More about the history of and "zines"?

The aesthetic and thematic hallmarks of Merida's work have established him as a cult favorite. His style, while part of a broader underground movement, has a distinct look and feel. A 2015 article analyzing Latino comic characters described a precedent set by "Rolando y Gari," two 1970s comic characters, with Rolando being a caricature of a stereotypically effeminate gay man, while Gari is depicted as proud and empowered by the gains of the LGBT rights movement. While this is not a description of Merida's characters, it reflects the kind of nuanced and evolving portrayals of gay men that his work contributed to decades later.

The art and storytelling of Mand Stoker have been widely praised for their unique blend of style and substance. Stoker's distinctive visual aesthetic, which combines elements of noir, pulp, and manga, has brought the world of Dormidos to life in a way that is both captivating and immersive.

Merida's primary platform was , a publication that served as a key outlet for gay erotic comics and stories. His contributions to the magazine were substantial; a 2010 collection of his work, appropriately titled Rolando 2007 , contains the twelve comics he created for that year's issues of Handjobs . This collection also includes three stories he illustrated for another publication, Dad's Bedtime Tales . This output demonstrates his role not just as a contributor but as a mainstay artist in the genre.