Remembering Latino Comix Expo co-founder Ricardo Padilla, 1966-2024

Note: To read the Spanish language version of this post, click here.

“It was always a pleasure to do the Latino Comics Expo because Ricardo treated us and the show like family.” – Jaime Hernandez, Love and Rockets

Familia. It’s the first word that comes to mind when you think of Ricardo Padilla, who passed away on April 8, 2024, after a battle with pulmonary illness. The lifelong comics fan was born to Vincent and Hermila Padilla in Los Angeles, California, on August 9, 1966. Young Ricardo was a voracious reader, taking full advantage of his library card and easy access to newsstands full of Marvel Comics – especially those featuring his favorite character, the Silver Surfer.

Upon his graduation from Lincoln High School in 1984, he went on to study at the University of California in Los Angeles and completed his undergraduate degree in communications at San Francisco State University in 1989. After graduation, he went on a three-month solo trip around Europe to broaden his horizons, adventuring through the continent and particularly enjoying his time in Spain, France, and the Netherlands.

A few years after graduation, he met the love of his life, Rosalind Chamorro, while waiting in line for the San Francisco Foreign Film Festival at the city’s historic Castro Theatre. The film was a documentary about the legendary Cuban composer and bassist Cachao; Rosalind arrived three hours before showtime to secure the best seat in the theater, and Ricardo and his friends arrived just after she did. It was love at first sight, and the two bonded over their shared love of salsa music, foreign films, and San Francisco.

They were married five years later in Stockton, California, in 1998, and the Padilla familia welcomed Rosalind and her young son, Andrés, wholeheartedly. Ricardo and Rosalind’s daughter, Sophia, soon followed. A proud and devoted husband and father, it was impossible to hold a conversation with Ricardo without him asking about your family, or sharing the latest news about his own. “His greatest love was his family, and being there for them,” says artist and longtime friend Javier Hernandez.

Ricardo Padilla and Javier Hernandez, photo courtesy of Sophia Padilla

Ricardo’s love for family extended to his community, and he made it his mission to help those in need. He worked as a Senior Eligibility Worker in the Human Services Agency for the City and County of San Francisco for nearly eight years, and was beloved by all of his co-workers and clients.

“He was so passionate about assisting families with children, especially those with whom he could assist in Spanish,” recalls his daughter, Sophia. “He would win several achievement awards during his time with the city, highlighting his passion for serving his San Francisco community.

“Dad was a passionate political participant, too. He worked on Jesse Jackson’s presidential campaign, which would lead him to even more political volunteering and encouraging his kids to participate in their civic duties. Dad was a poll worker and worked in the Department of Election with the county as well. His favorite political figures were Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King Jr, and John F Kennedy,” she said.

When he and Rosalind returned to Stockton in 2020 to take care of his mother during the COVID-19 pandemic, Padilla reestablished old contacts, made new friends, and became a vital part of the Stockton community. “He served as their Adult Literacy Coordinator for several years [during his second time living in Stockton, from 1998-2008], solidifying his passion for literacy across language barriers and life stages,” Sophia said. “He was an avid library user and he always had his library card memorized in every city we lived in. A weekend spent at the library, checking out programming, borrowing new books and DVDs, or just reading the New Yorker was a weekend well spent. He and my mother were also art docents for my elementary school [in the early 2000s], bringing Latin American art and artists to the forefront, even dressing up as Frida and Diego for an extra-special presentation on Mexican artists.”

“He was just a San Francisco fixture," she said. "Dad wasn’t necessarily an extrovert, but was able to draw people in with how much love and passion he exuded. We would walk into restaurants, theaters, and mom and pop shops where dad often just knew someone there. He was always making connections, forming communities, and building bridges everywhere he went.”

