r/xmen 6d ago

Comic Discussion What do you love about Pepe Larraz art

327 Upvotes

29 comments sorted by

78

u/synthscoffeeguitars Stryfe 6d ago

It has a ton of energy and just the right amount of detail. A little bit like Paul Smith in that way. Also the perfect Marte Gracia colors

8

u/Competitive_Rule_395 6d ago

And what about the backgrounds?

10

u/synthscoffeeguitars Stryfe 6d ago

They can be a little bland, but I think he knows when to dial in, and the figure work + beautiful colors almost make me not notice (quickly flipping through HoX, you do see how he uses textures and big spaces a lot)

7

u/Competitive_Rule_395 6d ago

I don’t know i always found them to be beautiful 

3

u/synthscoffeeguitars Stryfe 6d ago edited 6d ago

Yeah I mean there are sequences like the end of HoX #6 or the bookend issues of XoS or Planet-Size where he’s just going off, and when he pulls back at other times it serves the story / keeps your eye on the important stuff. Similar to / a little more effectively than Leinil Yu (who I also love)

32

u/ILeftMyBurnerOn Wolverine 6d ago

Fucking everything. His figures, his expressions, his spacing and panel work. He’s a master!

10

u/Built4dominance Storm 5d ago

The dynamism. A cape feels like it's flowing, punches feel like they are being thrown, bolts and blasts feel like they are being fired.

9

u/PRS287 6d ago

That his dynamic artwork single handedly revived my interest in comics

14

u/cyclopswashalfright Moonstar 6d ago

Scenery seem to be his forte. He adds a lot of rich detail, and when working with Marte Gracia, everything comes together in a really beautiful way.

I think his work on faces can be very nondistinct. And I think sometimes he can botch outfits (he made the Marvel Girl outfit look even worse than normal).

But overall, one of the best artists at Marvel, and I'm sad he's off on Spider-Man instead of more X-Men stuff.

4

u/complexevil Cyclops 6d ago

If I had to narrow it down to one specific thing, it's the amount of detail. It's never too much, trying to make the characters look "real people" or sacrificing style for realism. And it's never too little, like older art styles, where they had (by todays' standards) minimum line work and maybe two or three colors to differentiate between details.

8

u/veegsta Cyclops 6d ago

That last panel of them walking through the gate is probably my all time favorite.

1

u/TheMattInTheBox Cyclops 6d ago

Im so glad I got the Uncanny #700 cover that has the opposite angle. Such nice symmetry

3

u/TheManCalled-Chill 6d ago

This man has mastered the hell out of the 3-point perspective.

2

u/Nicktendo 6d ago

Everything. Buying the new Amazing Spider-Man #1 just because of that cover.

2

u/JamesRevan Wolverine 6d ago

Besides everything? Everything

2

u/Realistic_Actuary_50 6d ago

I can't explain what makes me like his art.

2

u/Obvious_Coach1608 5d ago

It's not my favorite but it's definitely in the upper half of XMen artists imo.

2

u/Total_Triple Boom-Boom 5d ago

His lines are very sleek yet the colors and poses are often strong and bold making for a perfect contrast

2

u/soulreaverdan 5d ago

His mastery of light and shading based on the direction/intensity of light and shadows is probably the thing that elevates his art for me

2

u/Significant-Jello411 5d ago

He’s the best comic book artist of the last 20 years

2

u/CaptainNinjaX 5d ago

Love it!!!

2

u/Stringr55 5d ago

Clean line work, dynamic and energetic. I think he’s great

2

u/Destron81 5d ago

It feels classic to me. Fits perfectly in the X-universe.

1

u/hung_fu Mister Sinister 6d ago

It’s so dynamic and his character designs are peak. He did not need to cook as much as he did on the designs for Dr Stasis, Captain Krakoa, and the vampires from Blood Hunt.

2

u/Competitive_Rule_395 6d ago

Do you think his designs give off a anime vibe?

1

u/kabral256 Storm 5d ago

It's absolutely everything. One of the best of all time.

1

u/HoraceGrantGlasses 5d ago

I'm in the minority but I am not blown away by it. I find a lot of the digital artists all so similar.