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DEATH TO PACHUCO TP - COMIC REVIEW


Publisher: TOP COW/IMAGE

Release Date: MARCH 18, 2026

Cover Price: $16.99



Publisher's Solicit:“A razor-sharp historical noir that doesn’t pull any punches.” — Alex Segura, bestselling author of Alter Ego and Secret Identity A Chicano noir retelling of the Sleepy Lagoon Murder Trial and the Zoot Suit Riots during 1943 wartime Los Angeles, DEATH TO PACHUCO is an untold story lost from the American history books. During the summer of 1943, Los Angeles became a hotbed of tension and conflict as a series of fierce clashes erupted between U.S. Navy members and Mexican American youth stemming from the murder of Carlos Urbano. Private eye Ricardo “Ricky” Tellez needs to find the Sleep Lagoon Killer before the racist mob kills him in the Zoot Suit Riots. The clock is ticking—and it’s a bad time to be a Mexican. The syndicated team of HENRY BARAJAS (LA VOZ DE M.A.Y.O. TATA RAMBO, HELM GREYCASTLE) and RACHEL MERRILL (Izzy n’ Jean, New Yorker) uncover a Chino Noir rooted in the shameful parts of LA's history! Early praise for DEATH TO PACHUCO: "...stylish, soulful, and unflinchingly honest exploration of identity and history." —Lotusland Comics "Equal parts crime story, love letter to Chicano heritage, and socio-cultural warning, 'Death to Pachuco' is exactly what we need right now." —AIPT "A hardboiled detective story that gives you an up close look at the side of the story that doesn't often get told. Equal parts Chinatown and Inherent Vice, this is a can't miss book for noir fans." —Matthew Rosenberg (WE'RE TAKING EVERYONE DOWN WITH US, WHAT'S THE FURTHEST PLACE FROM HERE?)


Writer: HENRY BARAJAS

Artist: RACHEL MERRILL

Colorist: LEE LOUGHRIDGE

Letterer: HENRY BARAJAS

Editor: WILL DENNIS


WHAT IS IT? It is a 160 page, full color comics about the Zoot Suit riots of the 1940s in Los Angeles. It also comes with a trigger warning. See Photo. It also contains a reprinting of a hisoricial document from the time of the riots.



WHAT WORKS? The story is easy to follow. Henry's passion for history come through the pages. Its the type of story that would probably only get 1-2 paragraphs in a text book but seeing everything playout across these 5 issues really put you in the world of the time. Lots of the story is very poigniant for 2026 as it was back then. There are a lot of parallels to today's political climate. The chapter breaks were a interesting add to the book. It help place how the situation was viewed by those who lived it. Each character was distinguishable from each other so you couldn't get. The colors really hit the mood of each page and panel.


WHAT DOESN'T WORK? This is more of preference than anything, but the art did not work for me. It was a bit too angular. Nothing look wrong or out of place but there were difference on how the buildings were drawn versus the character that did not mess well. There was a single scene in issue 3 where two characters have a font that was a tiny bit difficutl read.


WHY SHOULD I READ IT? If you love historical adaptions, latin stories, true crime, noir or work from any of the creators you will love this book.



HOW DO I BUY IT?


Find a Local Comic Shop: https://www.comicshoplocator.com/


This was Luis from Comic Book Yeti, don't forget to heart the article it really helps tell us what type of articles you like. Thanks again, signing off with more picks from the Yeti Cave. Be good, do good, and read comics! Find me on the CBY discord  or BlueSky ‪@luisgodoyii.bsky.social. 


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