Creator of Comic Strip “Baldo” Discusses Comic Strip as Social Commentary, Sept. 11

Event: Hector Cantú (BJ ’84), creator of the popular Universal Press Syndicate comic strip “Baldo,” will speak about using his comic strip as social commentary.

When: Noon to 1 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 11.

Where: Texas Union Chicano Culture Room, 4.206 on The University of Texas at Austin campus

Background: In honor of Veteran’s Week (Sept. 17-26), “Baldo” writer Cantu and illustrator Carlos Castellanos will create a fictional character, Benny Ramirez, who will retell his World War II stories. In the strip, Ramirez is a U.S. Latino who lost his leg while serving in World War II. He is in his early 80s (though still retains a sharp wit) and works as a barber.

Cantu worked closely researching the content for the strip with Dr. Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez, associate professor in the School of Journalism, and director of the U.S. Latino & Latina WWII Oral History Project.

Cantu studied journalism at The University of Texas at Austin and today is editorial director at Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas. He previously was managing editor at award-winning “Hispanic Business” magazine in Santa Barbara, Calif., and his writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times Magazine and the Hollywood Reporter.

Syndicated by Universal Press, “Baldo” appears in 200 daily and Sunday newspapers, including the “Austin-American Statesman,” “The Washington Post,” “The Miami Herald,” “The Los Angeles Daily News” and “The Houston Chronicle.”

This event is sponsored by the School of Journalism, with a grant made possible by the Carnegie Corporation, the Center for Mexican American Studies and the College of Communication Latino Media Studies Program.

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Contacts:
Dr. Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez
(512) 471-1924

Erin Geisler
(512) 475-8071