527:. As El Gato Negro, Francisco is shown to have become overconfident in his abilities and spending more sleepless nights watching over the valley. In revenge for the incarceration of El Graduado, Boss Ochoa enlisted the aid of his nephews, known as The Dogs of War to assassinate the Nocturnal Warrior. Francisco's overwhelming fatigue slowed him in their battle and he was nearly beaten to death. Despite suffering from near inter-cranial injury, he managed to drag himself home, where he collapsed in the arms of his grandfather.
205:, and fights an assortment of villains ranging from common criminals to outlandish supervillains. Despite being popular with the citizens of his community, El Gato Negro is constantly being hunted by local law enforcement and sensationalized as a menace to society by the media. El Gato Negro is known to perform his vigilante activities under the cover of darkness, earning him the nickname The Nocturnal Warrior, a term which first appeared in within the comics in
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is taken outside to be executed. Francisco frantically rushes to the
Guerrero's Produce building and is surprised to find his grandfather in his old El Gato Negro costume. With their efforts along with the aid of the Texas rangers, they are able to subdue the villain El Graduado. El Gato Negro finally earned the respect of Miguel Bustamonte, but he continues to hunt the hero regardless, believing his purposes to be noble, but his methods dangerous.
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397:. El Graduado's best efforts are consistently thwarted by El Gato Negro until a final confrontation in which the criminal is apprehended and last seen awaiting trial. The debut series proved popular, and a fourth issue soon followed featuring a subplot involving Judge Garza's Relampago character, his first appearance in print after nearly fifteen years. The fourth issue titled "
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538:" #1-4, El Graduado has been released from police custody and is enlisting rival mob bosses and street gangs to join his crime family in order to become the main drug supplier for the Annulus. Those who disagree are slaughtered by the blind mercenary and assassin El Observador, who is currently under the payroll of the Ochoa crime family.
401:" occurs just weeks after the events of the first story-arc. The issue involved two hired mercenaries intent on killing El Gato Negro. Francisco, exhausted from his vigilante activities, barely survived his first encounter with the deadly duo, which resulted in near inter-cranial injury. A fifth issue tentatively titled "
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leather. The ears of the headpiece also serve to amplify the slightest sound and are able to retain their cup-shape despite being folded or bent. Inside each one of the ears is a battery compartment that powers the mask's lenses, modified from night vision goggles. The suit was designed by
Francisco and his friend
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After being consistently thwarted by the hero, El
Graduado kidnapped his former girlfriend Narcilina Montoya and Francisco's grandfather. Holding both of them at Guerrero’s Produce, El Graduado offered Agustin him the position as a silent partner in his drug trade. After refusing to help him, Agustin
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A heavily modified motorcycle constructed by
Antonio Trujillo. The Gatocycle has a four stroke, four cylinder engine with twin over-head camshaft and 4 mikuni 40 SS Carburettors, with a max power of 156 HP at 10,000 RPM and max torque of 12Kgm at 9,000 RPM. The vehicle was wrecked shortly after its
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I felt that I didn't do justice to true fans who really deserve a book that is worthwhile reading about a
Hispanic superhero. I'm relaunching the series with the services of writer Michael Moore (who is part Latino), who I believe truly understands the essence of the community...I'm really excited
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El Gato's weapon of choice is the shuriken or "Flying Cat's Claw". The shurikens are made of steel and are no bigger than 2½" by 3/32", each one having 8 sharp barbs with a chisel-like tip. Francisco's suit can conceal a total of 8 Cat Claws in special compartments in his boots and gloves. El Gato
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Unlike the average comic book superhero, El Gato Negro has no superpowers or abilities out of the normal human spectrum. Instead he makes use of his extensive training in martial arts, lucha libre, tactical weaponry and is assisted by several supporting characters, including his grandfather. While
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Francisco's suit design differs significantly from that of his grandfather's, which was more typical for the Lucha Libre traditions. His entire suit is made of a breatheable material described as "similar to biker's shorts", the nose and cat-like ears of his mask being reinforced with synthetic
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El Gato Negro was created or "born" when I was sketching on my notebook paper and in binders during (when I was supposed to be taking notes) classes in a community college...He was originally supposed to be a member of an all-Hispanic superhero group which I called "Team Tejas". I later became
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El Gato Negro’s enemies vary from common thugs to outlandish supervillains, some of which have tragic origin stories leading them to a life of crime, while others are simply fueled by their own greed, lust for power, or desire to cause as much chaos as possible. Recurring antagonists include
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will only use the Flying Cat Claws if he or someone else is in immediate danger. These modified shurikens were designed by both
Francisco and James Takayuki. Other weapons in El Gato Negro's arsenal include two stylized batons which secretly adhere to the back of his costume.
