I have always been terrible at math. So much so, that my mother made me go to summer school several times to improve on it. We lived in a rough neighborhood in Yuma, Arizona with low income, predominantly Mexican-American families. It was riddled with gangbangers and drugs. It was also filled with hard working, labor centric people usually, farm workers. Needless to say the kids growing up there did not have much of a chance, and very little resources. Back when I was 11 and known as “Arnulfo” (what Arnie is short for), I found myself surrounded by them in my summer school math class with Mr. Baumgardner at C.W. McGraw Elementary School. I hated the class, so I spent most of the time drawing superheroes.  A table away sat a gentle giant of a kid by the name of Efrain and his younger brother whom I didn’t care for too much because he was always mouthing off and acting up. During the course of the summer I befriended Efrain and got to know him. I avoided his brother though, I figured the kid would end up being a cholo or something of a sort.  Eventually, I ended up helping Efrain with his math and much  to my chagrin, his annoying younger brother. His brother was very bad at math, he made me look like Einstein, in fact. Moreover, the kid would not pay attention and seemed more displeased than myself to be there. I learned from talking to Efrain that we would be attending Gila Vista Jr. High School the following year in 7th grade. I learned from his brother that I have no patience for troublemakers.  

The next year I was pleased to see Efrain sitting in my social studies class with Mr. Gribble. I also took up wrestling at a paltry 90 lbs. I ended up being a second stringer and saw Efrain get into it as well. He was a heavy weight and did pretty well. In 8th grade I stopped going because I was working under the table cleaning a barbershop and had to be at work at 4p.m. and my parents believed a good work ethic was more important than being a “luchador.”  

Time passed and I ended up in Kofa High School, again, with Efrain. I saw less of him, but found out he joined football and wrestling.  He slimmed down and was wearing a letterman jacket now. He ditched the flannels and Dickies and got himself a pair of Doc Martens and Dockers. I was glad he was on what seemed to be a positive track for his life. My sophomore year, I heard his brother had made it to Kofa High School. I cringed and hoped I wouldn’t have him for any electives. Later on, I heard he also took up wrestling, and was even better than Efrain. I was shocked, seeing as how wrestling took a large amount of discipline and that kid seemed not only to lack it, but to avoid it at all costs. I then attended the Uof A and lost track of Efrain and most of my Yuma friends. I had heard from my good friend, Robert, that Efrain’s brother ended up at ASU on a wrestling scholarship. I was quite pleased, and surprised that he even got to college. But, more so because he could have ended up in the local gang. Then I heard rumblings that he had lost the scholarship due to injury. I figured, oh well, at least he made it out of the bad neighborhood and got an education.  

Fast-forward to today, I haven’t heard from Efrain in over 10 years, but I saw his brother Saturday night. He now has a couple of tattoos, a shaved head, is a whole lot bigger and gets in a lot of fights. What was he doing? Well he was beating the living crap out of this guy:  

Brock Lesnar former UFC Heavy Weight Champ Photo by: Eric Jamison, AP USA Today

Efrain’s little brother is Cain Velasquez the new UFC heavy weight champ.   

Efrain's little brother Cain Velasquez By Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press via AP, USA Today

In what appears to be the most amazing display of mixed martial arts technical skill, the much smaller and lighter Cain demolished the seemingly unstoppable,  hulking behemoth that is Brock Lesnar in the first round. Being at a considerable disadvantage when it came to strength and size, Cain maneuvered and attacked Lesner from every possible angle. Lesner tried to take Velasquez down from the onset of the match, but Cain defended and deflected every attempt. Landing punch after punch and managing to take Lesnar down via a single leg shot. Eventually, the hulking behemoth became the lumbering giant as he wobbled around in the cage and fell on his back and “turtled up.”  Cain was connecting so much that Lesnar turned his back on him right before referee Herb Dean had to step in and stop the fight. The result was a new UFC champion from the state of Arizona. A guy from Yuma that I begrudgingly helped out with his math and went to high school with. The first Mexican-American UFC champ. A poor kid with minimal resources wearing a championship belt from one of the toughest combat sports.  A heavy weight, champion son of a farm working immigrant who came to the U.S. in search of a better life. A guy who did the impossible.  I wish I could have been watching this in Yuma. 

To Cain, thanks for proving me wrong and not becoming a cholo, I doubt the Yuma PD would have the resources to take you on. May you continue to succeed and inspire. 

Arizonans rejoice, something good finally came out of this hostile environment we call a state.

