David Gonzales
Encyclopedia
David Gonzales is a Mexican-American cartoonist
from Richmond, California
, currently living in nearby Hercules
. He is the creator of the Homies
line of toys.
. The characters of these amateur comic stories were barrio
guys, as Gonzales grew up in the tough streets of a poverty-ridden barrio. The main character of his strip was called "Hollywood". His schoolmates liked his drawings so much that they began asking Gonzales to draw some strips for them.
Eventually, Gonzales made his way to Lowrider Magazine
, where he had his monthly comic strip, also named "Hollywood". While drawing for Low Rider magazine, Gonzales became inspired by other people that he knew. He admits that the "Homie" character, "La Gata" ("The Cat") is loosely based on his wife. Gonzales slowly but steadily introduced the "Homies" to the public through his comic strip at Low Rider magazine.
He also sold "Homie" products on beach
stands across California
. Gonzales drew his characters on t-shirts, which were later sold to customers. He and his wife also sold other types of products related to the "Homies".
In 1998, he released the first set of "Homies", sponsored by Lowrider magazine. The "Homies" figures were also sold in supermarket
machines that year.
Gonzales initially had trouble selling his product, in particular because the LAPD
claimed that the "Homies" glorified gang
life. Many stores stopped selling the Homies. Met with the challenge of re-creating his characters to ensure that the product would sell well during a comeback, Gonzales went back to the drawing board and gave the "Homies" a new life when he gave each individual character a biography as a well to do person.
When the "Homies" returned to retail stores and supermarkets, such as Walmart and Safeway
, Gonzales was also able to introduce "Los Mijos", another toy that he invented and that are co-related to the "Homies". Once again sponsored by Low Rider Magazine, the "Homies" returned with such new items as poster
s, Die-Cast cars and other articles.
In 2004, Gonzales introduced a toy line named "The Palermos
", a line that is loosely based on old Italian
mafia
legends.
Gonzales claims, however, that after he gave "Homies" characters positiveand life-affirming biographies, the police have actually met him at public functions multiple times and some officers have ordered figures from him personally.
Their separate and distinct personalities and characteristics together make up a single, composite entity that is the "HOMIES." In an inner-city world plagued by poverty, oppression, violence, and drugs, the Homies have formed a strong and binding cultural support system that enables them to overcome the surrounding negativity and allows for laughter and good times as an anecdote for reality. The word "Homies" itself is a popular street term that refers to someone from your hometown or, in a broader sense, anyone that you would acknowledge as your friend. In use in the West Coast Latino community for decades, the word "Homies" has crossed over into the now mainstream Hip-Hop street culture that has taken America's young people by storm.
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
from Richmond, California
Richmond, California
Richmond is a city in western Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city was incorporated on August 7, 1905. It is located in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a residential inner suburb of San Francisco, as well as the site of heavy industry, which has been...
, currently living in nearby Hercules
Hercules, California
Hercules is a city in western Contra Costa County, California. Situated along the coast of San Pablo Bay, it is located in the eastern region of the San Francisco Bay Area, about northeast of San Francisco. The city has a 2010 population of 24,060 according to the U.S...
. He is the creator of the Homies
Homies
Homies are a series of 2-inch figurines loosely based upon Chicano characters in the life of artist David Gonzales. First created in 1998, these plastic figurines were initially sold via vending machines typically positioned in supermarkets, mainly in International marts. Homies have become a...
line of toys.
Biography
Gonzales began drawing comics while he was in high schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
. The characters of these amateur comic stories were barrio
Barrio
Barrio is a Spanish word meaning district or neighborhood.-Usage:In its formal usage in English, barrios are generally considered cohesive places, sharing, for example, a church and traditions such as feast days...
guys, as Gonzales grew up in the tough streets of a poverty-ridden barrio. The main character of his strip was called "Hollywood". His schoolmates liked his drawings so much that they began asking Gonzales to draw some strips for them.
Eventually, Gonzales made his way to Lowrider Magazine
Lowrider Magazine
Lowrider Magazine is a monthly magazine about cars, focusing almost exclusively on the style known as a lowrider. The magazine has also released a series of videos available on DVD. It was founded in 1977 with the first issue coming out of San Jose, California.- External links :*...
, where he had his monthly comic strip, also named "Hollywood". While drawing for Low Rider magazine, Gonzales became inspired by other people that he knew. He admits that the "Homie" character, "La Gata" ("The Cat") is loosely based on his wife. Gonzales slowly but steadily introduced the "Homies" to the public through his comic strip at Low Rider magazine.
He also sold "Homie" products on beach
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
stands across California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Gonzales drew his characters on t-shirts, which were later sold to customers. He and his wife also sold other types of products related to the "Homies".
In 1998, he released the first set of "Homies", sponsored by Lowrider magazine. The "Homies" figures were also sold in supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
machines that year.
Gonzales initially had trouble selling his product, in particular because the LAPD
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
claimed that the "Homies" glorified gang
Gang
A gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen...
life. Many stores stopped selling the Homies. Met with the challenge of re-creating his characters to ensure that the product would sell well during a comeback, Gonzales went back to the drawing board and gave the "Homies" a new life when he gave each individual character a biography as a well to do person.
When the "Homies" returned to retail stores and supermarkets, such as Walmart and Safeway
Safeway Inc.
Safeway Inc. , a Fortune 500 company, is North America's second largest supermarket chain after The Kroger Co., with, as of December 2010, 1,694 stores located throughout the western and central United States and western Canada. It also operates some stores in the Mid-Atlantic region of the Eastern...
, Gonzales was also able to introduce "Los Mijos", another toy that he invented and that are co-related to the "Homies". Once again sponsored by Low Rider Magazine, the "Homies" returned with such new items as poster
Poster
A poster is any piece of printed paper designed to be attached to a wall or vertical surface. Typically posters include both textual and graphic elements, although a poster may be either wholly graphical or wholly text. Posters are designed to be both eye-catching and informative. Posters may be...
s, Die-Cast cars and other articles.
In 2004, Gonzales introduced a toy line named "The Palermos
The Palermos
The Palermos is a line of action figures that were conceived by toy designer David Gonzales. The line has become a hit among children and collectors alike, and is sold at stores such as K-Mart and others.The Palermos are a family...
", a line that is loosely based on old Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
mafia
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
legends.
Gonzales claims, however, that after he gave "Homies" characters positiveand life-affirming biographies, the police have actually met him at public functions multiple times and some officers have ordered figures from him personally.
Homies
The Homies are a group of tightly knit Chicano buddies who have grown up in the Mexican American barrio ( neighborhood ) of "Quien Sabe", ( who knows ) located in East Los Angeles. The four main characters are Hollywood, Smiley, Pelon, and Bobby Loco.Their separate and distinct personalities and characteristics together make up a single, composite entity that is the "HOMIES." In an inner-city world plagued by poverty, oppression, violence, and drugs, the Homies have formed a strong and binding cultural support system that enables them to overcome the surrounding negativity and allows for laughter and good times as an anecdote for reality. The word "Homies" itself is a popular street term that refers to someone from your hometown or, in a broader sense, anyone that you would acknowledge as your friend. In use in the West Coast Latino community for decades, the word "Homies" has crossed over into the now mainstream Hip-Hop street culture that has taken America's young people by storm.