Reptil #1-4: A Hero to Look Up To

Reptil takes the character of Humberto Ramos, who, outside of the pages of Avengers Academy, has mostly been forgotten and provides him with a fully fleshed story. The series not only delves into the origin of his powers and why he has become a hero but supplies him with a unique cast of characters, each with their own skills and motivation. The story is told against the backdrop of Humberto’s culture, with its presence felt throughout the series.

Terry Blas treats the characters with respect. Reptil is given the opportunity for character development over the course of the four issues, which could be expected given it is named after him. But the side characters receive that same respect. Blas introduces Humberto’s cousin’s Eva and Julian. They are each given time to show their cousin, and the reader, what they have to offer. Their role in the comic is crucial since, despite the magic and mystery, and a lot of dinosaurs, the true focus of the story is family. Humberto is moved to action to protect his family, then save it, and finally to make them proud. Eva and Julian take an active role because of how they look up to their cousin. Even Megalith is motivated by his history with his own family.

The art team of Enid Balám, Victor Olazaba, and Carlos Lopez shines in the little family moments. They are able to bring a calm sense of intimacy to these scenes, which is crucial as the cousins frequently have heart to hearts about heroics, family, and culture and where the three intersect. Unfortunately, with the nature of Repitl’s power to transform parts of himself into dinosaur parts, the action scenes can get a little confusing as to precisely what he is doing and transforming into. (Though this reviewer’s own ignorance of the less Jurrasic Park featured dinosaurs may have only made things worse.)

The use of culture in Reptil is the standout of the series. It is baked into the bones of the series. The language, food, clothes, culture, and value of Humberto’s culture play an implicit and explicit role throughout the story. The story also doesn’t shy away from addressing the intersectionality of the characters. Julian speaks about being gay and Mexican and how the concept of machista became a hurdle for him to face. Eva learns magic for protection as a Latina faced with the threat of prejudice. Humberto remembers his parents instilling pride in him as a child, validating his identiy as Mexican despite being born in America. While it may have been the smaller moments of culture that resonated most with this reviewer, there is no denying the impact of the explicit inclusion and discussions of culture in this book.