Podcast Summary: ¡Wepa! Puerto Ricans in the World of Comics

Podcast: All Of It (WNYC)
Host: Alison Stewart
Air Date: October 3, 2025
Guests: Paloma Celis Carbajal (Curator, NYPL), Charles Carter (Curator, NYPL), Edgardo Miranda Rodriguez (Graphic Novelist)

Episode Overview

This episode of "All Of It" centers on the unveiling of ¡Wepa! Puerto Ricans in the World of Comics, a groundbreaking exhibition at the New York Public Library. The show highlights the rich, multifaceted contributions of Puerto Rican creators to the comic book industry—spanning superhero sagas, independent zines, bilingual storytelling, and deep explorations of culture and identity. Through lively conversation with the exhibit's curators and prominent graphic novelist Edgardo Miranda Rodriguez, listeners are given an inside look at the significance, content, and creative context behind this unique collection.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Origins and Importance of the Collection

[00:32–02:50]

• The exhibit is built on the private collection of Manuel Martinez Nazario, a Brooklyn-born librarian and comic enthusiast.
• Nazario’s archive features over 1,500 comics, trade paperbacks, hardcovers, and zines: “They are by Puerto Rican creators, about Puerto Rico, or feature Puerto Rican characters.” (Alison Stewart, 00:23)
• The New York Public Library (NYPL) acquired the collection after careful review. Paloma Celis Carbajal describes the process:

  "He’s also a librarian, so he had it perfectly organized... He already had an inventory... and once I saw the breadth of it, I said yes, let's do all we can to bring this over." (Paloma, 01:49)

Why This Exhibit Matters

[02:50–03:39]

• The curators aimed to showcase the creative breadth of Puerto Rican comic artists and to inform the public of NYPL’s unique collections.
• Charles Carter emphasized research value:

  “These comic books are incredible resources for research about Puerto Rico.” (Charles, 03:30)

• The collection is also about representation—“showing to the world the wide-ranging talents of Puerto Rican comics creators.” (Charles, 02:54)

Superheroes and Milestone Characters

[03:39–05:07]

• White Tiger: Recognized as the first Latino superhero at Marvel Comics, created by George Perez in 1975.

  "White Tiger is the first Latino superhero published by Marvel Comics. He was co-created in 1975 by George Perez...one of the great superstars of superhero comics." (Charles, 03:51)

• NYPL made a special acquisition to feature the original White Tiger issue in the exhibit.

Origin Stories with Urban Flair

• Paloma points out that White Tiger’s origin—finding a talisman in a New York alley—roots the character in relatable urban experience:

  “It was very telling... the way that it was thought about the origin story. Something that someone who lives in a big city would feel close to.” (Paloma, 05:33)

Physical Experience of the Exhibition

[06:04–07:37]

• Visitors are greeted by a vibrant title wall with art by Rosa Colón Guerra and Carla Rodriguez of Soda Pop Comics, the first women-run comics company in Puerto Rico.

  “Their raison d'être was get more women to create comics... And they did.” (Charles, 06:19)

• The exhibition immerses visitors in comic visuals with bright lighting and imagery from the collection itself, aiming to replicate the feeling of stepping inside a comic book.

Representation, Diversity, and Bilingualism

[08:02–09:01; 15:56–16:54]

• The exhibit illustrates the diverse Puerto Rican experience—on the island and within the diaspora.
• Comics showcase characters with mixed ancestry, dialects, and backgrounds, reflecting social realities and imaginative possibilities.

  "Puerto Ricans are, of course, not a monolith...a wide variance of Puerto Rican experience in life, both on the island and throughout the diaspora in New York City." (Charles, 08:17)

• Bilingual storytelling is common, mirroring the cultural and linguistic blend of Puerto Rican communities:

  “Many of the characters speak with mixed Spanish, English, or they switch... The linguistic context is that bilingualism that exists especially in urban spaces... but also shared by the diaspora.” (Paloma, 16:02)

Featured Creations & Creators

[09:09–11:22; 11:40–13:51]

Koki

• Koki, created by Ivan Plaza, is a superhero whose origin is tied to the island’s native tree frogs, the coquíes.
• The story stands out for its infusion of science, ancestry, and connection with Puerto Rican land and identity.

