Peanuts

The roots of this strip began a couple of years ago. It was around the time of San Francisco’s annual Gay Pride events and Mariela and I were looking through the SFWeekly for a schedule of who would be performing on Pride’s Latino stage. While looking through the Weekly we came across an ad for sex toys in the shape of different religious icons. I laughed but Mariela freaked out and couldn’t even bring herself to look at the ad again. Even though she didn’t exactly consider herself Catholic her opinion was clear: You don’t sexualize your personal icons

As Chuck D once rapped “My wanderings got my ass wondering” and as a Chicano I’ve wondered about our iconography and the taboo of eroticizing it. In terms of Chicanoness, I can imagine that it would be very bad to have a fantasy about bustin’ out Alberto Gonzalez; so would the opposite be good? Or maybe I just have the hots for Dolores Huerta?

As far as the whole Peanuts thing goes, I’ve always identified with Charlie Brown. His philosophical ponderings and neurosis always seemed to click with me. With this strip, Charlie Brown is a stand-in for my parents both of whom have taken risks with their artwork and both of whom have told me in some form or another that I’m goin’ to Hell for doing this comic strip. Wimps!