Pablo's
Inferno is an independently
self-published five issue
comic book series by
Rhode Montijo and
Dan Chapman. It tells
the tale of the journey of Pablo, a little boy who one day goes out to
get milk and a candybar, but who ends up travels through
Hell on a
journey of mythological proportions.
Along the way Pablo meets up with a number of memorable characters:
-
The Devil's Cards - These four clowns who seem to be warped versions
of the card soldiers from Alice in Wonderland are in charge of Limbo.
In Limbo they are to keep the souls of the departed before they move
on to their final destination. As Pablo makes his way through he
looks through the circus freakshow where he meets Quetzal.
-
Quetzal - After breaking free of his confines in Limbo Quetzal helps
Pablo to move to saftey. Quetzal is a mysterious lanky blue figure
whose mouth has been sewn shut but who is able to fly. Quetzal, who
is named after the rare blue feathered bird of Mexico whose feathers
were used for the headdresses of Aztec kings, transports Pablo and
himself to the realm of Huehueteotl by having Pablo eat a sugar
skull with his own name on it.
-
Huehueteotl - The Old Fire God heals Pablo and charges him with a
quest for finding various objects throughout Mexico. Upon completion
of the quest Pablo might be able to return to life.
Pablo's Inferno is about more than just the travels of a little boy
through Hell. It is a story dripping with the
history and
mythology of
the Mexican
people. Throughout the series from the way characters are
portrayed to things that are spoken of a strong sense of
pride in
Mexican
folklore and history pervades everything. Quetzal is always
explaining something about
Dia de los Muertos or Aztec
numerology and
Huehueteotl is modeled off of Aztec statues.
With so much passion for what is behind the story it is not surprising
that the creators won the 1999 Xeric Grant (a grant for self
publishers). The comic is a beautiful homage to a great and varied people.