{"id":12489,"date":"2026-09-25T09:57:33","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T14:57:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/?p=12489"},"modified":"2026-09-25T09:57:36","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T14:57:36","slug":"interview-with-artist-pablo-alcalde","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/25\/interview-with-artist-pablo-alcalde\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Artist Pablo Alcalde"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I had always wanted custom artwork to go with the site, to match the design and color scheme I had chosen. Lacking any artistic skill, it took me a while to find an artist to collaborate with on these pieces – someone who understood what I was going for, and could produce images in the classic superhero comics style (but with a philosophical twist!).<\/p>\n

Enter Pablo Alcalde<\/a>, an illustrator based in Madrid, Spain, who draws in “both classic and more current American comics” style. Pablo did such an amazing job on the main site image – I wanted a progression of philosophical thinkers from Ancient Greece and China, through the Middle Ages, the Enlightenment, and Modern times before finally arriving at a comics superhero. As you can see below, Pablo understood the assignment perfectly!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Depiction<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

More than that, during the creative process Pablo also suggested some interesting variants – like the more dynamic flight styling for the superhero above, which I actually prefer over my original request (that original version is shown later down below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are tons of nice touches in this first piece that are all Pablo – like background DNA double-helix in modern times and the flying owl in ancient ones (long a symbol of wisdom across the ages). I enjoyed these images so much – and the collaborative process of working with Pablo – that I continued to commission art for the site on a regular basis. But these are scattered across the site, and I thought it would be nice to put them all together in one place, along with some early background concept sketches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ve also interviewed Pablo by e-mail, where I queried him on his artistic background, influences and process. We will go through his answers below, including some questions on the specific images in more detail (like the origin of the “CP” superhero design above).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The latest image at the top of this page was probably the most challenging assignment I’ve given Pablo yet – I wanted our group of philosophical thinkers to be dressed up in cosplay as their favorite superhero, attending a modern comics convention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Comic
Quite the dynamic scene. I love the giant inflatable Kaiju on the top left!<\/em><\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

They still had to be recognizable as themselves though, and I had very specific hero matches for each of them. The modern Care Ethicist would be a Supergirl<\/a> fan, the Enlightenment philosopher would be a utilitarian and fan of the early Doctor Strange<\/a>, the Middle Ages philosopher would be a virtue ethics fan of Thor<\/a>, the Ancient Chinese philosopher would be Batman<\/a> (as they both share a focus on family), and the Ancient Greek philosopher would of course be a fan of Wonder Woman<\/a> (as Themyscira is modeled on Ancient Greece). I think Pablo nailed it! I particularly love the discount bin diving, and the signature hunting (again, all Pablo’s ideas).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, let’s get to it! My questions in italics<\/em>, Pablo’s answers in bold<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Let\u2019s start off with your \u201corigin story\u201d Pablo \u2013 how did you get interested in comics?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I couldn’t tell you the exact moment I got interested, but I think it might well have been when I saw Christopher Reeve’s *Superman*; I remember putting on a red cape my grandmother had sewn for me when I was a kid and jumping off the sofa. I suppose I got a comic book shortly after that\u2014I can’t recall exactly which one right now, though I do remember the first ones I owned: a reprint of a *Spider-Man* issue by Gil Kane and *New Mutants* #1. A little later, I got my hands on an issue of *The Avengers* by Byrne (which included the *Official Handbook* profile page showing all the members’ faces), and that was when I fell down the rabbit hole :D.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had already been drawing since I was little, but that definitely fueled my desire to do it even more; my school notebooks were filled with Marvel heroes and whatever else crossed my mind.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Final
Our cast of characters chilling in a local comics store. See if you can identify comics and books they are reading (again, all Pablo).<\/em><\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Who were your greatest comics influences growing up?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

