Beast of Borikén #2 (Dark Horse Comics)
It’s time to talk Beast of Borikén #2 BY Julio Anta, Daniel Irizarri, Patricio Delpeche & Lucas Gattoni (DARK HORSE COMICS)
This issue keeps the horror moving, but what grabbed me most is how much Puerto Rican culture and folklore are becoming part of the story.
Credit: Dark Horse Comics
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Before I get into the comic itself, I want to acknowledge what is happening in Puerto Rico right now. The island is dealing with severe drought conditions and water rationing, with more than 180,000 people in San Juan and nearby northeastern municipalities facing rotating 48-hour outages. When we are talking about a book that is so connected to Puerto Rico, its culture, and its people, I do not want to ignore the very real situation people on the island are dealing with right now. Current context: Associated Press, August 2026; Drought.gov, July 23, 2026
What I like about Beast of Borikén #2 is that it could have easily been just another monster comic. Instead, Julio Anta is using the mystery to dig into Puerto Rican folklore, spirituality, and the kind of stories people on the island grow up hearing
The attacks are still part of the mystery, and of course the Chupacabra is hanging over everything, but the part that really stood out to me was bringing the Hupia into the Botanica. That made the book feel personal. It gave me that feeling of being back in Puerto Rico because these are the kinds of beliefs that are part of the culture, even when people do not always talk openly about them. The Hupia can still feel like a taboo subject on the island, so seeing it used here made the supernatural side of the story feel more authentic to me.
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I also like that Anta does not stop the story to explain every piece of folklore. He gives you enough to understand what is happening, but he still leaves some mystery there. It feels less like somebody giving you a history lesson and more like you are stepping into beliefs and traditions that were already there before the story started
Daniel Irizarri's artwork really helps with that. The quieter scenes feel grounded and natural, but once we get into the Botanica, the spiritual visions, and eventually the creature itself, the whole mood changes. Those pages are some of my favorites in the issue because they are creepy without needing to throw gore at you every few panels
The book is still a slow burn, and I know that is not going to work for everybody. But for me, the slower pace is part of why it works.
FINAL GRADE: 10
Beast of Boriken is taking time to build the mythology around the monster instead of just showing us a creature and moving on. That is probably the biggest compliment I can give this issue: it does not just take place in Puerto Rico - it feels Puerto Rican. The culture is becoming just as important as the horror, and that is what keeps me interested in where this story is going next.
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