el Muerto
Real Name: Juan Diego de la Muerte
Identity/Class: Zombie
Occupation: Agent of the Aztec god of death, emissary of the Aztec gods
Affiliations: Mictlantecuhtli (boss)
Enemies: Unknown
Known Relatives: None known
Aliases: The Aztec Zombie, the Fearless Flatliner, the Dead One, Dead-Head, Boy Cadaver, EMO
Base of Operations: Whittier, California
First Appearance: el Muerto: Daze of the Dead: The Numero Uno Edition (self published by Javier Hernandez, 1998)
Powers/Abilities: Diego can take or give life, similar perhaps to a grim reaper.
History: Diego de la Muerte was 21 when his life ended. On the way to a Day of the Dead mixer he was kidnapped and sacrificed, only to be resurrected by the Aztec god of death Mictlantecuhtli, who appointed him his agent in the fight against injustice.
Comments: Created by, and copyright belongs to, Javier Hernandez. Originally self-published under the Los Comex imprint, the character later came out under the Big Umbrella imprint. The comic has an official website at www.elmuerto.com
Wilmer Valderrama has starred in an independent movie adaptation. The official premiere for the film was on March 1, 2007 at the Latino Film Festival in San Diego, California. The DVD release for the film is on September 18, 2007.
Lee S notes "El Muerto's birth name is actually Juan Diego de la Muerte but is known to his friends by his middle name. The name itself (Juan Diego) is a reference to the Aztec man who had the vision of La Virgin de Guadalupe (but thats another story). There is no particular reason given as to why people only call him "Diego". (Also, Diego de la Muerte is meant as a Play-On-Words of Dia de los Muertos). The original comic was printed under the Los Comex Imprint, but later Javier and a couple of his friends formed BIG UMBRELLA. That imprint has since disbanded in 2003 (although all members remain close friends and often collaborate on their independently owned works). The comic has since reverted to its Los Comex imprint." Thanks to Lee for this and other notes.
CLARIFICATIONS: None
Any Additions/Corrections? Please let me know.
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