Tezcatlipoca (Los Comex)

From Hey Kids Comics

Tezcatlipoca
Comic image missing.svg.png
Tezcatlipoca: God of Dreams and Destiny
art by Javier Hernandez
Publication information
Publisher Los Comex
First appearance Daze of the Dead: Numero Uno Edition (1998)
Created by Javier Hernandez
In-story information
Alter ego Same
Team affiliations Mictlantecuhtli
Notable aliases God of Dreams/Destiny
Smoking Mirror
Night Drinker
"Tez"

Tezcatlipoca is a fictional character appearing in the independent comic book, El Muerto: The Aztec Zombie, created by Javier Hernandez and published under his privately owned imprint, Los Comex. The character, based on the god of the same name from Aztec mythology, made his first appearance in "Daze of the Dead: The Numero Uno Edition" in 1998.

Fictional character history[edit | edit source]

The Aztec god of death, Mictlantecuhtli, was displeased at the outcome of the Spanish Conquest. The rebirth of Mexico left the gods behind and removed him from his seat of power. He, along with Tezcatlipoca, hatched a plot in order to regain his throne. Eventually, their plans led them to kidnap 21-year-old Diego de la Muerte. Diego was a Mexican-American living in Whittier, California. He was anticipating the upcoming Dia de Los Muertos festival and had purchased an undead Mariachi suit. He also applied the traditional facial markings and had recently gotten a tattoo for the occasion. The tattoo was of a skull or Calavera of sorts inspired by a design from an Aztec temple. Little did Diego know, the tattoo was actually an ancient death symbol and paid homage to the god of death. While driving to the festival, he is struck by lightning and veers off the road into a tree. The crash ended his life on this world. He soon awakened in Mictlan to be sacrificed in an ancient ritual in which his heart is ripped out with an obsidian blade and placed in a clay pot. Surprisingly, Tezcatlipoca attempted to delay or even prevent the sacrifice. He offered to test the brightness of Diego's flame to be sure- but the god of death could not be reasoned with and continued with the ritual as planned. After tearing Diego's still beating heart out of his chest, Mictlantecuhtli burnt his facial markings into his face. Afterward, Diego was returned to earth via lighting bolt, exactly one year after his death

Film adaption[edit | edit source]

File:Tezcatlipoca elmuertoscene.JPG
Tezcatlipoca as he appears in El Muerto.
Main article: El Muerto (film)

Tezcatlipoca appears in the 2007 live-action film adaption El Muerto written and directed by Brian Cox.

The character's depiction in the film differs slightly from his comic book incarnation. Like the comic book, Tezcatlipoca is shown to manifest himself upon reflective surfaces, especially in mirrors. Throughout the movie however, he is not shown to have a tangible form. Towards the end of the film, the viewer is able to make out some of the god's facial features, but nothing more. The character was brought to life mainly through visual effects and CGI, his voice being supplied by actor Alfonso Arau.[1]

References[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]