THE Cantico Group Public Library is hosting the exhibition ‘from today until October 30’Arrowsmith. The Art of Carlos Pacheco, a selection of original works from the last great comic strip by one of the most prominent artists and storytellers in international comics.
At the inauguration, the territorial delegate of Culture and Sports, Eduardo Lucena, accompanied by the exhibition curator, Paco Cerrejón, stressed that “libraries are important cultural spaces, one of the first relationships we have with books, and, on this occasion, we do so through the magnificent work of the Andalusian designer Carlos Pacheco.
Cerrejón, for his part, explained that the sample is composed of 16 original drawings on the latest work published by Carlos Pacheco, which was the second part of the Arrowsmith saga. “It is one of Pacheco’s great works as a cartoonist. It was originally a comic strip by him,” he said.
The author, born in San Roque, Cadiz, in 1960, died prematurely in 2022 because of ALS. Since then, “the entire comic book sector, both North American and Spanish, has dedicated itself to numerous tributes,” the curator stressed. In this sense, he added that “this exhibition does not seek to be a tribute more, but showing the artistic work of the author and the very high level of his drawings and his undeniable abilities as a storyteller.
“Pacheco was a great cartoonist and storyteller“, explained Cerrejón. “You don’t have to be an expert to realize the artistic and graphic quality of a cartoonist.” At the same time, “when reading comics, the quality of the narrator is appreciated.”
The exhibition shows, on the one hand, Pacheco’s pencils and the work processthe introduction of colored brushstrokes, ink, lettering and drawings finally finished for reproduction. Thus, “the visitor can get an idea of the work of this magnificent designer,” Cerrejón said.
The story of one of Marvel and DC’s most iconic artists
Although very few people know his work, Pacheco was responsible for the arrival of Spanish cartoonists to the two major American superhero publishers, Marvel and DC, and there is no major character in the superhero genre that has not passed through the pencils of the Cadiz artist. Superman, Batman, the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, the X-Men or Captain America, all these childhood idols have passed through Pacheco’s pen.
In a short period of time, he carved out a significant niche for himself in such a competitive market and was quickly considered by critics and the public as one of the most well-known names in the industry. the most remarkable among superheroesThis unanimous recognition from critics and the public would not abandon him throughout his long career.
Carlos Pacheco was also prophet in his countryboth locally, in his hometown of San Roque, and nationally. He collaborated with fairs, conferences and other cultural activities that were requested of him, he even organized for several years a summer course at the University of Cadiz in San Roque and supported and encouraged local authors from Cadiz such as Jesus Merino or Mateo. Guerrero among others.
