Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez is not your typical comic book creator. He’s a cultural architect, a community-rooted storyteller, and a Puerto Rican superhero universe builder. Best known for La Borinqueña, Edgardo has spent nearly a decade crafting a universe that uplifts Afro-Latinx identity while boldly addressing the racial void in mainstream comics. Long before launching his own IP, he cut his teeth working with legends like Darryl “DMC” McDaniels of Run-DMC and actor John Leguizamo, helping them bring their visions to life in graphic form. His creation, La Borinqueña, is more than a comic book; it’s a movement rooted in diaspora pride, family, and independence. And yes, he just dropped an action figure too. We caught up with Edgardo at Fan Expo in Philly to talk about owning your narrative, working with Hip-Hop royalty, turning down Hollywood, and the kind of cookies DMC used to bring to the comic conventions.
AllHipHop: For the people that don’t know, who are you?
Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez: I’m the writer and creator of the graphic novel series La Borinqueña. I’ve been doing this for nine years now, independently, out of my own studio. Before launching my own IP, I worked with legends like Darryl McDaniels and John Leguizamo—creating entire comic book universes for them. That gave me the confidence to build my own.
AllHipHop: What lessons have you picked up along this journey?
Edgardo: Flexibility. Evolution. Collaboration. Those three things. You have to be flexible when you’re indie—publishing when you can, building your own model. I wear all the hats: storyteller, creative director, publicist, marketer. And the biggest lesson? Power comes from community. I created a Black Puerto Rican superhero, so naturally our fans include Black folks, the Latin community, the Caribbean… we’ve found love across the diaspora.
AllHipHop: That’s deep. Nine years and still buzzing. What’s next?
Edgardo: We’re coming up on our 10-year anniversary. We’ve got a new comic dropping—introducing a giant robot called Ante, which means “giant” in Spanish. It’s part of a larger expanded universe we’ve been quietly building.
AllHipHop: A whole La Borinqueña Universe?
Edgardo: Yup. We’ve created our own cinematic universe—on paper first. And it’s a family affair. My son, who’s about to be a senior at Connecticut College, is out here right now managing the sales booth. That’s legacy.
AllHipHop: That’s beautiful. Speaking of legends, what was it like working with DMC of Run-DMC?
Edgardo: Man, that was one of the most fun and inspiring experiences of my life. Darryl has this youthful, 16-year-old gleam when he talks comics. It wasn’t a vanity project—he really loves the culture.
AllHipHop: Any memorable moments from those days on the road?
Edgardo: [Laughs] Oh yeah! One time, you and I got this futuristic SUV in L.A., and neither of us could figure out how to start it. It felt like we were sitting in the USS Enterprise. You eventually got us on the road! But the best part was Darryl always looked out—he’d bring us cookies at conventions. Real oatmeal joints!
AllHipHop: That man is the Hip-Hop Cookie Monster.
Edgardo: And a healer. Most people don’t know this, but when we started touring, DMC had literally lost his voice. We watched it come back in real time. He got so much joy from doing these comics, it was like therapy. That’s how powerful storytelling is—it brought his voice back.
AllHipHop: Incredible. I’ve seen La Borinqueña characters at Comic-Con. What about a film?
Edgardo: Listen, who wouldn’t want to see their creation on the big screen? But let’s be real—studios invest hundreds of millions and want to own your IP. That’s not an option for me. La Borinqueña is like the daughter I never had. If a studio tried to whitewash her? Nah. She’s Afro-Latina. Period.
AllHipHop: So no Hollywood sell-out?
Edgardo: Never. I’m a father. I’m a creator. And I’m loyal to our fans. I’ve turned down deals because they came with too much compromise. I’ll wait until the right opportunity comes—one where I’m still at the table.
AllHipHop: You’ve done more than just create a comic—you’ve built a movement.
Edgardo: Facts. It’s not just about entertainment—it’s about empowerment. Representation. Pride. Ownership. We’re building our own tables. And we’re setting the place cards for our community.
Related
