Izzy Ortiz

Izzy Ortiz is a resident of the fictional Chicano neighborhood of Hoppers 13, introduced in Jaime Hernandez's 'Locas' stories in Love and Rockets #1. A childhood friend of Maggie and Hopey, she is depicted as a troubled, spiritually haunted young woman navigating barrio life.

Few characters in alternative comics carry the quiet, haunting weight of Izzy Ortiz, who stepped onto the page in the very first issue of Love and Rockets back in 1982 — a Bronze Age debut that planted her at the ground floor of one of Fantagraphics' most celebrated series. Created by Gilbert Hernandez, she has kept extraordinary company across nearly four decades, sharing stories with the likes of Maggie Chascarillo, Hopey Glass, and Luba in a richly layered world that rewards devoted readers. With three key-issue appearances to her name and a presence stretching across Love and Rockets, Penny Century, and Mechanics well into 2019, Izzy is a testament to the long, slow burn of alternative comics storytelling — the kind of character whose every appearance feels earned.