Puerto Rico Strong

Puerto Rico Strong: A Comics Anthology Supporting Puerto Rico Disaster Relief and Recovery is a comic anthology by a dedicated group of talented writers and artists on Puerto Rico in response to hurricane Maria, and it is very, very good.Over forty illustrated stories that encompass Puerto Rican history, personal experiences, even a little speculative fiction and so much of the joy that is reflective of Puerto Rico. These stories jump off the pages in vivid color, and are strong and the artwork impressive.I was planning to get Puerto Rican Strong when I first heard about it, partly because I am Puerto Rican, partly because I love graphic novels, and partly because a talented Boricua illustrator, writer and friend named Javier Cruz Winnik was one of the contributors. I have been following Javier’s work since I saw his wonderful children’s book series A Reason To Smile. He is in good company with this anthology. There were a few times when I found myself smiling like a fool or feeling emotional because I totally had similar experiences as presented. If I have a criticism of the book, it is I would have appreciated a stronger emphasis on the African contribution to the energy the book has, but its a tiny criticism given what's out there on the subject.Major kudos to all of the writers, illustrators, editing staff and to publisher Lion Force, who is donating ALL profits from sales of this book to relief and rebuilding efforts in Puerto Rico.

This anthology of graphic literature is a feast for the visual sense. At the same time, it presents Puerto Rican history, from the first peoples through the generations of conquest and colonization, struggles for statehood and prosperity, up through the disastrous visit of Hurricane Maria. In just a few hours I learned so much about the neglected story of this American territory, including its rich cultural heritage and what it has contributed through the Puerto Rican diaspora to the American experience in which we all share. It you read it just for pleasure, you will not be disappointed either. I am new to the graphic genre and thrilled to have this melding of art and literature to explore. Yes, it is literature in my opinion, just as is opera. The theatrics embedded in the genre are like seasoning, sparking the interest and making difficult truths more palatable. Puerto Rico Strong is a fine introduction to Puerto Rico, its history and contemporary challenges, clothed in a visual feast of artistic styles. We should all read it.

I would have liked it if they were less anti-American, anti-European and more about Puerto Rican lives.They lost me with the anti-American sentiment throughout this collection of comics.I am a proud Newyorican and above all a proud American. I am a veteran and served proudly, but I draw a line when a book like this is more whining than entertaining.I hate to see a graphic novel convey political agendas instead of showing the realities, the fun and sad history of Puerto Rico's story through positive and factual content, not just hate speech or anti-European sentiment. I am a Puerto Rican of mostly European descent and this book offends me. The imposed PC guilt trip doesn't work for me, it pushes me away from supporting the original intent of this graphic novel, which is to create funds to help the Hurricane victims of Puerto Rico.I don't recommend this book for a general audience but more for people looking for a graphic novel showing they're disdain for US policies, BTW, those U.S. policies are archaic and do not help in any way the people of Puerto Rico progress into the 20th to 21st century. The Jones Act and the many antiquated and ridiculous 19th century laws need to be updated to give Puerto Rico more lateral freedom to be more like Canada or Australia when it comes to international commerce. The Puerto Ricans need to have a say in voting for a president or at least a true voice of voting power in the US Congress.Enough of that, So what do I have to say about this graphic novel compilation from different artists, it's 50/50, you'll either love it or hate it. I have mixed feelings about it.

Puerto Rico strong is an anthology of stories in comic book style. As is the case with anthologies, some will hit home and others will not. I read some people complaining about some of the artwork, and I have to disagree. On a technical aspect, I find all the artwork to be well done. What you might dislike are some of the art styles. You'll see everything from very detailed, graphic novel style, to web animation style, to newspaper comic strip style.As a puerto rican, I related to some of the stories. Some others went too political for my tastes, but I can see why they put them there. One flaw I see is that various of them cover the Tainos, and they sort of repeat a little bit about their origin. They also focused mostly on the Taino heritage, while the Puerto Rican culture borrows more from the Spanish and African ones. I do think the Taino history is beautiful, but feel it's a bit romanticized.Overall, this book has a lot of heart. Thanks to its creators and Lion Forge.

A great anthology to delve into Puerto Rican identity, life and support hurricane relief efforts, in comic format. The kind of thing you wished you had as a kid growing up: a mirror but also an important history primer. Anyone also wanting a quick intro into island life and history should enjoy this. I've bought three for gifts for the young and older generations. I do think the anthology would have benefited from more Afro-Boricua visibility and storylines, especially in the stories that center around identity and history.This was an anthology that made me take a deep breath after I put it down. Because it reminded me of what I learned only later in life with active searching for Puerto Rico's history, and gave insight into nuances of family. And I know the great service such an anthology can provide to the next generation. A good pairing with  War Against All Puerto Ricans: Revolution and Terror in America's Colony

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