Gabriel Cortes: A Hometown Barrio-graphy

Gabriel ‘Gabe’ Antonio ‘Tony’ Cortes is a passionate and innovative indie graphic novelist known for his unique storytelling and captivating illustrations. Born and raised on the central coast specifically on the east side of (Salas) Salinas, California, Gabriel developed an early love for cartoons and graphic novels, spending countless hours drawing and immersed in the worlds of superheroes, fantasy realms, and science fiction adventures. Ultimately and unknowingly, used his art as a form of survival and escape from the difficulties of life at home and on the streets.

Later in his mid-teens, Gabriel was fortunate to meet and be mentored by an amazing artist and friend, Jose ‘Joe’ Ortiz a pillar in the community who graciously took him under his wing and gave him the ability to express his talent and ability in various types of mediums while also assisting and teaching art classes to the kids in the neighborhood at the old ‘Hebron Heights, Breadbox and the Firehouse near where he lived. Even though there were a number of challenges along the way, Gabriel would go on to earn a scholarship from ‘Alisal Center for the Fine Arts’ for a last minute art piece submission titled ‘Smile now, Die Later’ which would grant him the opportunity to attend college after high school out of state. 

After earning his degree in Graphic Design from the Al Collins Graphic Design School/Collins College, Gabriel decided to pursue his dream of creating an original graphic novel. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be easy, life’s twist and turns and constant struggles made for an often arduous journey. However, in spite of the numerous obstacles encountered Gabriel leaned heavily on his Faith and hope in Jesus refusing to give up. Through the grace and mercy of (Jesus) Almighty God, relentless ambition and moral support from family and close friends (Thanks Dana :.)) the lifelong dream would eventually be brought to fruition after 30+ years.

His debut success would come in the form of a late 90s retro based epic misadventure titled ‘Vatoman …and Ruben!!’ That quickly began to garner attention for its compelling narrative and distinct visual style. With his unbelievable team, he collaborated with accomplished comic book artist, Adrian Iglesias and the brilliant script writing of Carlton Holder, everything fell into place at God Almighty’s appointed time and the first V&R issue was completed. The success of this debut work created soon established him as a fresh voice in the indie graphic novel scene.

Gabriel Cortes's works are characterized by his ability to design, blend intricate plotlines with rich and expressive artwork. He draws inspiration from a wide range of sources, including classic literature, contemporary social issues, and personal experiences from his home town, which lends depth and authenticity to his stories.

Beyond his creative work, Gabriel is an active member of his church which does outreach within the local community. An alumni of ‘Hijos del Sol’ founded by his noble sponsor, Mr. Ortiz, truly inspired Gabriel as he witnessed the self sacrifice and dedication to supporting and mentoring emerging artists by Joe’s shared experiences, knowledge and passion for the fine arts.

When not working on new projects and other community engagements, Gabriel enjoys spending time with his family and friends, watching movies and cartoons with his children, assisting in church functions, collecting vintage toys and comics which continue to fuel his creativity. Residing in Salinas, CA, he is currently working on another issue of his V&R series, set to be released, God willing, in mid 2026 if not sooner.

With a growing body of work and an increasing loyal fanbase, Gabriel Cortes is committed to pushing the boundaries of graphic storytelling and leaving a lasting impact on the world of indie graphic novels and his community.

In closing, He’d like to convey to other artist or individuals struggling today that his faith and hope in Jesus Christ he was able to learn, that the place where you are, does not define who you are destined to be, to continue to fight for your dreams even in the face of adversity, that failure is not the be all end all, if, your patient and don’t give up. But rather, a small stepping stone on the path to your greatest success. God bless.