Articles: Interview: Salvador Larroca (3/19/99)

Before reading the interview below, I would like to point out that English is not Salvador's native language. Although he has an excellent handle on the language for as difficult as it is, I have added editorial "corrections" in brackets to help clarify some of his thoughts. I did try to keep those to a minimum, however, so as not to put words in his mouth.

First, I do not believe many readers, myself included, are very aware of your background. Could you explain how and why you became a comic book artist? And, more specifically, how did you come to be the artist on the Fantastic Four?

Salvador Larroca: Since years ago I was doing posters for the company that hold the Marvel rights at Spain, (joined to [by] Carlos Pacheco) and when Marvel U.K. needed new penciler [they] took a look to the Spanish artist.

I become the FF artist because Bobbie [Chase] offered me the book. In fact I'm a fan of the book since years ago. I didn't [do] something especial for getting the book. Marvel decide[s] if you are a good chance for a high profile book, and then they offer it to you.

SK: One of the things I have seen in your artwork is a greater sense of page layout and design than what is used in most comic books. Have you had training for that or did you learn that on your own?

SL: I think that I learned for my own, reading the books of my favourite artist.

SK: What artists have influenced your work? Whose work do you really enjoy now?

SL: Lots of them, too many to remember them now, but the first one was Richard Corben and Juan Gimenez (Heavy Metal). I started on the comics due [to] their influence.

SK: If I am not mistaken, you were born and raised in Spain, where you still live.

SL: Yes I still live at Valencia.

SK: Have you had any problems dealing with the cultural, linguistic or physical differences between Spain and the United States? Do you think that your work has changed because of those differences?

SL: At the first moment I needed translations, now my English is not too good, but I haven't [had] problems for reading plots. And I don't think my style changed for living at my country.

SK: Have you been fan of Marvel Comics or the Fantastic Four for a while? Have you grown to enjoy them more as you have worked on the comic book?

SL: Yes, when I was a child I use[d] to read Marvel characters, and now they are my favourites, in fact I love drawing old characters as FF

SK: What has been the most enjoyable aspect of your job so far? What has been the most difficult part?

SL: The enjoyable part is drawing the old characters, and the most difficult is getting the book without fill-ins with so many plot delays.

SK: One of the questions I have heard several fans ask concerns the nature of your working relationship with Chris Claremont.

SL: I knew to [met?] him at San Diego Convention, and I consider we have a good relaccionship.

SK: How much input do you have in the actual story telling? How much do you feel that you contribute to the plots?

SL: He writes the history [story] and I draw it, no time for anything else, I don't like telling to the people how should do his own job, and Chris is a veteran writing books, in any case, I should and love accepting his suggestions as I do.

SK: Does Chris provide very detailed plots for you or are they very loose to give you a wider degree of flexibility?

SL: I feel comfortable with the way that he writes, the only problem is that he use[d to] include too many [much] stuff in every page, and this make[s] hard the story telling, now [it] looks that we solved that problem.

SK: Out of curiosity, why did you change the costumes from the Alan Davis design back to the Carlos Pacheco design? Is that simply your favorite?

SL: Not, was "suggested" for [by] Marvel.

(Author's Note: Those are Sal's quotation marks, not mine!)

SK: Thank you for your time. I apologize for not using your native language, but my limited Spanish-speaking ability has declined a great deal since school. I appreciate your efforts.

SL: Thanks to you and sorry for my bad English.

SK: For having known no English to learning enough to understand and respond so well, I am very impressed. Have you taken classes or have you learned mostly through your work with Chris? Either way, I think it is a pretty big accomplishment.

SL: Since that I started on comics in a professional way (five years ago) only along the first year [I] got translations. Along this time I learned my poor English reading plots and trying to remember when I was at the school (lot of time ago)

SK: Thank you again. I look forward to seeing your continued work on the Fantastic Four.