Agustin Guerrero
Encyclopedia
Agustin "Gus" Guerrero, also known as El Gato Negro
, is a fictional character
and comic book superhero
created by Richard Dominguez
and published by Azteca Productions
. The character made his first appearance
in El Gato Negro
#1 (October 1993) as a major supporting character. Outside of the comic book continuity he is often referred to as "Silver Age El Gato Negro".
Operating in South Texas
, Agustin first donned the alter ego
of El Gato Negro in order to form a successful career in Lucha Libre
in the early 1950s. The fame he achieved in wrestling allowed him to have several adventures outside of the ring, leading him to use his talents to thwart the activities of the criminal underworld. He would later retire the identity in the late '60s, only for it to be adopted by his grandson
nearly three decades later. To the general public, Agustin is regarded as a successful produce
-magnate
and owner of Guerrero's Produce.
. Dominguez became partial to the character after placing some considerable emphasis on his development, and later placed the Team Tejas project on "the backburner."
El Gato Negro's visual design was largely influenced by the Lucha Libre traditions as well as Dominguez's favorite comic book and pulp superheroes. Included among them was Lee Falks'
comic strip superhero the Phantom
, a character who is believed to be immortal
but in reality, is descended from twenty previous generations of crime-fighters who all adopt the same persona. This, along with other factors, inspired Dominguez to create a predecessor to the modern-day El Gato Negro.
Much of the lucha libre design became recycled in to Agustin "Gus" Guerrero, grandfather to the current incarnation of El Gato Negro. The surname
"Guerrero" was initially chosen for its English-translation of "warrior", although Dominguez has hinted at a more historical significance, mainly with ties to the Mexican Revolution.
#1 (Oct. 1993) as a major supporting character in the three part story-arc, "Unknown Passing, Unforgettable Return". This storyline introduced the villain known as El Graduado
, son of South Texas crime lord Boss Ochoa, a foe Agustin had faced many times early in his career as El Gato Negro. Although retired from his vigilante activities as El Gato Negro, Agustin did make two separate appearances in costume.
There are plans to release a new series entitled, Lucha Grande Comics, which will depict the early adventures of Agustin Guerrero.
Agustin was born and raised in Edinburg, Texas
by his mother, his father abadoning him at a young age. A truly mysterious figure, even to those who knew him best, Agustin grew up knowing very little of his father other than his ambiguous title of "El Hombre del Gato". Later in life, Agustin enlisted in the Korean War with the Texas Battalion. Separated from his group while on a raid, he became lost in the harsh jungle only to encounter an exiled Japanese
warrior and assassin known as Kuro Neko ("黒い猫" - "The Black Cat"). Forming an alliance, the Black Cat properly trained the lost Tejano
in martial arts and stealth. After being rescued and discharged from the military, Agustin returned to Edinburg to begin a career in Lucha Libre. Recognizing the recurring cat motif
in his life, Agustin chose the identity of El Gato Negro
, promising to bring bad luck to his opponents. Under the management of his friend Paco Perez, Agustin became the most famous masked-wrestler in all of South Texas
. But it was his vigilante activities as El Gato Negro that made him a legend amongst the communities of South Texas.
Agustin finally retired from crime-fighting after settling down with Paco's sister Reynalda Perez. Reynalda later died from complications during the birth of their son Francisco. Although his son learned of his father's legacy as El Gato Negro, he abdicated the title, preferring to lead a normal life. Francisco died in a traffic collision with his wife, leaving Agustin to become the legal guardian of the couple's only son, Francisco Jr.
Years later, his grandson adopted the mantle of El Gato Negro to avenge the death of his best friend Mario Bustamonte.
During the first few months that Francisco operated as El Gato Negro, he encountered Armando Ochoa, better known as the career-criminal "El Graduado
". Son of the successful businessman and drug lord Ignacio Ochoa, an enemy Agustin had faced early in his career, El Graduado planned to take his father's place amongst a criminal organization known as the Annulus
. After his attempts at a large drug-trafficking deal are consistently thwarted being foiled by El Gato Negro, a desperate El Graduado held Agustin hostage at his own produce company. After refusing El Graduado's offer to become a "silent partner" he is sentenced to death. Escaping the firing squad, Agustin managed to incapacitate his would-be executioners and allows Francisco enough time to subdue El Graduado.
In 1997's "Enter: The Dogs of War" storyline, Agustin's grandson faced off against the Briones Brothers. The evil duo ambushed El Gato Negro and nearly beat him to death. Despite suffering from near inter-cranial injury, Francisco managed escape and drag himself home, where he collapsed in the arms of his grandfather.
abilities, instead he makes use of his martial arts, boxing, and lucha libre training as well as his own deductive reasoning. Another powerful tool in his arsenal is the fact that the general public believes the vigilante to be something more than human; an urban legend
. As most discredit his existence, El Gato Negro is able to do things an ordinary man cannot.
El Gato Negro
El Gato Negro is the name of two fictional American comic book superheroes created by Richard Dominguez and featured in the Azteca Productions' Universe...