La Borinqueña

• Edgardo Miranda Rodriguez joins via Zoom to discuss his critically acclaimed Afro Puerto Rican superheroine:

  "La Borinqueña is the first Afro Puerto Rican woman to have her own solo comic book series...her powers are tethered to the ancient spirits of the Tainos, the original indigenous people of Puerto Rico." (Edgardo, 11:50)

• La Borinqueña’s impact stretches beyond art to philanthropy:

  "We've awarded over $250,000 in grants to nonprofits throughout Puerto Rico...part of our work isn’t just around the art and storytelling, but also philanthropy." (Edgardo, 12:41)

Super Defenders and Unique Comic Types

[14:06–15:56]

• Early 90s indie comic Super Defenders featured Boricua—a Puerto Rican superhero with Captain America vibes.
• Notable for being fully bilingual: every speech bubble appears in both English and Spanish.

  "The coolest thing about this comic book is that it is fully bilingual. Each speech bubble is sort of split in two..." (Charles, 15:22)

• The exhibition itself is “the first fully bilingual exhibition at the 42nd Street Library.” (Charles, 15:57)

Other Themes: Resilience and Everyday Life

• Storylines often highlight resilience and resourcefulness. Example:

  "There's a comic book called Ta Sita...an anthropomorphic coffee cup. The very first panel...the owner says, 'Hey, there’s no electricity, so I can’t warm up the coffee.' And the coffee cup says, ‘Give me a minute.’ The next panel is the coffee cup taking the sun and warming up with the sun." (Paloma, 17:12)

• Hardship (like frequent blackouts) and perseverance are recurring subtexts—the resilience of Puerto Ricans both on the island and in the diaspora.

Memorable Quotes

• “As soon as I got that email, I was like, oh my God. Of course.”
  — Paloma on acquiring Manuel’s collection ([01:49])

• “White Tiger is the first Latino superhero published by Marvel Comics.”
  — Charles ([03:51])

• “Puerto Ricans are, of course, not a monolith... There is such a wide variance of Puerto Rican experience in life.”
  — Charles ([08:17])

• “La Borinqueña is an Afro Puerto Rican superhero. The first Afro Puerto Rican woman to have her own solo series in comic book storytelling.”
  — Edgardo Miranda Rodriguez ([11:50])

• “Librarians were always and continue to be a haven for me.”
  — Edgardo Miranda Rodriguez ([12:45])

• "It’s finding those solutions in the face of hardship."
  — Paloma on the theme of resilience in comics ([17:28])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:32] – Introduction to Manuel Martinez Nazario’s collection and exhibit
• [03:51] – White Tiger: First Latino superhero
• [06:11] – Exhibition layout and Soda Pop Comics
• [08:17] – Diversity and representation in Puerto Rican comics
• [09:11] – Story of Koki and exhibition’s context
• [11:40] – Edgardo Miranda Rodriguez discusses La Borinqueña
• [14:22] – Super Defenders and bilingual comics
• [16:02] – Bilingualism and themes of resilience
• [17:12] – Everyday resilience: Ta Sita comic example

Episode Tone & Highlights

• The conversation is lively, warm, and deeply rooted in both fandom and cultural scholarship.
• Guests share personal anecdotes and community ties, weaving together literary scholarship, comics fandom, and social activism.
• The pride in Puerto Rican creativity and resilience is palpable throughout.

Conclusion

This episode offers a vibrant, thoughtful look at how comics serve as both mirrors and makers of Puerto Rican identity—from superhero origin stories to indie anthologies and bilingual word balloons. The ¡Wepa! exhibition at NYPL becomes both a celebration and a resource—a place for fun, pride, and serious scholarship alike.

If you’re curious about cultural representation in comics, or want to see the intersection of art, language, and resiliency, this conversation is not to be missed.