Conrad Wasd
The illustrator from Murcia who draws for Marvel
If you still don’t know Salva Espín, this is your chance to discover some details about his career. How did he come to work for one of the best publishers?
Whether you like the world of comics or not, you have to know Salva Espín. His name may not ring a bell yet, but the illustrator from Murcia has become one of the leading figures in today’s comic world. How? Thanks to his drawing talent, he has managed to carve out a place in the industry and work for giants like Marvel. Would you like to get to know him a little better?
Where does his passion for drawing come from?
From a very young age, Salva Espín’s life has been linked to the world of comics. As he himself admitted in an interview for the newspaper La verdad, he used to frequently visit shops specialized in this kind of content.
Soon after, he began to draw on his own and create his own characters. His passion for illustration and his ability to bring characters to life meant that, at a very early age, Salva Espín was already publishing his own comics and selling them. His specialty was always drawing superheroes, and he knew while still a teenager that he wanted to work for the best publishers in the comic sector.
His goals were clear and he was not going to give them up. For this reason, until 2006 he kept taking part in various contests and publishing in specialized magazines. Finally, that year he received the recognition he had long awaited, winning first prize for best comic in the comic category at Creajoven2006.
And then came Marvel
Marvel is one of the places where dreams are made, especially if those dreams feature superheroes. In this publishing house, which has brought to life such thrilling characters as the incredible Hulk or Captain America, everything seems possible. It is undoubtedly the place where every illustrator would like to work.
A newly graduated Salva Espín traveled in 2008 from Valencia to Barcelona to seek work and new opportunities in the comic sector. That year, taking advantage of the Barcelona Comic Fair, he presented his projects before the most important editors in the field. Among those present were the people in charge at Marvel.
Soon after, they contacted him to say they were interested in his designs and wanted to see the sketches. This led to Salva Espín joining one of the world’s most important comic publishers in 2012.
Deadpool, his great creation
For more than a decade, the illustrator from Murcia has drawn a wide range of characters from the Marvel universe such as Spider-Man, Captain America, the X-Men, and the incredible Hulk, among others. But without a doubt, his worldwide recognition has come through Deadpool. Espín is one of the main artists of this antihero, who has been one of the most recent additions to the world created by the publisher.
This graduate in Fine Arts, specialized in Animation, believes that the most important thing when creating a drawing for a comic is to focus on the characters. To make a good creation, you first need a good character, which his hands will then bring to life, always applying a touch of humor and realism.
Fame
His professional career is his best calling card; for this reason, Salva Espín gives talks and courses around the world and is one of the leading figures in illustration. Besides all this, Espín has a close and very personal side that he does not hesitate to show in interviews.
Wherever he goes, his actions and remarks are not forgotten. As proof, this interview conducted by David Broncano on his program La Resistencia. What a stir was caused by the special edition comics he made for the show!
