East Harlem Preservation Efforts

A virtual tour of East Harlem will include the historic La Marqueta market that once occupied several buildings under the Park Avenue railroad tracks  Photo: Dith Pran/The New York Times

Publisher: The New York Times | Author: Michaelle Bond

Celia Cruz and Tito Puente, two legendary Latin musicians, may not have had superpowers, but an artist from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, plans to tap the popularity of comic book heroes to celebrate the significance of these and other figures in the cultural history of East Harlem.

Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez, an artist specializing in comic-book-style graphics, is working with other comic book artists to depict, among other spots, Park Palace, a former Latin dance club in East Harlem that welcomed artists like Ms. Cruz and Mr. Puente when downtown clubs would not welcome Latinos.