Updated on December 10, 2021
This week’s minorities in cartoons entry is Chipmunk Hunk (real name: Tomas Lara-Perez), a Marvel superhero. Tomas first appeared in “The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl” (vol. 1) #1 (March 2015). Ryan North and Erica Henderson created Tomas.
Background
Tomas is a computer science student at Empire State University, the alma mater of Peter Parker. There, he ran into fellow student Doreen Green (aka Squirrel Girl) on their first day of class.
Later, as Chipmunk Hunk, Tomas and his crime-fighting partner Koi Boi helped Squirrel Girl battle a villain. During said battle, Dorren’s roommate Nancy recognized Tomas. The group subsequently exchanged secret identities, and became friends.
Chipmunk Hunk possesses a chipmunk-themed version of Squirrel Girl’s powers: the enhanced strength, speed, and agility of a chipmunk. Tomas can also communicate with chipmunks; eventually, Doreen taught him and the others how to speak to squirrels. Finally, Tomas possesses a chipmunk-like tail, hidden when in his civilian identity.
It’s unknown whether Tomas is a mutant, an Inhuman, or some other origin. However, given current Marvel events, it’s likely a vaguely defined origin, similar to Doreen’s current status quo.