My first and greatest influence is John Byrne; his pages and his takes on classic characters became etched in my mind, and they remain so to this day. Of course, other contemporaries followed\u2014Alan Davis, George P\u00e9rez, John Romita Jr., Ron Frenz, Simonson, Miller, etc.\u2014and, naturally, those from the previous generation, such as Neal Adams, the Buscemas, and so on.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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That’s a great list, and I can definitely see the Byrne influence in your work. What have been the greatest challenges getting started as an artist in the comics space?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Well, I\u2019ve never pursued it professionally\u2014I\u2019ve only published work here and there\u2014but I think the biggest challenge is consistency and willpower. I know it sounds like a clich\u00e9, but I believe that\u2019s the real key; being good at drawing and having talent certainly helps, but without consistency and willpower, those other qualities can\u2019t be developed.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Futuristic
I wanted a future-looking framing for our heroes, with the philosophers looking up at them. Pablo seems to have gone for Watchtower effect!<\/em><\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Which characters would you most like to draw?  What would your ideal Avengers or Justice League team look like?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The answer is in the question, haha. I love the “official” Marvel and DC teams\u2014meaning the series where all the big events happen and the characters really matter. My ideal Avengers lineup would feature the classics: Captain America, Iron Man, Hawkeye (the classic wise-cracking version, not the unrecognizable character he is now), Vision, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, Wonder Man, Hank Pym (in any of his identities), and Wasp… (I\u2019m not a huge Thor fan, with a few exceptions).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, for some reason I\u2019m also a fan of the more casual lineups; for instance, the *Evolutionary War* annual team is one of my favorites, even though no one remembers it. As for the Justice League, I haven’t read as much of it\u2014Marvel has always been published more widely in Spain\u2014but I suppose I\u2019d go with the classic setup too: the core seven plus a few additions like Firestorm, Red Tornado, and so on. Ultimately, those supporting characters are the heart of both teams.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I must ask – is there a superhero character you most closely identify with?  How about a super-villain? \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Phew, I couldn’t really say\u2014I’d love to be a Green Lantern or the Silver Surfer, haha. That whole idea of traveling through space at will and discovering worlds is a pretty deep fantasy.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for supervillains, I empathize with those who have deep-seated motivations\u2014like Doctor Doom, Magneto, or the Mole Man. They have their reasons for being the way they are, and we can’t deny that\u2014given the same circumstances, some of us might act just like them. Villains who are bad for the sake of being bad don’t convince me\u2014unless they’re thugs like Marvel’s Wrecking Crew.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"In
I wanted an image to celebrate Pride this year – and think our heroes with the classic Ally flag (with transgender colors) came out well.<\/em><\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Is there any advice you can give for someone thinking about getting into comics?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As I said before, persistence and willpower are key\u2014and having contacts is essential. Beyond that, it\u2019s about drawing constantly, paying attention to what top artists do and studying them, and, of course, observing and absorbing everything around you; I believe a solid cultural foundation is also essential.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Early<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Depiction<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Depiction
Notice how the placing of background items underwent further refinement through the process. And I love the “CP” logo Pablo came up for my site (I hadn’t expected that).<\/em><\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Let’s talk a bit about the artwork you’ve created for my site. What was your process in designing the main character and background from my initial request?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As for the character design, I have to admit it was influenced by David Nakayama\u2019s new uniform design for Green Lantern Kyle Rayner\u2014which I happened to see on Instagram; it struck me as both modern and classic, and served as my inspiration. Regarding the colors, blue and red have always been associated with the “good guys” ever since the *Great S* appeared.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the background, while reading your proposal, I pictured spaces that fit together and transformed over time; honestly, I didn’t have to overthink it\u2014I visualized it quite clearly from the start, and I humbly believe it captures the idea you conveyed in writing very well. I have to say, I\u2019m proud of it, haha.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Depiction<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Depiction
