Somewhere out in the wild, a beast waits. She is an intelligent, strong, and fearless animal descended from stealthy coyotes and mighty wolves. She is also a pack animal, meaning she must swallow her fear, protect her pack, and hunt to survive. Meet the Coywolf.
“Spirit of the Coywolf” by creator Gabriel Hernandez and artist Bert Arista (The Comic Cartel) begins the story of Canelita Garcia-Smith, a young soldier and corporal serving in the United States Army. When Canelita’s mama and papa lose their lives to the sheriff and his evil cartel, Canelita must undertake the spirit of the coyote, Cuetlachtlie. Meanwhile, Canelita has been hospitalized after jumping on a grenade to save her sergeant’s life. Handed down through generations of her Navajo ancestors, Cuetlachtli has protected the women of Canelita’s bloodline for years. Now, emboldened by the Coywolf, Canelita must master her newfound powers, and prepare to take her revenge.
Although only just beginning, Canelita’s story already spans across worlds. At the turn of a page, Arista & Hernandez traverse desert and darkness alike, from the rich hues of a hot desert sunset to the cold and uncaring walls of a hospital to isolated stars on a pitch-black sky.
With their talent, they strike a balance between storytelling and art that is truly immersive, so that the sticky heat of Arizona is just as palpable as the still quiet of the Spirit World. Their imaginations go far beyond the limits of our human realm, exploring world after colorful world.
At the turn of a page, Arista & Hernandez traverse desert and darkness alike, from the rich hues of a hot desert sunset to the cold and uncaring walls of a hospital to isolated stars on a pitch-black sky.
In fact, their imaginations take them so far that they begin to bend the rules of genre itself. While following some of the familiar beats associated with a superhero—the dead relative, receiving new powers—Coywolf is so much more. Aside from featuring a Native Afro-Latina heroine, it experiments with a variety of tropes. It has the violence and gore of a zombie slasher, the stubbed cigarettes and shootouts of a Western, and the shouting drill sergeants and unflinching walks of a war thriller. That is to say, it is born from an amalgamation of beloved genres. Although there is no harm in sticking to one thing, Arista & Hernandez seem to harness multiple genres to create something entirely engaging and unique, so that “Spirit of the Coywolf” truly has something for everyone.
Aside from featuring a Native Afro-Latina heroine, it experiments with a variety of tropes. It has the violence and gore of a zombie slasher, the stubbed cigarettes and shootouts of a Western, and the shouting drill sergeants and unflinching walks of a war thriller.
However, what strikes me the most about the comic is the indomitable presence of strong women in the story. From cover to cover, “Spirit of the Coywolf” seeps with powerful, independent women carrying the spirit of Cuetlachtli. There is Canelita’s mama, Xochi, who fought valiantly to defend her home and family. There is also Canelita herself, who risked her life saving another while serving in the army. Then, perhaps most importantly, there are the mothers and daughters who inspired Arista & Hernandez to create Coywolf in the first place. All around, women act with courage to vanquish foes and protect their loved ones. It is a scintillating representation of powerful Native Afro-Latina women and the American Southwest.
With the action of a western, the gore of a zombie slasher, the drama of a war thriller, and a superhero like no other, Coywolf is the empowering, kick-butt comic you’ve been waiting for. And now, the Coywolf is waiting for you, too. Are you brave enough to answer?
Stay tuned for the Latinx Pop Mag review of the next installment of Coywolf, "Border on Fire!"
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