The Exponent - Purdue's Student Newspaper

Hector Cantu, co-creator and writer of the comic "Baldo," talks about his main character the strip's named after and the many reactions the comic has elicited since its inception.

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The co-creator of a comic strip chronicling the life of a Latino American family spoke about his path in finding a voice in the funny pages.

Hector Cantu, the award-winning co-creator of Baldo, a bilingual newspaper comic strip, said the one ongoing aspect people have to keep in mind as Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered is that vigilance and constant fighting for what you believe in are needed.

The keynote speaker during Monday's Martin Luther King Jr. celebration drew inspiration from the day's namesake as he delivered a humorous and thought-provoking speech titled "Lowriders, Abuelitas, and Chica Power! Fighting for a Voice on the Funny Pages." The speech highlighted his fight for a voice on the funny pages and growing up in Texas as a Mexican American.

"Baldo is a completely fictitious character and fictitious events based on my teenage years," said Cantu. "We hope that people become more aware of the Latino voice out there and how we contribute to American culture."

Baldo, a bilingual teenager obsessed with being cool and owning the best car in town, is the main character of the comic, which appears in 200 daily newspapers. Baldo is joined by his old world aunt, Tia Carmen, who is superstitious at times and always trying to help-sometimes to a fault.

"Baldo's younger sister Gracie is an overachiever obsessed with being president, a doctor and the ruler of the universe," said Cantu.

At the helm of the family is Papi, Baldo and Gracies's father, who only wants the best for his children.

Cantu began his career as a reporter and editor but expanded his career seven years ago to include the Baldo comic strip.

Though the comic hopes to enlighten its readers in regard to the Latino culture, Cantu said he also hopes to portray a Latino family his readers can relate to.

"I write my comic strips for young Latinos who want to be exposed to other messages beside what is in mainstream media," he said.

Ashley Hornberger, a junior in the College of Liberal Arts, was the first student winner of the Dreamer Award, given annually to a person whose actions contribute to King's vision of service. She said a comic strip is an entertaining way to experience alternate exposure.

"I was wondering how the Baldo comic was going to tie in with Martin Luther King and his work," she said. "It is a way for people to see other cultures through an entertaining comic strip."