I wanted to show the collaboration between comics writer and artist – and modern philosophers – bringing a character to life. I suggested a coffee shop or comics store, and Pablo really nailed it by combining them!<\/em><\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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I\u2019ve always been impressed with your creative use of color \u2013 your final images “pop” so much beyond the initial sketches and pencils I loved the surprises in the final color image of the first superheroine image. Specifically, I love the hair color, and how she seems to be “materializing” – like a Star Trek transporter effect. Do you enjoy the coloring aspect of your work?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Well, I\u2019ve always been a pencil artist; if I\u2019ve worked in color, it was out of necessity or because I felt like it at the time. I had to learn how to do it for commissions or for specific illustrations I wanted to color, but it\u2019s not really my strong suit\u2014I think I just “get by.” Still, I\u2019m glad you like the results.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The superheroine\u2019s look and hair color were things that just came to me while I was working on it; I hadn\u2019t planned them out, but I wanted something that would set her apart and give her an alternative vibe, so she wouldn\u2019t look like just another run-of-the-mill superheroine.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Early<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Final<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Final
This scene is so much more dynamic than I could have expected. But I love the small touches like the birds flying, or passers-by trying to capture the catastrophe and their phones! Again, all Pablo.<\/em><\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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This was a different kind of request from me – an action scene of a famous philosophy thought problem (the Trolley Problem<\/a>, shown above). How did you approach this image?  It seems to me that you tried some innovative elements (shading, half-toning, etc.). As I recall, I only asked for a “European-style trolley” but I can\u2019t help noticing your distinctive choice (having been to Lisbon, and walking up that hill!).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Well, I\u2019m from Badajoz\u2014a small city in western Spain, right on the border with Portugal\u2014so I\u2019ve been to Lisbon many times. When you sent me the details for the illustration and mentioned that everything revolved around a tram, the Lisbon tram was the only one that came to mind, so I couldn’t really do any other kind :D.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the shading and halftoning, that was something I\u2019d been wanting to try out for a while; I thought it would work well here given the concept itself. I believe that when those techniques are used with a specific purpose in mind, they can yield great results \ud83d\ude42<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Sketch<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Final
This one so exceeded my expectations … I didn’t even know what I wanted exactly for the Multiverse.<\/em><\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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My “Multiverse” request for the two superheroes was another distinctive image (shown above), both for the composition and the colors. How did you come up with the design and all the multiversal variant characters? I particularly loved the little guy running at the bottom right end \u2013 that is the kind of hero I most relate to!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I think this is the one I\u2019ve enjoyed creating the most; as soon as I read your proposal, *Crisis on Infinite Earths* immediately came to mind, of course, as well as the alternate dimensions saga by Alan Davis and Claremont in *Excalibur*. I don\u2019t know if you remember issue #14\u2014specifically the double-page spread featuring a fat Quicksilver running\u2014but that image is burned into my subconscious; I didn’t even realize until later that it was the specific image I\u2019d been picturing.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the variants and the composition, the influence of Bryan Hitch and Alex Ross\u2014specifically the way they often depict multiple characters in flight\u2014is clear to me now that I think about it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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That all sounds great Pablo. Finally, how should people contact you if they are looking for art commissions?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

You can contact me via email at pabloalcaldefernandez@gmail.com<\/a> or through my Instagram: @pabloalcaldef. You can also visit my online portfolio and get in touch using the contact form: https:\/\/pabloalcaldef.wordpress.com\/<\/a>

I\u2019d love to hear about the ideas you have in mind!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Early<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Thank you Pablo, it is an amazing body of work! And thanks for taking the time for the interview. I look forward to continuing our collaborating on future pieces for the site.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As always, if you would like to know more about the terms I’m using on this site, please follow the links throughout or check out my Ethics 101<\/a> page or Glossary of Terms<\/a> post.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further Reading<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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\"Drome<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For more artist-creator works: Drome<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Cover<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For more artist-creator works: The Power Cut #3<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Issues<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For more artist-creator works: Sleep<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I had always wanted custom artwork to go with the site, to match the design and color scheme I had chosen. Lacking any artistic skill, it took me a while to find an artist to collaborate with on these pieces – someone who understood what I was going for, and … <\/p>\n

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