BonnerSprings.com

It didn’t take long for Anthony “AO” Oropeza to come up with the name of and early concept for Amigoman, The Latin Avenger — the main character in Oropeza’s bilingual comic book series of the same name.

Oropeza says he initially got his inspiration for bringing Amigoman (pronounced Amigo Man) to life after visiting a comic book store in Kansas City, Mo., in the mid-90s.

“I was looking at the books on the shelf and I took a step back and there weren’t any Latin comic book main characters,” remembers Oropeza, who currently owns and operates Overland Park-based Strong Ave. Studios — a business he put together with fellow artist Lorenzo Lizana for the sole purpose of creating and publishing the Amigoman comic book series. “And so on my way home I (thought) well, why can’t I come up with one?”

By the time Oropeza had arrived back home, he says, he had already come up with the name, personality characteristics and beginnings of a storyline for Amigoman, a masked avenger who, throughout the series, tries to find those responsible for his beloved grandfather’s death.

Oropeza hopes to inspire the same passion for comic book drawing in the teens who attend his upcoming comic book drawing class at Bonner Springs City Library. During the class, Oropeza said, he will introduce his Amigoman series and will also talk to the participants about the process of creating a comic book, which includes a number of steps such as drawing the characters, writing and editing a script and coming up with a solid story line.

His students will also get a chance to draw what Oropeza believes is the most important part of any comic book character’s body: their head.

“If the head doesn’t look like Batman or Superman, nobody’s going to think it’s Batman or Superman,” Oropeza said. “With the logo, the superhero’s logo, it’s the most identifiable part of the body.”

Comic book drawing didn’t, at first, come naturally to Oropeza, who always loved to paint and draw but remembers finding the drawing of Amigoman to be something he struggled with at first. His diligence paid off, however, and he and Lizana have now put out several Amigoman comic books, meant for elementary school-aged youth all the way up to adults who have the option of either reading the books in English or Spanish. Along with the actual series, they have also put out coloring books and sketchbooks starring Amigoman and last month, they published the first in a series of Amigoman books for younger youths in first through third grade.

All the books and materials are infused with educational components, that allow the reader to not only learn beginning Spanish but also learn from Amigoman himself — a flawed but, as Oropeza says, “positive role model,” who, during the day, goes by the name of Antonio Alvarado and is a high school teacher with a college degree.

“For me, I think, if I’m going to put something out that’s called a superhero, there’s got to be a lot more positive than negative with the character,” Oropeza said of why he chose to go in the direction he did with Amigoman.

Oropeza has taught classes in comic book drawing at libraries and schools in the area for about five years now and hopes to impress on those that attend his class at the Bonner library the idea that comic book drawing, just like anything else in life, takes lots of time, hard work and practice.

Of course, he hopes to be influential in the lives of future artistic geniuses as well.

“There are a bunch of young artists out here in Kansas City, or in the metro area, that they just need to be exposed to something artistic,” Oropeza said. “And if they think they like comic book drawing … who knows? They could be the next Spielberg when it comes to that.”

Oropeza’s class will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, May 10, at the Bonner City Library, 201 N. Nettleton. The class, which is for ages 12-18, is free but registration is required. Pizza will be served. To register, visit or call the library at (913) 441-2665.

To purchase Amigoman comics and materials, visit amigoman.com

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