, is a fictional character
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
and comic book superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
created by Richard Dominguez
Richard Dominguez
Richard Dominguez is an American comic book artist and freelance storyboard illustrator. Best known for creating the popular series El Gato Negro, Dominguez publishes his comics through his imprint and art studio, Azteca Productions...
and published by Azteca Productions
Azteca Productions
Azteca Productions is an American independent comic book publisher and imprint founded by artist-creator Richard Dominguez in 1993. The company's first publication was El Gato Negro #1 showcasing the debut of the eponymous character, in what is now considered the company's flagship series...
. The character made his first appearance
First appearance
In comic books and other stories with a long history, first appearance refers to the first occurrence to feature a fictional character.-Monetary value of first appearance issues:...
in El Gato Negro
El Gato Negro (comic book)
El Gato Negro was an independent comic book series featuring the eponymous character created by Richard Dominguez and published by Azteca Productions. The series began in October 1993 with critical acclaim, the first edition actually selling all 5,000 copies within two months, but was placed on a...
#1 (October 1993) as a major supporting character. Outside of the comic book continuity he is often referred to as "Silver Age El Gato Negro".
Operating in South Texas
South Texas
South Texas is a region of the U.S. state of Texas that lies roughly south of and including San Antonio. The southern and western boundary is the Rio Grande River, and to the east it is the Gulf of Mexico. The population of this region is about 3.7 million. The southern portion of this region is...
, Agustin first donned the alter ego
Alter ego
An alter ego is a second self, which is believe to be distinct from a person's normal or original personality. The term was coined in the early nineteenth century when dissociative identity disorder was first described by psychologists...
of El Gato Negro in order to form a successful career in Lucha Libre
Lucha libre
Lucha libre is a term used in Mexico, and other Spanish-speaking countries, for a form of professional wrestling that has developed within those countries...
in the early 1950s. The fame he achieved in wrestling allowed him to have several adventures outside of the ring, leading him to use his talents to thwart the activities of the criminal underworld. He would later retire the identity in the late '60s, only for it to be adopted by his grandson
Francisco Guerrero (comics)
Francisco "Pancho" Guerrero, Jr., also known as El Gato Negro, is a fictional character and comic book superhero created by Richard Dominguez and published by Azteca Productions...
nearly three decades later. To the general public, Agustin is regarded as a successful produce
Produce
Produce is a generalized term for a group of farm-produced goods and, not limited to fruits and vegetables . More specifically, the term "produce" often implies that the products are fresh and generally in the same state as where they were harvested. In supermarkets the term is also used to refer...
-magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
and owner of Guerrero's Produce.
Creation and conception
Richard Dominguez first conceived El Gato Negro sometime in the mid-to-late '80s and originally planned to showcase the character in a largely Latino superhero group dubbed Team TejasTeam Tejas
Team Tejas is a fictional superhero team created by Richard Dominguez and published by Azteca Productions. The group made its first appearance in Team Tejas #1, published in 1997. The comic follows the story of three super-powered mutants and their government appointed leader in their fight...
. Dominguez became partial to the character after placing some considerable emphasis on his development, and later placed the Team Tejas project on "the backburner."
El Gato Negro's visual design was largely influenced by the Lucha Libre traditions as well as Dominguez's favorite comic book and pulp superheroes. Included among them was Lee Falks'
Lee Falk
Lee Falk, born Leon Harrison Gross , was an American writer, theater director, and producer, best known as the creator of the popular comic strip superheroes The Phantom and Mandrake the Magician, who at the height of their popularity attracted over a hundred million readers every day...
comic strip superhero the Phantom
The Phantom
The Phantom is an American adventure comic strip created by Lee Falk, also creator of Mandrake the Magician. A popular feature adapted into many media, including television, film and video games, it stars a costumed crimefighter operating from the fictional African country Bengalla.The Phantom is...
, a character who is believed to be immortal
Immortality
Immortality is the ability to live forever. It is unknown whether human physical immortality is an achievable condition. Biological forms have inherent limitations which may or may not be able to be overcome through medical interventions or engineering...
but in reality, is descended from twenty previous generations of crime-fighters who all adopt the same persona. This, along with other factors, inspired Dominguez to create a predecessor to the modern-day El Gato Negro.
Much of the lucha libre design became recycled in to Agustin "Gus" Guerrero, grandfather to the current incarnation of El Gato Negro. The surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
"Guerrero" was initially chosen for its English-translation of "warrior", although Dominguez has hinted at a more historical significance, mainly with ties to the Mexican Revolution.
Publication
Agustin made his first published appearance in El Gato NegroEl Gato Negro (comic book)
El Gato Negro was an independent comic book series featuring the eponymous character created by Richard Dominguez and published by Azteca Productions. The series began in October 1993 with critical acclaim, the first edition actually selling all 5,000 copies within two months, but was placed on a...
#1 (Oct. 1993) as a major supporting character in the three part story-arc, "Unknown Passing, Unforgettable Return". This storyline introduced the villain known as El Graduado
El Graduado
Armando Ochoa, also known as El Graduado, is a fictional character and comic book supervillain created by Richard Dominguez and published by Azteca Productions...
