This October, Image Comics and Top Cow Productions will launch Death to Pachuco, a bold and emotional five-issue noir miniseries from writer Henry Barajas (La Voz de M.A.Y.O., Helm Greycastle), artist Rachel Merrill (Izzy n’ Jean), and colorist Lee Loughridge. Inspired by Zoot Suit and Double Indemnity, the series blends historical fiction, crime drama, and cultural resistance.
Set in 1943 Los Angeles during the aftermath of the Sleepy Lagoon murder and the lead-up to the Zoot Suit Riots, the story follows private eye Ricardo “Ricky” Tellez as he races to solve a murder before he becomes the target of a violent, racially charged manhunt. With tensions boiling over between U.S. Navy servicemen and Mexican American youth, Tellez must navigate a city where justice is in short supply—and being Mexican can be a death sentence.
Fans attending San Diego Comic-Con can get an early taste with a Death to Pachuco #1 Limited Edition Ashcan, available at the Top Cow booth (#2629). Henry Barajas will be signing throughout the weekend and appearing on the “Top Cow: The New Universe!” panel on Saturday, July 26 at 12:00 p.m. in Room #4.
Barajas calls this his most personal project to date, drawing on real history to shine a light on racial injustice that still echoes today. “This story comes from deep research and a deep place in my heart,” he said. “We’re swinging for the fences.”
Rachel Merrill’s expressive, gritty visuals, combined with Loughridge’s atmospheric colors, bring 1940s Los Angeles to life with period-accurate style and emotional heft. “We’re telling a story about a dark time in the past, while we’re living through one now,” Merrill said.
The series will launch with a wide variety of covers from top artists, including David Lapham, Katie Skelly, Marco Finnigean & Gab Contreras, and Ramon Villalobos—plus multiple ratio variants for collectors.
Top Cow’s Matt Hawkins emphasized the story’s modern-day relevance: “This is a powerful detective story that also confronts history head-on. It’s raw, urgent, and unforgettable.”
Death to Pachuco #1 hits comic shops and digital platforms on October 8, 2025.
Read a preview below!
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