Community was at the forefront of Ricardo’s mind when he and Javier Hernandez, creator of El Muerto: The Aztec Zombie, strolled through San Francisco’s Mission District one evening in 2010, discussing the state of Latino Arts in the city, including the slow progress on San Francisco’s plans for a dedicated Mexican Museum. “He was actually distraught, being such an advocate for Latino art,” Hernandez recalled. “I thought about it for a second and told him, ‘Well, I can't do anything about that. But maybe we can do something else ... maybe do a Latino Comics Expo." I literally just made up the name on the spot. He asked me, "What's that?"

Hernandez proposed a small-scale comic convention focusing on Latino creators, and he and Padilla soon outlined a plan for the creation of a nonprofit organization dedicated to Latino comics and cartoons, and reached out to San Francisco’s Cartoon Art Museum to discuss a collaboration and to secure a venue for the inaugural Latino Comics Expo.

“It’s a testament to Ricardo Padilla and his skill for reaching out and engaging people that the LCX came together the way that it did,” Hernandez said. “Ricardo has always been the one to contact venues, financial partners, fellow organizations as well as booking hotels, airlines, etc. While I dedicated myself to organizing the talent roster, the panels and handling the visual branding of the Expo, Ricardo in his role of Executive Director was our outreach to the media and to all the partners necessary to put together these shows. It's a very particular set of skills and I'm grateful he had them. Without him, we would never have gotten the Expo past the planning stage."

“And of course he immediately brought aboard his wife Rosalind and daughter Sophia from the beginning for further logistical support," he added.

The first Latino Comics Expo took place at the Cartoon Art Museum May 7-8, 2011, and was truly a family affair, with Rosalind and Sophia’s tireless efforts proving essential to the event’s success. (Ricardo’s beloved mother, Hermila, would join in the following year, catering the event herself to ensure that every artist and volunteer could enjoy an authentic, home-cooked Mexican meal while at the museum.)

Ricardo Padilla portrait by John Jennings

“That first Expo was an exciting affair,” Hernandez said. “We managed to gather around 12 artists, put the word out, and the venue was packed all weekend, with fans discovering the work and really spending a lot of time getting to know the creators. I'll never forget an elderly man, an old school Chicano, who told us the story of a Mexican baseball player he knew who never got a chance to get a break in the major leagues. He was almost tearing up when he told us, ‘don't let these artists be forgotten.’"

“We assured him the reason we were doing this show was to make sure these artists and their works get seen and known," Hernandez added. "It was quite amazing to meet this gentleman. He came back the next day with his granddaughter, wanting her to meet these creators and their work."

Sophia Padilla and Ricardo Padilla, photo courtesy of Ricardo Padilla

The guest of honor for that first event was Love and Rockets co-creator Mario Hernandez, who shared stories about growing up in Oxnard alongside brothers Gilbert and Jaime, and the creation of their award-winning comic book series. “Ricardo was one of the biggest – I mean that literally and figuratively – fans of comics I’ve ever known," Mario Hernandez said. “A very hard worker when it came to putting together the Latino Comics Expo and other events.

“He also had exquisite taste when it came to Latin and Soul music. Had some great times jamming’ around with him and his awesome wife Rose. He was a devoted father and husband and earns props for daddyhood from me, and I don’t give my approval easily.”

Mario, like all comic creators, and all of Ricardo’s friends, was welcomed with open arms to “la familia,” and that love was the driving force behind the expo. “Other comments we got during that first Expo were, ‘We didn't know there were Latinos making comics',” Javier Hernandez recalled. “Hearing things like this made me and Ricardo know the validity of this Expo. He, as a patron of so many artists before this event, couldn't have been happier with the reception.”

Rhode Montijo was one of the featured artists at the inaugural Latino Comics Expo in 2011. “The first convention was small but we could all tell there was something electric in the air and something special we were all a part of,” he said.

Montijo had met Ricardo several years earlier in their mutual hometown of Stockton, when Montijo’s comic book series Pablo’s Inferno debuted. “I first encountered him over 20 years ago when he reached out to try and schedule a library event to celebrate the release of Pablo’s Inferno, which featured a Latino protagonist – something that was rare at the time – with adventures centered around Aztec mythology and Mexican folktales. The library event didn’t pan out, but Ricardo’s support continued," he said.

