Jose Villarrubia
Comics artist, illustrator and professor.
- Reposted by Jose Villarrubia[Not loaded yet]
- The Youth of Tarzan. Another never-before-seen illustration by Das Pastoras. Pen and ink and watercolor, 16x20"
- As the year draws to a close, I enjoy reflecting on the series and graphic novels I had the pleasure of working on this year. While there are several unannounced projects still behind the scenes, I am incredibly proud of this particular selection and their talented creative teams
- Happy Boxing Day! Hellboy by Das Pastoras!
- Merry X-mas to all my friends who celebrate! Das Pastoras imagines Tarzan's childhood.
- Another unpublished image by Das Pastoras. This one is done in watercolor and acrylic. It will most likely see print next year...
- I have been Das Pastora's agent for about a decade, in which he has worked among others for Marvel Comics, Aftershock, Valiant, Boom!, Fantagraphics, Nuevo Nueve and Beehive Books. Here is a great illustration that he did that will see print next year.
- Most people, even Richard Corben fans, haven't read his earliest stories. He created short comics in many genres: humor, horror, social satire, high fantasy, adventure, and more. But my favorite stories by far are his dystopian science fiction. @realgdt.bsky.social
- I am the lucky guy who gets to art direct and restore the art for the current Richard Corben Library for Dark Horse Comics. Here is something for an upcoming project. It was first printed as the cover of The Odd World of Richard Corben... As a young person, I was kind of obsessed with this.
- I was looking today at my collection of Das Pastoras' original art, and was reminded of why I fell in love with his work. This is a favorite panel from Los Heresiarcas (Deicide).
- Gulliver’s Travels by Mattotti. Beehivebooks.com/gulliver
- In 1922, there was an edition with three black-and-white plates by Carl Lagerquist. Following the theatrical versions of the story, Lagerquist portrays the creature as a classically muscular yet threatening figure, heightening the sexual tension when the creature wakes Victor. @realgdt.bsky.social
- If have never seen Crimson Peak, is it an extraordinary experience by Guillermo de Toro. The ultimate Gothic film, which in many ways resembles visually his Frankenstein, as well as pays tribute to Corben and Wrightson. It’s a must-see. @realgdt.bsky.social @guydavisart.bsky.social
- The new volume from Beehive's miraculous Illuminated Editions is an exceptional book by none other than the great Lorenzo Mattotti, the master of masters. I had the incredible opportunity to meet and socialize with him in the past. www.kickstarter.com/projects/bee...
- Guillermo del Toro mentioned he wanted to stage a scene from the novel in his new Frankenstein movie that has never been filmed before. Here are three versions of the scene by Lynd Ward (1934), Bernie Wrightson (1983), and Nino Carbe(1990). Each offers a different interpretation.
- Reposted by Jose VillarrubiaVery interesting news about an upcoming comic about Matt Baker, an excellent artist of Golden Age comics who was gay and who drew what seems to have been the first graphic novel. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Ba... #gay #comics #news
- Timothy Schaffert and I are thrilled to collaborate with French artist Jean-Frederic Koné in our upcoming fictionalized bio-comic of Matt Baker. Jean-Frederic has published mostly gay erotic comics. The graphic novel, titled Easy to Love, will be published in 16 months by Mad Cave Comics.
- Reposted by Jose VillarrubiaICYMI: The Witcher: The Bear and the Butterfly came to its conclusion this week with issue #4, available now: bit.ly/4gDw60w A decades’ long grudge shows its true face... By @sispurrier.bsky.social, Stephen Green, @josevillarrubia.bsky.social, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. With @cdprojektred.com
- Reposted by Jose VillarrubiaRichard Corben and Jan Strnad's The Last Voyage of Sindbad arrives in a special new edition Spring 2026. @comicsbulletin.bsky.social has the exclusive details: bit.ly/48LYBHzd Available next May!
- Come and see me in booth 217!
- I’m bringing a few rare copies to the Baltimore Comicon today. Mostly rare hardcovers. If you want to purchase any, please bring cash. And of course, I will sign if for you, as well as anything else you’d like signed. I will be at the CarlaSpeed MacNeil booth from one to two pm. Booth 217.
- If you want to meet me to say hi or sign anything, here is where I will be today. I can see you right after. @baltimorecomiccon.bsky.social @paulpope1969.bsky.social
- If you have anything for me to sign and are at NYCC come to the ComiXology booth this afternoon. Saturday, October 11 | 2:00pm-3:00pm – Signing at booth #4454
- I have long been obsessed by this panting of Jason and his mentor the centaur Chiron. He looks at Jason, knowing that he would leave now that he is an adult, and is told very simply and poignantly. It is of course by William Russell Flint, from his illustrated edition of The Heroes.
- The Heroes was illustrated numerous times, including the very best by William Russell Flint. I was very, very lucky to acquire a copy (of 500) after many years. Here's the unforgettable frontispiece, which shows Danae and Perseus being put in the box to drift in the sea.
- Before I became a comics artist, I was a fine art photographer, and before that, a painter. While finishing my MFA in Painting at Towson University, I created a series of large oils and watercolors. This was the very first one. I painted it when I was 23 years old. Oil on masonite, 31.5" x 64.5".
- Thanks to the Spanish Embassy of Washington DC, we had an amazing mini residency by two brilliant Spanish artists at MICA, Carlos Sanchez and Marc Torices!
- I just had the great pleasure of finishing the most complex piece I have ever colored, a new version of George Pérez’s legendary Crisis on Infinite Earths poster. Originally painted by Alex Ross, this new version was inked by Jerry Ordway and digitally colored by me. New Absolute Edition of Crisis!
- Paul Pope and I did a variant cover for Absolute Batman #12! Coloring Paul is always a blast!
- Friends, MICA is hiring a full time faculty member in Illustration. If you are a professional illustrator or comics artist who also loves teaching, I encourage you to apply. Join me and the rest of the faculty, it is a wonderful place to work and teach: mica.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Facult...
- I’m quoted in today’s issue of Forbes.
- Now that I’m halfway through Alien: Earth, I can give it an enthusiastic thumbs up. I’m really enjoying the way the plot is unfolding and the constant surprises. That said, I know some longtime Alien fans may take issue with its world-building and continuity. Personally, I’m not one of them.
- Another example of comic restoration. The first story of Razar by Richard Corben appeared in 1970 (top). Corben reformated and relettered it in 1983 (middle). From the original art, I am restoring it for a future edition of the Richard Corben Library (bottom) where it also be relettered.
- I do love portraits. One of my favorite pieces from my personal collection is this portrait drawing by the German painter August Kraus (1852 - 1917), done in 1888. It is charcoal on paper. (He is not to be confused with the sculptor of the same name)
- As a teenager, these books opened my eyes to the Golden Age of Illustration! After a lifetime of study, I mention them and others in the in-depth essay I wrote for Beehive's new edition of A Wonder Book for Girls and Boys, illustrated by Das Pastoras and with an introduction by Guillermo del Toro!
- A great example of color restoration is Necromancer by Richard Corben, which was never reprinted. For years, I considered the colors to be “lost” until a Corben expert shared scans of the original line art and color separations, allowing us to really see what he intended for the first time (right)
- The other painting I love in my collection is a portrait painted by the German artist Kurt Schwitters during his internment at Hutchinson Camp on the Isle of Man in 1940–41. It is signed and I cannot believe that I actually own such an important piece...
- The cover of the new Beehive Books edition of A Wonder Book, illustrated by Das Pastoras, was inspired by the cover and frontispiece of a 1928 edition by Anne Chuse. Das Pastoras portrayed all the characters from the tales. www.beehivebooks.com/products/won...
