Deep Thoughts: Lalo Alcaraz's 'Cuco' Is A Comic Icon

In our latest installment of Deep Thoughts, Blogamole contributor Michael Lopez reminds us that it's still fun to sit at the breakfast table and enjoy the funnies (printed or digi) — especially one by comic O.G. Lalo Alcaraz.

By Michael Lopez

Flip open your local newspaper and chances are in between Snoopy and those Far Side rip-offs, you’ll come in contact with Cuco. Yup, we're talking about that bug-eyed, sharp-witted Latino icon who’s actually a trailblazer among comic strip characters.

In the last few decades, comics like "La Cucaracha" have brought talented diversity and created a forum for a much different political perspective.

“Cucaracha”'s creator, Lalo Alcaraz, has taken his ideas even further with radio shows, books, and thought-provoking Tweets!

Lalo Alcaraz

Born in SoCal, Lalo began his art career at San Diego State University, drawing editorial cartoons for the local paper. Since then, he’s created comics (in both English and Spanish) for The New York Times, The L.A. Times, The Village Voice, Latina Magazine, and beyond.

Alcaraz taken home dozens of awards for his work (including the “Latino Spirit Award”) and now even publishes his own “Chicano humor’zine”, as he calls it, entitled POCHO (which also happens to be the name of the LA radio show he hosts).

But of course, his biggest claim to fame is his razor-sharp “La Cucaracha” comic series, which is syndicated all over the country. Never one to shy away from politically-charged situations, he’s used his art to tackle everything from Prop 8 to SB 1070.

So the next time you grab the comics section, make sure to keep an eye out for “La Cucaracha.” It’s funny, brash, and great to to read before or after Marmaduke!

Have you had a chance to check out Lalo’s work? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags Art, Comics, culture, Deep Thoughts, La Cucaracha, Lalo Alcaraz