“Last year, when I announced my new children’s book, Skeletown, featuring art inspired by Dia de Los Muertos, Ricardo was the first to reach out suggesting an event to highlight the book. I thought he was joking, but he said he wanted to get it on the New York Times bestseller list – no easy task, but Ricardo made every effort to try to get in on the list. He organized an event at the Museum of Latin America Art and ordered lots of books for the museum, and I am forever grateful for his endless, enthusiastic support,” Montijo said.

Jaime Crespo was also a guest at that first Expo. “Ricardo Padilla was a fan, first and foremost concerning the medium of comics,” he said. “He absolutely loved the form and truly understood its magic. He was also a proud Chicano and was always at the forefront of advancing Latinx concerns. It was with this passion that Ricardo, along with his longtime friend cartoonist, Javier Hernandez, created the very first comics event that focused on Latinx creators.

“I was fortunate enough to be one of the featured Latinx creators from day one onward as 'Rico' championed my work and myself within the vast fabric of the Latinx world. However, it was the friendship of Ricardo, along with his wonderful family that I feel truly blessed to have had in my life. If anything, the name Ricardo Padilla will go down in comics history as an advocate for brown voices to be heard and given the attention they/we deserve. Gracias, compa. te echan de menos, pero nunca serás olvidado.”

Cartoon Art Museum 2023, photo courtesy of Sophia Padilla

Immediately after the first Latino Comics Expo wrapped up, Ricardo set to work on the second, and he and Javier Hernandez would host the LCX twelve more times over the next dozen years, including three at the Cartoon Art Museum, one at San Jose State University, one in Brownsville, Texas, one at Modesto Junior College, and seven at the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) in Long Beach, including two virtual events. Padilla, Hernandez, and friends took part in other comics conventions and festivals and library events throughout the country, hosting panel discussions, curating museum exhibitions, staffing vendor tables, and sharing their love of art and storytelling with young creators.

Although he was the public face of the Latino Comics Expo, much of Ricardo’s work took place behind the scenes. “We split the duties down to two major areas," Javier Hernandez said. “I'd compile and contact the vendors, devise the panel and programming schedules and work with our designer Jose Cabrera every year with whichever artist I picked to illustrate our poster. Ricardo would handle all administrative duties such as contacting venues, media outreach, sponsorship and financial backers. He'd also reach out to local politicians – we agreed early on to try to get official city recognition in terms of Latino Comics Expo day and such – and other community groups.”

In 2017, comic book fanboy and Long Beach Mayor – now Congressman – Robert Garcia visited the LCX and issued an official proclamation recognizing Hernandez and Padilla’s efforts on behalf of the Expo and the Latino community.

“Travel arrangements and lodging for ourselves and our guests would also fall into his jurisdiction. When people think of a comics convention they think of the guests and panels, but there is so much work that has to go into putting on a show,” Hernandez said. “And that's what Ricardo was so good at. There's no way the Expos would have happened without the two of us working on it. His role was essential and quite large. And of course he brought his tremendous personality to it, which is irreplaceable.”

And those efforts did not go unnoticed. “Ricardo was a pioneer in recognizing Latino creators in the comics business,” Hector Cantú, writer of the syndicated comic strip Baldo, said. “He was a wonderful representative for the art and his city. I remember one of the early expos, where Ricardo graciously took me and my family to all the San Francisco hot spots. He loved his city and his comics.”

Longtime friend Rafael Navarro, creator of Sonambulo, saw that love of his home and his people in every aspect of Ricardo’s life and personality. “I never knew the true meaning of being a pillar of the community until I met him,” he said. “He understood the human endeavor in a way not many could appreciate or understand as well as having the soul of a true artist. He was a fine example of what one should aspire to. I hope we can all remember to honor him by following his example. I will most certainly try.