, son of South Texas crime lord Boss Ochoa, a foe Agustin had faced many times early in his career as El Gato Negro. Although retired from his vigilante activities as El Gato Negro, Agustin did make two separate appearances in costume.
There are plans to release a new series entitled, Lucha Grande Comics, which will depict the early adventures of Agustin Guerrero.
“Silver Age”
Edinburg, Texas
Edinburg is a city in and the county seat of Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 77,100 at the 2010 census. The University of Texas–Pan American, the only fully accredited four-year university in the Rio Grande Valley, is located in Edinburg.Edinburg is part of the...
by his mother, his father abadoning him at a young age. A truly mysterious figure, even to those who knew him best, Agustin grew up knowing very little of his father other than his ambiguous title of "El Hombre del Gato". Later in life, Agustin enlisted in the Korean War with the Texas Battalion. Separated from his group while on a raid, he became lost in the harsh jungle only to encounter an exiled Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
warrior and assassin known as Kuro Neko ("黒い猫" - "The Black Cat"). Forming an alliance, the Black Cat properly trained the lost Tejano
Tejano
Tejano or Texano is a term used to identify a Texan of Mexican heritage.Historically, the Spanish term Tejano has been used to identify different groups of people...
in martial arts and stealth. After being rescued and discharged from the military, Agustin returned to Edinburg to begin a career in Lucha Libre. Recognizing the recurring cat motif
Motif (narrative)
In narrative, a motif is any recurring element that has symbolic significance in a story. Through its repetition, a motif can help produce other narrative aspects such as theme or mood....
in his life, Agustin chose the identity of El Gato Negro
El Gato Negro
El Gato Negro is the name of two fictional American comic book superheroes created by Richard Dominguez and featured in the Azteca Productions' Universe...
, promising to bring bad luck to his opponents. Under the management of his friend Paco Perez, Agustin became the most famous masked-wrestler in all of South Texas
South Texas
South Texas is a region of the U.S. state of Texas that lies roughly south of and including San Antonio. The southern and western boundary is the Rio Grande River, and to the east it is the Gulf of Mexico. The population of this region is about 3.7 million. The southern portion of this region is...
. But it was his vigilante activities as El Gato Negro that made him a legend amongst the communities of South Texas.
Modern Age
Francisco Guerrero (comics)
Francisco "Pancho" Guerrero, Jr., also known as El Gato Negro, is a fictional character and comic book superhero created by Richard Dominguez and published by Azteca Productions...
Years later, his grandson adopted the mantle of El Gato Negro to avenge the death of his best friend Mario Bustamonte.
During the first few months that Francisco operated as El Gato Negro, he encountered Armando Ochoa, better known as the career-criminal "El Graduado
El Graduado
Armando Ochoa, also known as El Graduado, is a fictional character and comic book supervillain created by Richard Dominguez and published by Azteca Productions...
". Son of the successful businessman and drug lord Ignacio Ochoa, an enemy Agustin had faced early in his career, El Graduado planned to take his father's place amongst a criminal organization known as the Annulus
The Annulus
The Annulus is a fictional criminal organization featured in the Azteca Productions' Universe created by Richard Dominguez. The Annulus is a South American-based secret cabal of businessmen, each a notorious drug lord from a different part of the world...
. After his attempts at a large drug-trafficking deal are consistently thwarted being foiled by El Gato Negro, a desperate El Graduado held Agustin hostage at his own produce company. After refusing El Graduado's offer to become a "silent partner" he is sentenced to death. Escaping the firing squad, Agustin managed to incapacitate his would-be executioners and allows Francisco enough time to subdue El Graduado.
In 1997's "Enter: The Dogs of War" storyline, Agustin's grandson faced off against the Briones Brothers. The evil duo ambushed El Gato Negro and nearly beat him to death. Despite suffering from near inter-cranial injury, Francisco managed escape and drag himself home, where he collapsed in the arms of his grandfather.
Skills, abilities and resources
El Gato Negro has no superhumanSuperhuman
Superhuman can mean an improved human, for example, by genetic modification, cybernetic implants, or as what humans might evolve into, in the near or distant future...
abilities, instead he makes use of his martial arts, boxing, and lucha libre training as well as his own deductive reasoning. Another powerful tool in his arsenal is the fact that the general public believes the vigilante to be something more than human; an urban legend
Urban legend
An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend, is a form of modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true...
. As most discredit his existence, El Gato Negro is able to do things an ordinary man cannot.
Costume
Agustin's costume design is typical for the lucha libre tradition, cosisting of a black sleeveless shirt, black pants, and a black cat mask. The design of the mask has varied throughout the years, but has retained its familiar cat motif. In some depictions his costume includes a long black cape. The cape was designed more for looks rather than functionality and is generally excluded from the stories.Comic strip
- The adventures of El Gato Negro are currently featured in a bi-monthly comic strip for South Texas Nation, which is the first publication to feature an origin story revealing El Gato Negro's ties to the Mexican Revolution.