H.H. German, founder of Sigma Comics, whose family emigrated from the Dominican Republic, has said that comic books were not only key to helping him learn English, but also inspired him to overcome bullying in his tough Northern Bronx (Pelham Bay) neighborhood in the 80s.
H.H. German’s Here Comes CALICO is a series that introduces “CALICO,” NYC’s newest anti-hero, who fights against animal abuse. The series is highly controversial for its graphic depiction of animal abuse. Reception, however, has been overwhelmingly positive, with legendary Marvel and DC comic book writer, Chuck Dixon, referring to it as “a pretty cool comic book series.”
I spoke to H.H. in February 2021 about Here Comes CALICO and what inspired him to create its hero.
“Where did you get inspiration for CALICO?”
“Growing up in The Bronx in the 80s was definitely a factor. Pelham Bay was a mostly Italian neighborhood. No Latinos or African Americans. I was darker skinned than most of the kids. Though some of the Italians were dark, too. The Bronx is like the Sparta of this country; it throws so many things at you at a young age. There was a lot of miscommunications, fights, and territorial shit. People like to get nostalgic and paint beautiful memories but, if you thought The Bronx was rough now, it was much rougher back then. While the trains coming in from The South Bronx were loaded with incredible graffiti art, they also wreaked urine. And finding bullet holes was not uncommon. New York City ends in The Bronx, like it was the end of the world. The last train stop is Pelham Bay. You rarely saw any cops back then because everything ran the way it was supposed to. If anyone got outta line, they were quickly dealt with.”
“Were you bullied?”
“Early on, but I eventually learned to not take shit from anyone. I witnessed a lot of bullying and, when I was the recipient, I dealt with it right then and there. I learned how and when to run, negotiate, communicate, and fight. Most of the time, if you stood up to someone, you earned their respect.” Then he added. “And I learned boxing and martial arts.”
“What made you interested in martial arts?”
“I was a fan of Bruce Lee. I loved his scientific approach. It was very practical. From his example, and daily experience on the street, I learned how to maintain a level of comfort in the face of violence.”
“Why the focus on animals in your comic book series?”
“Most people don’t realize that The Bronx is the greenest of the boroughs. A lush world of flora and fauna looms amidst the hustle and bustle of the city. Not only do people have a lot of animals, but there are also many animals on the street: dogs, cats, squirrels, skunks, and more. I grew up seeing things, terrible things. People open fist hitting their animals, towering over a defenseless creature. Animals don’t choose to be with you. They don’t really have control in the human/pet relationship. Therefore, Sigma Comics is quite graphic in its comic book descriptions and depictions. Two things I feel really make this comic work are the spectacular artwork and the realism. The artwork is excellent, and Javier Orabich has a talent for capturing facial expressions, which is extremely hard to do (in my opinion). The combination of color work by Daniel Grimaldi, and bold line work by Orabich, expertly depict the natural expression of emotion that is often missed in contemporary comic book art. Furthermore, this is a real-life concern, unlike rabid vampires stalking the city streets or zombie attacks across the globe. Who’s fighting for the animals? Well, now we have CALICO, a superhero for animals.”
“Do you think the graphic nature of the comic book will offend some people?”
“Although it is an emotional and sensitive subject, it is one that needs to be more widely addressed. According to the Humane Society there are over 144 million pet dogs and cats in this country. Many of those animals that are abused are often found in homes where there is spousal or child abuse present. According to the website www.humanesociety.org there is a commonality between those that abuse humans and those that abuse animals. This is presumably due to the personality of the offender, meaning that a person who is compelled to exert and impose their will over other people physically is probably comfortable doing the same to a small, helpless animal. As a comic book genre, it’s considered less superhero and more of a true crime and real-life horror, and I do feel that this comic book is a great way to open a dialogue about the issue. This is a medium that is becoming more popular to get various messages and information across to people of varying ages all over the world. Creatively, it is a much less limited medium than a TV or movie screen.”
“Who’s your target reader?”
“Our core target is really comic book fans…and animal lovers, too. The Big Two (comic book companies) have focused on movies. Because the big players two have creatively checked out and all but left the scene, the quality of the writing and the art is horrendous. They’ve chosen to focus most of the resources to mega-million-dollar movie productions, which make them billions. That’s not an opinion. Do a Google or YouTube search and you will see endless articles, blog posts, and videos discussing the sorry state of current comic books. This has left a green field of opportunity. Our comics have great artists, and we’re telling a very compelling story, which we believe the public has been waiting to read. The Japanese, who have the largest comic book industry, with their world-renowned “manga” titles, have been studying the American market and have seen the recent shortcomings of the Big Two, and have begun pumping their manga titles into the U.S., which now account for the bulk of comic book sales. Even though the traditional American comic book market is smaller than it was, competing with not only Japanese manga, but also indirect competition from things like video games and streaming services like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, there’s still a market. Comic books are an American institution, and we want to do something special with CALICO.”
“Why does the character live in Red Hook, Brooklyn?”
“I’m a New Yorker, through and through. I’m from The Bronx, but I wanted to show another part of New York. Being in Red Hook, CALICO gets to move around more covertly, as he’s on the edge of town, and can connect into other parts of the city at night.”
“What do you see as the future?”
“I’m certainly hoping to do our part in bringing animal abuse to the mainstream. We have a wide age audience, from late teens to people in their 50s (and older). Comic books are stories that continue, unlike a book. Comics adapt to new social phenomena. If I learned how to solve problems through comics, I hope other kids, other people, can also learn the same way. The CALICO stories are hard-hitting and direct. This comic hits you right in the face, and in the gut, which appeals to today’s generation, who want the truth. I’m a Gen X’er, and our generation was given sugar-coated messaging and such. The problem of drug addiction, for example, was addressed by cracking two eggs on a frying pan. That won’t fly these days, and we won’t insult our fans by feeding them watered-down stories. Here Comes CALICO will continue to speak to people in a powerful and unique way. It will continue to evolve. I have great hopes.”
Sigma Comics
https://sigmacomics.com to purchase individual issues or subscriptions
Mike Fiorito
www.fallingfromtrees.info
https://www.pw.org/directory/writers/mike_fiorito
