User:Caribbean H.Q./Sandbox

Concept and development

The concept behind Isla de la Muerte was designed by Tom Beland, who resides in the Caribbean archipelago. This project marked the first time the Marvel published a storyline completely set in Puerto Rico as well as the first comic published in two different languages since its conception. Some parts of the archipelago had been briefly featured before, such as the Bantam's home base, Trini's Gym in San Juan. The team assembled featured strong Puerto Rican presence, with native Alejandro Arbona serving as editor and a Nuyorican artist only known as "Juan Doe" illustrating the content. The books featured Puerto Rican urban legend, the Chupacabra, as one of the plot's main antagonists. Holand designed two models for the cryptid, intending to portray it as an ancient endangered species instead of some of the more traditional depictions. The team intended to accurately project Puerto Rico's biology and culture, noting that if a reader "[was] told that there was a superhero book or any type of comic that was taking place where [he or she] lived, [the reader] would really look over that book to find the faults". An environmental message was presented through the Chupacabra, when the creatures begin attacking humans after losing part of its natural habitat due to human intervention. Upon learning of the concept, Doe immediately became interested in illustrating the project, contacting the editors Arbona and Stephen Wacker. He drew several Fantastic Four sketches during the following months, eventually receiving the work. Doe researched several Fantastic Four comics in order to analyze the team's different looks, beginning with Jack Kirby original comic up to Mike Wieringo's version. This marked the first instance that he worked on a serial comic, having focused on cover art up to that point. Subsequently, Doe experimented with several art styles, eventually selecting one that resembled Disney's animation. All of the characters, except the Thing were inked digitally, while that character was inked manually to display some organic elements and an imperfect image. Doe took a more liberal approach when working with the Chupacabra, trying to separate it from any resemblance towards monsters or extraterrestrial beings. The environmental message continued in ¡Bahía de los Muertos!, where the contamination caused by decades of military exercises held by the United States Navy in Vieques are explored, citing the efect on the biology and delicate ecosystems like its bioluminescent bay. Some aspects from Vieques' history are mentioned, including the taínos as well as the subsequent protests that led to the Navy's expulsion of the island.