VCU Libraries is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
with a special exhibit on the work of the Los Bros Hernandez, comic arts superstars who have worked in comic and graphic arts for some 30 years. This exhibit, in a display case on the fourth floor of James Branch Cabell Library, features comic books and other work by Gilbert, Jamie, and
to a lesser extent, Mario Hernandez.The Los Angeles-based brothers self-published the first issue of their best-known comic book series, Love and Rockets in 1981. The series was picked up by Fantagraphics Books, publisher of the Comics Journal in 1982, and became a major force in alternative comics. Love and Rockets includes several long-running serial narratives, such as Gilbert Hernadez's Palomar stories and Jaime Hernandez's Hoppers 13. The series discontinued in 1996 but resumed publication in various incarnations over the years.
Love and Rockets is a provocative mix of Latin barrio life, punk rock culture and magic realism. Many experts on comic arts have lauded their original ideas and intelligent approaches.
The brothers have distinctly different styles and seldom collaborate on a single work. Gilbert and Jamie also write comics and graphic novels. Some of these works are also
featured in the
display and are part of the library's Comic Arts collection.
- Artist bio and background, official publisher's information
- How to Read Love & Rockets, an advisory from the publisher
- The Artists on Video. Gilbert, Jaime and Mario Hernandez talk about Love & Rockets and Citizen Rex; moderated by Kristy Valenti and filmed by Justin Bloch and Eric Nath at the Comic-Con International: San Diego 2011.
- Reliving Love and Rockets, a June 2011, in-depth interview by Mother Jones magazine with Jamie Hernandez
Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept.15 - Oct. 15) is an observance of the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico, and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America and the Latin Caribbean.