Veronique Medrano / Facebook
Veronique Medrano, a celebrated Tejano and Country artist, has broken new ground by becoming the first Mexican American in her genre to venture into the world of comic book writing. Her debut project, “The Thirteen Origins: Dragonthrall,” is a testament to her versatility and creativity. “Big thanks to Chispa Comics for giving me this great opportunity and Steph C for bringing my words to life,” Veronique expressed with gratitude.
Veronique joins the ranks of other remarkable female musicians who have transitioned into comic book writing, including Courtney Love, Amanda Palmer, and Jane Wiedlin. Veronique shared her journey from a passionate comic book and manga fan to a published comic book writer in her blog. “I’ve been a hardcore fan of Comic Book/Manga since I discovered Sailor Moon and Wolverine all in the same year at 9 years old,” she reminisced.
Her path to comic book writing began in the Spring of 2021 during a casual lunch with her friend and author David Bowles at Nana’s Taqueria in Weslaco, Texas. “While shooting the breeze and talking about life and the creative process, he asked me if I was interested in writing on a possible upcoming project,” Veronique recalled. Despite dealing with chronic pain from a car accident and having limited opportunities as an indie musician, she embraced the challenge.
In October 2022, after releasing an episode of her podcast “Accordion 2 Me” featuring David Bowles, he revisited the idea of a fiction writing project. Veronique eagerly accepted, and soon after, she began receiving details about “The Thirteen Origins.” This series of one-shot origin stories follows the members of The Thirteen, a group of Mexicans and Mexican Americans who discover they are chispas, individuals with extraordinary powers.
Veronique collaborated with artist Steph C., known for her work with Disney, Warner Bros., DC Comics, and Fandom Tabletop, to bring this captivating world to life. “I along with artist Steph C. come together to create a dreamy and gorgeous world to immerse yourself into,” Veronique shared. Charlene Bowles also contributed her talents to the project by handling the lettering.
The Thirteen Origins: Dragonthrall Alternate Cover | Chispa Comics
One of the standout characters in “The Thirteen Origins” is Maria Guadalupe “Lupe” Miramontes, a student from Mexico studying in the U.S. who dreams of providing a better life for her parents. After a personal setback, Lupe finds strength in an ancient legend and becomes the thrall of a fire wyrm, facing the challenge of deciding what kind of spark she should be.
Veronique Medrano’s foray into comic book writing is a remarkable achievement, showcasing her multifaceted talent and passion for storytelling. Fans can order “The Thirteen Origins: Dragonthrall” at their favorite comic book store and add it to their pull list. Buy it online here.
The South Texas native and a bilingual singer-songwriter is known for her unique blend of Tejano, TexMex, and Country music. Described as having a voice as big as the Lone Star State, Veronique has released several albums, including “MexiAmericana,” “Lotería,” “Mi Año Dorado,” and “Encantadora.” She has been nominated for multiple Tejano Music Awards and holds a Master’s Degree in Archives and Preservation from the University of North Texas. Veronique continues to innovate and preserve the Tejano sound, making her a prominent figure in the music industry.
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