DC’s mature readers imprint, Vertigo, is returning with Álvaro Martínez Bueno’s The Nice House on the Lake leading the charge. The artist discussed the emotional resonance of the imprint’s revival – a brand celebrated for creator-driven stories – during a recent appearance at San diego Comic con malaga.While the move from DC Black Label doesn’t impact his day-to-day creative process, Martínez bueno acknowledged the significance of Vertigo to both creators and a dedicated fanbase.
Álvaro Martínez Bueno, a Spanish artist and co-creator of the popular DC Black Label series The Nice House on the Lake, has shared his perspective on the return of DC’s Vertigo imprint. The revival of Vertigo, known for its mature and creator-driven comics, will launch with The Nice House on the Lake as its inaugural project.
Martínez Bueno discussed the emotional shift from Black Label to Vertigo during a conversation at San Diego Comic Con Malaga, noting the significance of the change despite it not impacting his creative process.
“Emotionally, a lot. Because Vertigo means a lot to me, means a lot to a lot of readers around the world. So, at the beginning, it was like attending the launch of the brand in New York. The announcement of Vertigo’s return, the excitement in the room and in the audience was overwhelming. But in the end, it’s the same people, the same editors, the same… so when I sit at my desk, I do my job as I did when it was Black Label. I have a lot of creative freedom in this series. That never changed, and that’s what I care about the most.”
The conversation also explored the increasing presence of European, particularly Spanish, artists in the comic book industry. Martínez Bueno offered insights into why creators from the region are finding success.
“Honestly, I think we bring something different, because in Spain there are… a lot of people say that. Maybe my colleagues feel the same. We are influenced by the American market, the French market, the Japanese market, and also our own artistic heritage in Spain, which is very strong for centuries. So, we don’t… we deliver without reservations…
“I mean, if you look at Jorge Jiménez’s work, it’s perfect superhero, refined to the perfect shape. But if you look a little closer, there’s a lot of comics there, and a lot of European artists’ work. And if you look at Pepe [Larraz]’s work, it’s the same. Pepe is influenced by many, many, many French artists. Pepe has a degree in art history. He knows a lot about art. So you can see that brings something else. It’s really strange, because there are thousands of Spanish artists working in the American market, but none of them look exactly alike. So, we bring a lot of personality.”
A full recording of the interview, with English subtitles, is available below. Readers interested in learning more from Spanish artists at San Diego Comic Con Malaga can also find our conversations with Larraz discussing Spider-Man and his future at DC, and with Jimenez on Batman and his Naruto inspirations.