To the people that say immigrants don’t amount to much and don’t contribute, this guy now contributes more to the U.S. economy in income taxes than most of you ever will, you can thank his dad, the immigrant.

Arnie Bermudez  

“The best piece of advice I ever got was to buy a black suit when I became an adult, because I would use it at least once if I ever happened to get married…or die. Either way, it was a good investment.”-Me 

Elvis Presley movies were always pretty entertaining, even for a kid growing up during the Ronald Reagan action packed days of the 1980′s. They were always lacking in one area, though… MONSTER HUNTING!!! Fortunately, my prayers have been answered, unfortunately, Elvis is no longer making movies on account of a bad case of death. That’s where “King!” comes in. A very comical story, told in comic book form (can this get any better?) that focuses on the exploits and adventures of an undefeated-prowrestler-turned-bounty-hunter. As if that weren’t enough excitement, he’s not just any bounty hunter, he’s a MONSTER bounty hunter. That’s right, he hunts monsters. My fantasy fulfilled. Only it DOES get better. Turns out that one of the genius minds behind this project is a local and native Tucsonan by the name of Daniel Bradford. Mr. Bradford also happens to be a former University of Arizona Daily Wildcat Cartoonist who gained acclaim for his Calvin and Hobbes-like strip “Bedhead“.  I was granted the honor of interviewing Daniel and reminiscing about the our old Wildcat days. The following is a brief interview with Daniel about his upcoming project.

1) Arnie Bermudez: Give me some background, man. Whats the deal with this project?

Daniel Bradford: “I was born and raised in Tucson and studied art at the University of Arizona. I started working on this project with a writer from New Jersey by the name of Tom Hall. He is the easiest and best writer I have ever worked with, because he gives me lots of creative freedom to work with on the page. For example, this project’s format will follow a 4 page main story and a 4 page backup story. He’s awesome when it comes to that sort of thing he is very detail oriented. Ninety percent of his work is research material, he’s hardcore about background. “King!” is our second title and very different from our first, Robot 13. King is absurd humor, it’s the book you can read on the crapper. The character is not Elvis just an undefeated professional wrestler by the name of Jessie King who dresses up like Elvis and gets into ounty hunting monsters.  The first issue can be read as a stand alone issue.”

King! cover drawn by Daniel Bradford

2) How did your old Bedhead strip influence your work here? After all, it was a strip about a boy and his imaginary zombie friend.

“I have always had a strong interest in zombies. Zombies are fun and easy to work with. With “Beadhead” I have a serious history and am very sentimental about it. It mostly taught me how to work with a schedule and taught me things like pacing using panels and frames. King only fights zombies in the first issue, in the second one he fights vampires.”

King! page 14King! page 16

  3) Where can we get a hold of “King!”?

“You can get a copy of it at our website http://www.blackliststudios.com/ . You can also get a copy of Robot 13  #1 for free there and download the rest of the series. I will be having a double signing at Fantasy Comics September 9th 2010, a Thursday. The first is at 11:30-1:00 p.m. and later that day at 4:00-5:30 p.m. Print versions of the comic will be carried by Fantasy Comics as well.”

4) How did you come up with this idea?

“I always had an idea of a character that looked like Elvis. For the record, I have never seen Bubba Ho-tep, eventhough I love Bruce Campbell. I think I was in high school when I first read a review about  Bubba Ho-tep in the Tucson Weekly. I have always had an interest in an action hero that looked like Elvis. During a phone conversation, I told my writer “we should do a book about a guy that looks like Elvis and fights monsters”. There was a long awkward silence on the other end of the line, he then proceeded to change the subject. A couple of years later at a convention I brought it up again, and he said “remind me of that again”. So  I drew a sketch and emailed it, he then called back and said ”oh he looks like Elvis and fights monsters!” ”

King! page 19

5) Will you be at the Tucson Comic Con? What do you think of the local comic scene?  Very different from our old college days, huh?

“I will be there! I am absolutely thrilled with the about the Tucson comic community, it’s absolutely wonderful and I love it. Arizona is full of comic creators like John Layman the creator of Chew, Todd McFarlane and such live in Phoenix. I am excited just to know that the Tucson art scene is growing into comics, a lot of underground comics are coming to light which is helping that growth.”

King! masterminds Tom Hall and Daniel Bradford

Arnie Bermudez

“Contrary to popular belief practice does NOT make perfect, my parents do.” -Me