Artist Spotlight - Pablo Romero

    I.C.U. had the chance to talk with artist, Pablo Romero to get his thoughts on comics, art, and more in this Artist Spotlight.

When did you first realize that art was something you wanted to do?
   I started drawing from a very young age, but I would say I started to take it seriously in 2003/2004. Back then with some friends, we started working on doing a publication. In 2007 I went to the “Escuela Argentina de Historieta” (Argentine School of Comics) to learn to draw better. Learned a lot there and started working professionally in 2010.

What are some of your major influences?
   Most are artists from my country like, Ernestro Rudesindo Garcia Seijas, Lucho Olivera and Juan Zanotto.
Of course there is also 80's artist like Sorayama, Nagel, Syd Brak and a others I don't know or remember.

Do you prefer to work traditionally or digitally?
​   I'm working full digital since 2013. Mainly because I'm wasn't able to get decent and cheap brushes and ink at the time (This was when I was working for $15 USD a page) and because scanning big pages was a pain. Digital makes things faster.
   The problem with digital is that is easy to get used to the “undo” button and other tools. I try to not use it too often. Every now and then I do some stuff traditionally, and very rarely I think of “undoing” stuff. So if I ever have to go back to traditional it would not be a problem.

You seem to have a knack for making some people on social media mad with your drawings of beautiful women. Why do you think that is?
   I think it's basically, that they just have too much free time. There is also other things but I feel that is the main one. If these people had a life outside of social media they wouldn't be constantly complaining in there and trying to “cancel” people.
  I mean they probably try to do it but they just would not have time for it.

​You have done comics in a both western and Manga style. Do you find switching between styles difficult?
​   Not a lot. If you look at both styles, when I do Manga style I just change the faces and do less details (don't do nails on fingers and other stuff)

​You have produced your own web comic called Maneater. Any plans for doing more of that series?
   Yes, I'm working on the third chapter right now, called “Maneater of the SS” Still doing the script but hope to finish it soon and start working on sketching pages and character design.

You were the artist on Cyborg USA and Seven Legions. Would you like to do your own crowdfunded comic someday?
   I am interested in doing one but there is some stuff that are keeping me from doing it.
   One is not having a big enough platform. I do have over 11K followers on twitter but as you already know, it seems like YouTube is a lot more effective with the promotion and I only recently passed 400 subs in there and don't do a lot of content. I don't want to be too dependent on bigger people promoting me. This is something I learned (and hope more people learn) from the whole recent drama. Having your own platform and realistic goals, is the best thing you can do.
   There is also other problems, but that is the main one.

What would you say to any struggling artists out there trying to build a reputation?
   I would say to not waste time on internet slap fight. The drama can be a quick way to fame but it can also be your doom. I know I'm probably not the best to talk about that since I gained most of my followers because of some drama (the Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel drawings), but I don't feel that 11K following on twitter is real. And by that I mean, that I think a lot of them are waiting for the moment I make someone angry because of a drawing and don't pay that much attention to my regular work.

   If I would have continued on that path, I could potentially had a lot more following but also would need to keep doing that stuff instead of the things I want to do.

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Follow Pablo Romero on Twitter: @PabloRomeroArt