Peace, love, music, and nachos are at the heart of this charming kids’ story filled with both adventure and a positive message.
Written by Adam Wallenta and Makana WallentaCover by Adam Wallenta
Penciled by Adam Wallenta and Gabriel Mayorga
Inked by Adam Wallenta
Colored by Lea Jean Badelles and Adam Wallenta
Lettered by Adam WallentaAcross the galaxy, an evil, tyrannical king has enslaved citizens from countless planets using them as soldiers in his quest for domination. When one young refugee is displaced from his family, Punk Taco and his band of misfits befriend him and vow to reunite their new friend with his loved ones. With a mysterious alien race, they join forces to battle the mad king and spread peace, love and unity across the cosmos. Action, adventure and humor abound in this tale of kindness and understanding conceived and written by Adam Wallenta and his six-year-old son, Makana.
When you think about tacos, they could be as close to culinary perfection as you can get. They’re inexpensive. They can be customized any way you would like, perfect for picky eaters and those with dietary restrictions. Depending on how you prepare them, they can also be quite healthy (so maybe leave off all that sour cream and cheese). It’s no surprise then to find scores of taco memes across the internet, including my personal favorite:
It’s okay if you fall apart sometimes. Tacos fall apart, and we still love them. pic.twitter.com/BLe0hfAfbd
— Tiny Buddha (@tinybuddha) June 10, 2019
In short, tacos make friends. Tacos could even save the world. And that’s the heart of Adam Wallenta’s “Punk Taco,” a story of an intergalactic teenage taco rockstar who embraces life, the joy of helping others, and a really, really, good plate of nachos.
Punk Taco lives the musician dream of crossing the galaxy with his band with a message of hope. Think Woodstock in a taco truck. It’s not always easy, but as PT says, “isn’t that what makes life wonderful?” At one tour stop on New Omega, Punk Taco finds his new friend Philip, a refugee from another planet taken over by the Boogarrian empire, a tyrant who uses mind control (and suspiciously looks like a Big Mac and fries, which you understand further when you say this enemy’s name a few times slowly) to enslave others. It isn’t long before PT finds out just how menacing Boogarr the Mad King is, but that doesn’t stop PT from defeating him in the way he knows how best: with the power of music.
Wallenta created the character of Punk Taco with his six year old son Makana, and it’s evident from first page to last the hand young Makana had on this story. Characters speak in a child-like voice, one both full of innocence and wisdom beyond youth. As I read through the story, I could see Makana acting out the story for his father, while dad records script and draws. The simple themes of helping people in need, love as the answer to all things, confronting evil and anger face to face, and the importance of a plate of good nachos transcend the generations, lessons our jaded adult minds tend to forget as the years pass. There are spots where language gets a little heavy handed and preachy (think VeggieTales without the religious overtones), and some dips into 2019 politics with discussions of refugees and #resistance. That heavy-handedness aside, even the most hardened and cynical of hearts will smile and be moved by this direct and honest message.
In fact, for a children’s graphic novel, “Punk Taco” was quite wordy, which has the potential to turn off young children who may just want to see aliens kicking butt. For the most part, words and pictures balance well, though there are a few moments where I would have preferred text to take a step back. Panel sizes often prove the cause to this issue; the smaller panels are the ones filled with the most text, overcrowding the eyes with too many storytelling elements.
If the script takes its influence from VeggieTales in its silliness with heart, artwork channels classic 1980s Saturday morning cartoons. Punk Taco and Boogarr show off the best in anthropomorphism (that french fry mohawk is genius), and Wallenta and Gabriel Mayorga work to keep linework simple while still providing individuality. But the star of “Punk Taco,” besides its titular character, is the color. That colorwork – – with no hue in the rainbow palette spared, and every one of those hues turned up to 11 and then some – – backs up the messages in the script of embracing life and serving others so beautifully. It’s optimism for the eye, the heart, the mind, and the soul. Artist and writer dance in sync so seamlessly, and when you see the credits and Wallenta’s hand all over the creative process, the synergy comes as no surprise.
Even young Makana has his moment in the book, illustrating in a child’s crayon hand the “Punk Taco” backup story, “Inspiration.” Drawn (presumably) by Dad, but colored in (presumably) by son, PT despairs over the state of the world and the significance of what he’s contributing to it: namely, that it doesn’t feel like much. But friends and fans remind him how much his songs impacted their lives: propelling them to new careers, inspiring people to follow their dreams. You may feel sad, but remember just how much people love you and how much they need you, and that makes life worth living. Another one of those life lessons that everyone from 6 to 66 can understand, and sometimes needs to hear. (And the secondary message of the importance of the arts to society cannot be ignored either!)
The adventures of Punk Taco and friends certainly are not over, with a cliffhanger at the end of Volume 1 and Volume 2 available for pre-order via Kickstarter. Pass me a plate of nachos (extra guacamole). I’m ready to see what this space traveling taco and friends have in store next, and recapture some of that youthful zest and wonder we adults sometimes lose sight of as we grow up.
