Murder, Riots, and Resistance: “Death to Pachuco”
Brings 1943 LA to Comics in Explosive New Top Cow Title

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July 17, 2025 – Los Angeles, CA —Top Cow Productions, Inc. and Image Comics, proudly announce Death to Pachuco, a gripping Chicano noir crime graphic series from writer Henry Barajas (La Voz de M.A.Y.O., Helm Greycastle), artist Rachel Merrill, and colorist Lee Loughridge. This powerful new title blends the cultural defiance of Luis Valdez’s Zoot Suit with the hard-boiled tension of James M. Cain’s Double Indemnity, delivering a story steeped in historical urgency and cinematic grit.

Set against the backdrop of 1943 wartime Los Angeles, Death to Pachuco reimagines the chilling aftermath of the Sleepy Lagoon murder—an event that ignited widespread racial unrest. As tensions boil over, a five-day clash between U.S. Navy servicemen and young Mexican Americans—known as the Zoot Suit Riots—turns the city into a battlefield. In the middle of this volatile moment, private investigator Ricardo “Ricky” Tellez races to solve the killing of Carlos Urbano, a murder that threatens to destroy him unless he finds the truth before the mob does. With every page, Death to Pachuco explores themes of cultural identity, systemic injustice, and the cost of being seen as the enemy in your own country.

The original series marks Barajas’s return to Top Cow with his most urgent and personal work yet. He draws from deeply researched historical events and culturally resonant storytelling to illuminate a dark but vital chapter of American history that remains shockingly relevant today. “All the research and digging I did to make this comic a reality with the best team and cover artists in comics,” says Barajas. “I’m lucky I get to tell this story with Rachel, Lee, and Will. We’re swinging for the fences.”

Rachel Merrill’s evocative artwork, brought to life with Lee Loughridge’s moody, noir-inspired colors, immerses readers in a 1940s Los Angeles rarely seen in comics. “We are trying to tell a story that takes place during a dark time in history while living in one,” Rachel says. “Death to Pachuco comes from a place of love for comics, history, and film noir.” The authenticity of the zoot suit fashion, cityscapes, and cultural markers is matched by the emotional depth of the characters navigating a world where justice is elusive and survival is an act of resistance. The covers by David Lapham and Lee Loughridge, Katie Shelly, Marco Finnigean and Gab Contreras, and Ramon Villobos add an extra layer of prestige to this project, perfectly capturing its tone and message.

Barajas intends for this story to offer more than entertainment. “I hope it brings context to what is happening today,” he explains. “It was just shy of 80 years ago that Japanese Americans were being forced into concentration camps—and Mexican people were targeted and harassed for existing. It wasn’t an accident that the first line from the protagonist’s mouth is ‘Now’s not a good time to be a Mexican.’ We tell these stories so history doesn’t keep repeating itself, and I believe comics have the power to make a difference in the world no matter how bleak it looks.

Top Cow President and COO Matt Hawkins adds, “With Death to Pachuco, our creative team channels the urgency and gravity of the moment—both historical and personal. The entire team have crafted a tale that resonates today: a noir detective story fused with social commentary and raw emotion.”

Death to Pachuco #1

Writer: Henry Barajas

Artist: Rachel Merrill

Colorist: Lee Loughridge

Letterer: Henry Barajas

• Cover A: art by David Lapham & Lee Loughridge 

• Cover B: art by Katie Skelly 

• Cover C: art by Marco Finnigean & Gab Contreras

• Cover D: art by Ramon Villalobos 

• Cover E: art by David Lapham & Lee Loughridge 1:10 B&W Virgin 

• Cover F: art by David Lapham & Lee Loughridge 1:25 Virgin/Color 

• Cover G: art by Katie Skelly 1:25 Virgin/Color

• Cover H: art by Ramon Villalobos 1:25 Virgin/Color 

• Cover I: art by David Lapham & Lee Loughridge 1:50 Spot Foil with Trade Dress  

During the summer of 1943, Los Angeles became a hotbed of tension and conflict as a series of fierce clashes erupted between U.S. Navy members and Mexican American youth stemming from the murder of Carlos Urbano. Private eye Ricardo “Ricky” Tellez needs to find the Sleepy Lagoon Killer before the racist mob kills him in the Zoot Suit Riots.The clock is ticking—and it’s a bad time to be a Mexican.The syndicated team of Henry Barajas (La Voz De M.A.Y.O. Tata Rambo) and Rachel Merril (Izzy n’ Jean) uncover a Chino Noir rooted in the shameful parts of LA’s history!

October 8 • 32 PAGES• FC • M / Mature • $3.99

For fans of noir, Latin American history, and social justice storytelling, Death to Pachuco is not just a comic—it’s a revelation.

Those attending San Diego Comic-Con will get an exclusive first look at the project with the Death to Pachuco #1 Limited Edition Ashcan Preview, available at the Top Cow Booth #2629 for purchase throughout the show. Fans will also have the opportunity to meet co-creator Henry Barajas (Death to Pachuco, Helm Greycastle) during scheduled signings: Thursday, July 24 through Saturday, July 27 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and Sunday, July 28 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM as well as during Top Cow: The New Universe! Panel on Saturday, July 26 at 12:00 pm in Room #4.

About Top Cow Productions
Top Cow Productions, Inc., a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, was founded in December of 1992 by artist Marc Silvestri, who also co-founded Image Comics earlier that same year. Top Cow currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and two licensed) in the industry’s Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades.

For more information, visit www.topcow.com or follow Top Cow on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Bluesky.

For press inquiries, preview requests, or retail support, please contact:

Press Contact:
Lisa Y. Wu
Director of Marketing, Top Cow Productions
Email: lisa@topcow.com
Phone: (843) 514-3892