“Aside from his many charitable contributions for both the community as well as with the comic festival itself, Ricardo also was an aspiring writer, self-publishing everything from prose to fiction. His most recent effort, The Border Avenger, debuted last year at the Latino Comics Expo with great promise. I had the honor of drawing the cover and an interior illustration for the debut issue. One wonders what new exciting projects would have followed if only he had been able to continue.”

Although Ricardo tried to stay detached and professional, he was a fanboy at heart, and comics creators appreciated that aspect of the LCX. “Ricardo greeted all our vendors to the show as if they were visiting his home. But he was especially proud of befriending the Hernandez Brothers. They were always on our ‘must get’ list,” Javier Hernandez said. “After we befriended Mario, then we reached out to Jaime and Beto. I was delighted at how receptive they were to our show. Really, the Latino audience is their core audience in so many ways.”

Los Bros were enthusiastic supporters of the LCX, and took part in several of the Expos as well as library events and literary festivals to celebrate Latino culture. “Ricardo was one of the fellas – down to earth and believing that Latino comics will have its day,” Gilbert Hernandez said. “I will always remember him when that day comes.”

poster illustration by Jose Cabrera

Another of Ricardo’s heroes, Spain Rodriguez, made one of his final public appearances at the 2012 Latino Comics Expo, enthusiastically offering his support of the LCX and their mission. “Ricardo was truly honored and humbled by Spain’s presence at the second LCX,” Javier Hernandez said. “After Spain passed away later that same year, Ricardo was very saddened to have learned how ill he was while still making the effort to join us.”

Spain and Ricardo spent much of their time together discussing the up-and-coming artists who were sharing their comics at the expo, and were thrilled by the talent and enthusiasm of the young talent at the LCX. “I once introduced Ricardo to a younger friend of mine who was exhibiting at the 2014 LCX at San Jose State,” Javier Hernandez said. “It was his first major show. Ricardo said, ‘Good, fresh blood!’ Ricardo knew that art evolves and progresses if it’s going to continue to inspire the next generation, otherwise it's just a nice drawing on paper. Our shows would have space for 40-year veterans with a shelf full of industry awards as well as newcomers with their first zines and mini-comics. Ricardo always wanted to see what you made.”

A small army – and large familia – of artists and volunteers allowed the LCX to grow and flourish over the years, and Ricardo was incredibly appreciative of all of the support that he received from those who believed in the cause, including friends Bobby Hernandez, who volunteered with his brother starting with the LCX’s first Expo in San Jose in 2014, and animator Crystal Gonzalez, who brought the LCX to a whole new audience with the Expo’s first Animation Festival in 2020.

“Ricardo called me up to chat, we spoke about our families, and how I was doing with my art and my comic series, and we talked about LCX. He’d made a connection with the Alamo Drafthouse in San Francisco, and that they were actually giving them a space to show some animations this year. Then he said, 'So I have a question ... to see if you are up to it?'," Gonzalez said. "I thought he was asking if my cartoons could be part of the lineup, but he wanted to see if I could run the festival. I was so honored!”

Gonzalez was up to the challenge, and she reached out online, to colleges, and to other artists’ forums and lined up more than 40 entries, representing the best in animation from the United States and Latin America. The success of that festival led to two additional installments, and was a true highlight for the LCX, combining Ricardo’s passions for Latino culture and cinema.

Padilla at the San Francisco Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, September 2023 photo courtesy of Crystal Gonzalez

“Being able to give eyes to a bunch of unseen and unknown creators was such a joy,” Gonzalez said. “And knowing Ricardo for the past 12 years was a blessing in my life. He was a wonderful friend and a creative mentor to me. Ricardo left us too soon, but he left an everlasting mark on a lot of people’s lives. And in the grand scheme of things that’s all you can really hope for … to have left the world knowing you made it just a little better with your presence.”