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El Gato Negro's personality can be characterized by his prowess in combat, highly skilled deductive abilities, a highly instilled sense of idealism and strict moral code. Adopting the persona of a Black Cat, the hero is loosely associated with
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folklore and popular culture, including a large influence from the Lucha Libre traditions. Various aspects of the character's personality and visual design were directly inspired by some of
Dominguez's favorite comic book superheroes including
481:. After completing his education, Francisco decided to look after his grandfather and became a prominent social worker in Edinburg, Texas. Francisco adopted the moniker of El Gato Negro shortly after the death of his childhood friend
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Much of El Gato Negro's character is defined by the supporting characters that surround him as well as their interactions between each other. The most important supporting role in the El Gato Negro mythos is filled by
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I haven't made up the entire story yet, I haven't actually told this story yet, so I don't have the details, but El Gato has a history all the way to the
Mexican Revolution through his great-grandfather.
189:. Driven by the gruesome murder of his best friend at the hands of drug-smugglers, Francisco becomes the new El Gato Negro in order to wage war on crime. Unlike most superheroes, he possesses no
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As of
January 2016,Richard Dominguez is currently working with writer-turned-director, Michael S. Moore in directing and filming a live-action short-film adaptation titled "El Gato Negro:Prey".
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The character's debut series was met with critical success but lasted only four issues. After a seven-year hiatus, El Gato Negro later returned to be published in a new second series entitled, "
485:, a border patrol officer who was overpowered and murdered by several drug-runners. During the months Francisco operated as El Gato Negro, he instantly became popular with the citizens of the
571:" He often ponders whether or not his existence as El Gato Negro is a sin of pride or genuine necessity and has, on occasion, snuck into his local church confessional to talk with the padre.
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409:. There are currently plans to release a trade-paperback compilation featuring of the original series which will include the unpublished issue, thereby resolving the storyline.
465:, Francisco was raised by his grandfather, Agustin Guerrero, his parents having died in a traffic collision. Francisco studied diligently in school, eventually graduating from
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504:". Being the son of the successful businessman and drug lord Ignacio Ochoa, El Graduado planned to take his father's place amongst a criminal organization known as
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the original El Gato Negro relied more heavily on his fighting ability, Francisco's incarnation of El Gato Negro has a wide-variety of technology to choose from.
430:. The combination of Moore's writing style and Molina's pencils have given the new series a much darker tone than its predecessor, to which Dominguez explains:
563:, who believes in aiding his community. Francisco carries the mantle of El Gato Negro as a heavy burden, one which robs him of his social life. According to
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In his secret identity, El Gato Negro is
Francisco Guerrero, known for his generous charity and willingness to go out of his way to help others. He is also
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445:" storyline will retell the history of El Gato Negro and introduces a new villain in his ever-increasing rogues gallery, a blind assassin, known as
393:, a notorious villain intent on making a large drug-trafficking deal in South Texas in order to gain a seat with the criminal organization known as
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is a recurring love interest, although Francisco’s activities as El Gato Negro often prevent him from pursuing a more meaningful relationship.
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353:, and martial arts films also aided in the development of El Gato Negro's costume design and equipment. The example of Judge Margarito Garza's
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about Efren Molina's pencils... pencils give a darker atmosphere for the book. It pulls the 'the true-blue-Gato fans' right into the story.
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218:". El Gato Negro's popularity has landed him guest-starring roles in several publications and other media including being featured in
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El Gato Negro was conceived by Richard Dominguez sometime in the mid-to-late '80s and was originally intended to debut in a largely
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Guerrero was mainly chosen for its English-translation "warrior", although Dominguez has hinted at a more historical significance:
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and instead makes use of his own athletic abilities, accumulative knowledge, detective skills to fight crime. Operating throughout
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El Gato Negro is known to join forces with fellow superheroes in order to reach a shared goal. He is close friends with the hero
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introduction while El Gato Negro was in a high-speed pursuit, and later Antonio Trujillo begrudgingly reconstructed it.
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to serve as writer and co-plotter of the new series (having previously worked together on the first published issue of
251:. Dominguez later placed Team Tejas on hold to focus on the development of the El Gato Negro character, as he recalls:
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This queasy feeling in my gut when I do these 'deed's...but I get an awfully bad one if I don't do anything about it!
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670:, despite his refusal to join the government-funded group. El Gato Negro has also been known to team-up with the
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partial this particular character and put my emphasis on him and put the rest of the team in the "backburner".
