Needless to say, I could spend my entire life researching and learning about this incredible racist period in American history. I am pouring my feelings into this Chicano noir.
RM: Stuff You Missed In History Class has an excellent episode from 2018 that gives a fantastic overview while also stating for the record this was not a “riot” but rather a racist attack on Latinx and Black youth by white servicemen encouraged by the Los Angeles Times.
FS: Rachel, the preview art is perfect. It feels lived-in and heavy and kinetic. What were the conversations like about the look of the book?
RM: While obviously we wanted the characters to be as historically accurate as possible, there was a discussion not to go “too Hollywood/costume-y” with the designs. These were real people, kids even with families and jobs and a life outside of what happened to them in the summer of 1942. I had amazing resources with my own family archives on my mother’s side set in the 1940s. I ended up basing Dolores’s dress on an outfit my own grandmother posed in during the 1940s. Mike Disfarmer was another reference point, he was a portrait photographer who was especially prolific in the 1940s. He worked in rural Arkansas and I love the humanity, humor, and dignity he brought to his subjects, something you can’t take for granted when it comes to documenting working people.
From Death to Pachuco #1
FS: The Kickstarter page describes the book as Chicano Noir. Do you have any favorite noir tales?
HB: I think everyone should stop what they’re doing and read Murder Me Dead by David Lapham. That comic is a huge inspiration for the kind of story I’m trying to tell. Rachel got me to watch Gilda starring Rita Hayworth. I know Gilda will pour into the moments that feature Rita and her then-husband Orson Wells.
RM: Gilda is such a classic especially for this story. For me I also adore Double Indemnity (I love the playful dynamic between Barbara Stanwyck and Fred McMurray) and The Big Sleep because even Bogart in a third-rate narrative is still Humphrey Bogart and he makes it look so easy.
FS: On to the Kickstarter itself, what can you tell us about the campaign?
HB: Kickstarter makes it easier for us to get our story into readers’ hands. Backers can be comforted knowing that their direct contributions go to paying for this completely AI-free comic. The majority of the money raised goes to paying the creatives making this happen.
From Death to Pachuco #1
FS: From reading the campaign page, it’s clear how passionate you are about this project. What does it mean to you, personally and professionally?
HB: I am lucky I get to work with Rachel and Lee on this. This means a lot to me personally that incredibly talented creatives are putting their faith in me and the story I’m trying to tell. Drawing and coloring a comic is a physically demanding job. I will never be able to express my gratitude for their hard work. Professionally, I think this is my best work. La Voz De MAYO will be my greatest accomplishment, but DTP is a culmination of my life’s work and interest converging into this noir.
RM: As Henry has said elsewhere comic publishers in general are weary of historical adult stories. This is a real shame since professionally I’ve often been hired for tribute illustrations of films from the studio system era, and they’re among my most popular works. There absolutely is an audience for historical narratives (the romantic novel industry, people!) and we’re ready to prove it.
FS: What are you reading right now?
HB: For the first time in a long time, I’m able to catch up with my to-read pile. I did add to it drastically when I went to Thought Bubble. I read both inaugural issues of One for Sorrow and Time Waits by DSTLRY—and are must-reads. The SCREAM! 40th annual anthology published by 2000AD blew my socks away. I was just at the Latino Comics Expo and I can’t wait to read In The Dark #4 by Crystal Gonzalez—and Tamale Guy by 3XOG Comics. I’m a superhero comics guy. The Question: All Along The Watchtower #1 by Alex Segura, Cian Tormey, and Romulo Fajardo Jr. is a fantastic start to what I hope is a long ongoing series.
RM: I used to be an avid reader until I took up the disgusting vice of drawing. That said, on my nightstand is The Three Musketeers, and the most recent comic I finished was Showa 1926-1939 by Shigeru Mizuki which was outstanding. I also enjoyed both I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy and Heartburn by Nora Ephron this past year. I have a GIANT pile of books that all center around NYC and music history which I’ll get to someday.
From Death to Pachuco #1
FS: Are there any other projects you’re working on you’d like to discuss?
HB: Gil Thorp is something I think about every single day, so I have to mention that. Rachel took over art duties in the fall, and it has been such an incredible jolt of creativity for me. Working with her is such a joy. Readers can enjoy Gil Thorp in the local funny paper, or on GoComics and MSN.
RM: Gil Thorp is my day job and one we would both be VERY grateful if folks called their local newspaper and told them to syndicate our strip. Otherwise, my partner Travis Carr and I are in production on a short film called “Seen” about an animated guy who doesnt fit into the live action world.
FS: If you had one final pitch for Death to Pachuco #1, what would it be?
HB: Aside from CALAVERA, P.I. #1 by Marcos Finnegan, you can’t find a lot of Chicano noirs in comics or general. Help us make history.
RM: If you like film noir you’ll LOVE our comic.
The Kickstarter for Death to Pachuco #1 has fewer than 2 days left! If you’re looking for a compelling book dripping with noir and history, this is the tale for you!