Animation director Jorge Gutierrez was an honored guest at the 2022 LCX, and was an enthusiastic supporter of the festival and its organizers. "I was lucky to meet Ricardo online and exchanged messages for years before we finally met in person,” he said. “And once we did, I was overwhelmed by his endless kindness and jovial spirit. To know him really was to love him. Charming, smart and with the biggest of hearts. How lucky were we all who got to spend time with such a noble and inspiring man. I will forever be thankful for the time we spent together."

That sentiment is echoed by all who knew Ricardo. “From endless debates over current events to the meaning and true purpose of creating, to just what passes for good decent Mexican food. I remember disagreements, as well as treasured epiphanies that would have only come from him and him only. They continue to enlighten me,” Rafael Navarro said. “He was more than a friend and colleague. He was a brother. For only a true brother could one love, create, debate, destroy, rebuild, nurture and finally restore all, and magically so, just before the next fun-filled family function even begins. I miss him so.”

Ricardo Padilla at the KPUO radio station, photo courtesy of Sophia Padilla

Although Ricardo could – and often would – talk about comics for hours at a time, he could hold court on any number of other favorite topics, including sports, music, and politics. “Outside of comics, dad loved to read, whether it be the New York Times Sunday paper, local journals highlighting new artists or new attractions in the city, books of essays and travel books about his favorite places,” his daughter Sophia said. “Dad could always be found reading three books at once, one in every corner of the house, for easy access."

“He loved sports, with his favorite teams being the L.A. Dodgers, L.A. Lakers, and Oakland Raiders – although he bowed out when they moved to Las Vegas. He loved to wear his Dodgers gear to Oracle Park, sit on the aisle seat and make everyone high five a stuffed Dodger Dog mascot he carried around, and would always keep score in the game program,” she said.

Music and film, the topics that helped him win Rosalind’s heart, were also among Ricardo’s favorite pastimes. “Dad was a certified Prince super-fan, having seen him in concert at least eight times, and he had all of his favorite Prince records in at least three different formats – cassette, CD, and vinyl. He also loved ‘80s hip-hop and new wave, jazz, ‘90s R&B, classic rock and roll, and had a special love for The Beatles. His favorite was The White Album, so much so that dad almost had a compulsion to buy the album from any record store we went to."

“He loved cinema and always dreamed of being a writer/director,” Sophia added. “This dream was realized when his short film Yo Soy/I am was selected to be presented at the Delta Film Festival in Modesto. His favorite activity besides reading was watching movies, which was apparent with his love of the Castro Theatre. This served as dad’s home base for much of his life in San Francisco. Many nights were spent watching dad’s favorite movies on the big screen in the seventh row on the aisle. He would share his love of cinema with anyone who would listen. He was a part of the community movement to save the New Mission Theater in San Francisco, always working to preserve those San Francisco institutions.”

Javier Hernandez and Ricardo Padilla tabling together, photo courtesy of Sophia Padilla

In the process, Ricardo and the Latino Comics Expo became San Francisco institutions themselves. “I can tell you first hand that his love for the Latino Comics Expo, the creative talent, the fans, our partners, was right up there for him. It's part of his creative legacy, and those who experienced it will always hold a special memory,” Javier Hernandez said. “For Ricardo it was the annual gathering of his expo family. Shared meals, shared laughs, discovering new talent. ... He was always happy to see the artists making money, making new fans. He had an innate belief and love for creative people, way before the Expo, but definitely with the Expo he had a full time way to provide a spotlight for artists.

“After every Expo he and I would hug and with some disbelief acknowledge that ‘we pulled off another one!’ I'll be honest and share with you that in planning each yearly show, we would not always see eye to eye on every decision. And even if it came to a rough and tumble battle, in the end the show went on and we were both extremely happy to have put it on.

“If I can suggest anything for you to do in Ricardo's memory, it's this: Go out and support some independent artists,” Hernandez said. “Whether they're filmmakers, poets, writers, animators or comic book creators, support their efforts, purchase their work and encourage them with some good words. Like Ricardo, we all need art in our lives. If we can pull it off like he did, we'll all be better for it.”

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