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Grandson of the original El Gato Negro, a former luchador-turned-adventurer, Francisco works as a
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1001:"Universal Press Syndicate: Latino Comic Book Artist Sits in as Guest Artist for Baldo"
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635:. The few characters who know of El Gato Negro’s secret identity include mechanic
385:#1 written and illustrated by Dominguez in 1993. The first three-part story-arc "
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The name "El Gato Negro" originated from an abandoned settlement by the name of "
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896:"The Paper of South Texas - Richard Dominguez's "El Gato Negro" (part 1 of 2)"
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The Paper of South Texas - Richard Dominguez's "El Gato Negro" (part 2 of 2)
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character helped Dominguez pursue his creation in a self-published format.
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Planet Comic Book Radio – Radio interview with Richard Dominguez Part 3
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523:#4 Francisco suffered his greatest defeat at the hands of the
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Comic World News - El Gato Negro, Nocturnal Warrior Review
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Francisco Guerrero made his first published appearance in
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EGN Fanclub: Gato-grams, Richard answers your questions
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El Gato Negro returned in 2004 under the new series "
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Secret identity of comic book superhero El Gato Negro
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296:El Gato Negro would become grounded in Mexican and
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967:Comics Bulletin El Gato Negro Returns in November
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837:El Gato Negro and Baldo, An Unusual Partnership
978:News Observer - Catholic comic book characters
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989:Adherents.com - The Religion of El Gato Negro
945:El Gato Negro "The Hispanic Answer to Batman"
866:PCBR: Interview with Richard Dominguez Part 4
813:"Baldocomics.com| Baldo meets El Gato Negro!"
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498:Unknown Passing, Unforgettable Return
387:Unknown passing, Unforgettable Return
185:and devotes most of his free time to
877:Pop Thought, El Gato Negro interview
592:Detail of El Gato Negro's mask from
349:. Elements from Japanese animation,
855:Flash Animation: Burrito Amigo Army
36:Francisco as El Gato Negro. Art by
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542:Personality and characterization
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477:and earned a master's degree in
414:El Gato Negro: Nocturnal Warrior
373:#1 (October 1993). Cover art by
369:El Gato Negro made his debut in
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453:Fictional character history
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93:Francisco "Pancho" Guerrero
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517:Enter: The Dogs of War!
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235:Creation and conception
195:Lower Rio Grande Valley
45:Publication information
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567:#1, Francisco gets "
317:and most noticeably
85:In-story information
639:and martial artist
467:South Texas College
441:The new four-part "
403:And Now...Relampago
332:Johnston McCulley's
307:The Crimson Avenger
230:Publication history
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842:2008-01-23 at the
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684:Carlos Castellanos
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598:Richard Dominguez
519:" storyline from
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530:In the ongoing "
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469:with a major in
418:Michael S. Moore
245:Latino superhero
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209:#3 (Nov. 1995).
203:Antonio Trujillo
199:Agustin Guerrero
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125:, Expert in
111:
67:
711:El Graduado
596:#1. Art by
515:In 1997’s "
506:The Annulus
502:El Graduado
407:cliffhanger
395:The Annulus
391:El Graduado
375:Dave Kramer
361:Publication
346:The Phantom
191:superpowers
1074:Categories
1011:2005-10-23
906:2008-05-31
823:2008-04-08
774:References
719:Boss Ochoa
668:Team Tejas
651:informant
649:pool shark
475:psychology
423:Team Tejas
341:Lee Falk's
327:The Shadow
303:The Spirit
276:given name
249:Team Tejas
224:Do the Dew
153:comic book
121:Expert in
102:Team Tejas
75:Created by
743:Autoheist
735:Graveyard
674:known as
672:anti-hero
664:Relampago
471:sociology
355:Relampago
315:Nightwing
311:Daredevil
135:detective
118:Abilities
90:Alter ego
51:Publisher
880:Archived
840:Archived
762:See also
561:Catholic
127:Taijitsu
123:Ninjitsu
704:Enemies
284:surname
264:El Gato
741:, and
532:Legacy
443:Legacy
319:Batman
298:Tejano
131:Boxing
70:(1993)
727:Dirge
697:Yenny
688:Baldo
351:manga
336:Zorro
754:Film
682:and
330:and
694:'s
676:L-7
243:or
181:in
167:in
1076::
926:^
782:^
745:.
737:,
733:,
729:,
725:,
721:,
717:,
713:,
686:'
655:.
609:.
449:.
313:,
309:,
305:,
172:#1
1014:.
909:.
826:.
600:.
377:.
222:"
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