View source for José Villarrubia

{{Short description|Spanish-American artist and art teacher}}
{{family name hatnote|Villarrubia|Jiménez-Momediano|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox comics creator
| image         =
| caption       = Villarrubia in 2008
| birth_name    = José Antonio Villarrubia Jiménez-Momediano
| birth_place   = [[Madrid]], Spain
| death_date    = 
| death_place   = 
| nationality   = Spanish, American
| area          = Colorist, Painter, Photographer
| color         = y
| alias         = 
| notable works = ''[[The Mirror of Love]]''<br />''[[Voice of the Fire]]''<br />''[[Promethea]]''<br />''[[Sweet Tooth (Vertigo)|Sweet Tooth]]''<br />''[[Fantastic Four: 1234]]''<br />''[[Desolation Jones]]''<br />''[[Cuba: My Revolution]]''<br />''[[Miss America (America Chavez)|America]]''
| awards        = 
| website       = 
| birth_date={{Birth date and age|df=y|1961|11|17}}
}}

'''José Antonio Villarrubia Jiménez-Momediano''' (born 17 November 1961) is a Spanish-American [[artist]] and educator who has done considerable work in the American [[comic book]] industry, particularly as a [[colorist]]. His fine art photography has been exhibited in the U.S., Latin America and Europe, in institutions such as the [[Baltimore Museum of Art]] and the [[Inter-American Development Bank]]. 

==Biography==
Villarrubia was born in [[Madrid]], and moved to [[Baltimore|Baltimore, Maryland]] in 1980. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the [[Maryland Institute College of Art]] and a Master of Fine Arts in Painting from [[Towson University]]. He taught at Towson, the [[Baltimore School for the Arts]], and the [[Walters Art Museum]]. From 2011 to 2016 he was chair of the [[Illustration]] Department of the [[Maryland Institute College of Art]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mica.edu/News/Villarrubia_Walks_the_Interdisciplinary_Talk.html|title=Villarrubia Walks the Interdisciplinary Talk|access-date=2011-08-17|archive-date=2013-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109173159/http://www.mica.edu/News/Villarrubia_Walks_the_Interdisciplinary_Talk.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and is coordinator of its Sequential Art minor. He has lectured extensively about art, including [[Johns Hopkins University]], the [[College Art Association]], [[Dickinson College]], the [[Institute of Contemporary Arts|ICA]] in London, the Williem de Kooning Academy, the Naples Academy of Art, and the [[MacWorld]] UK Convention.<ref name=macworld>{{cite web |url=http://www.macworld.co.uk/mac/news/index.cfm?newsid=10261 |title=Macworld Conference highlights |date=November 25, 2004 |website=Macworld |access-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610170524/http://www.macworld.co.uk/mac/news/index.cfm?newsid=10261 |archive-date=June 10, 2011}}</ref>

In comics, Villarrubia has done digitally manipulated illustrations for ''Veils'', ''[[Promethea]]'', and ''[[Sentry (Robert Reynolds)|The Sentry]]''. As a colorist he is frequent collaborator of [[Jae Lee]] (''Hellshock'', ''[[Fantastic Four]] 1234'', ''[[Captain America]]''), [[Bill Sienkiewicz]] (''[[Sentry (Robert Reynolds)|Sentry]]/[[Hulk]]'', ''[[X-Men Unlimited]]''), [[J.H. Williams III]] (''[[Promethea]]'', ''[[Desolation Jones]]''), [[Paul Pope]] (''[[Solo (DC Comics)|Solo]]'', ''Project Superior'', ''[[Batman: Year 100]]'', ''[[Wednesday Comics]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://comicsalliance.com/james-jean-and-paul-pope-take-baltimore-and-the-worlds-of-comic/ |title=James Jean and Paul Pope take Baltimore (and the worlds of comics and fashion) by storm |last=Anderson |first=John |date=September 10, 2007 |website=Comics Alliance |access-date=March 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016104435/https://comicsalliance.com/james-jean-and-paul-pope-take-baltimore-and-the-worlds-of-comic/ |archive-date=October 16, 2013}}</ref>), [[Jeff Lemire]] (''[[Sweet Tooth (Vertigo)|Sweet Tooth]], [[Trillium]]''), [[Kaare Andrews]] (''[[Spider-Man]]/[[Doctor Octopus]]: Year One'', ''[[Wolverine (comic book)|Wolverine]]'', ''[[Spider-Man: Reign]]''), [[Ryan Sook]]  (''[[Spider-Man]] Unlimited'', ''[[X-Factor (comics)|X-Factor]]'' ''[[The Return of Bruce Wayne]]'') and [[Richard Corben]] (''[[Luke Cage|CAGE]]'', ''[[Ghost Rider]]'', ''[[Conan (Dark Horse Comics)|Conan the Cimmerian]]'', ''[[Starr the Slayer|Starr]]''). He has won the 2006 Comicdom Award for best colorist for his work on ''[[X-Factor (comics)|X-Factor]]'',<ref name=comicdom>{{cite web |url=http://www.comicdom-press.gr/awards2009/history.php |title=Award History |website=Comicdom Awards |access-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228111927/http://www.comicdom-press.gr/awards2009/history.php |archive-date=February 28, 2009}}</ref> has been nominated twice for the [[Eisner Award]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=6791|title = Chris Ware & Warren Ellis Lead 2006 Eisner Nominations|date = 5 April 2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=1038|title = 2002 Eisner Award Nominees Announces|date = 9 April 2002}}</ref> for best colorist and has been included in The Society of Illustrators Annual Exhibition.<ref name="Comic Book Resources">{{cite web |title=Marvel Art by Lee, Sienkiewicz and Villarrubia featured in Museum of Illustration |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=733 |work=[[CBR.com]] |first=Jonah |last=Welland |year=2002 |accessdate=October 3, 2018}}</ref>

With writer [[Alan Moore]] he has produced two illustrated books, both published by [[Top Shelf Productions]]: ''[[Voice of the Fire]]'' and ''[[The Mirror of Love]]''. The latter is a love poem and a detailed history of homosexuality, prominently featuring famous figures in art and literature. It originally began as a part of the ''[[AARGH!]]'' Anthology in 1988. ''AARGH!'' [Artists Against Rampant Government Homophobia] was a comic book protest against Britain's proposed [[homophobia|anti-gay]] [[Section 28]].<ref name=popimage>{{cite web |title=The Mirror of Love: Reflections with José Villarrubia |url=http://www.popimage.com/content/jose2005.html |work=[[PopImage]] |first=Ed |last=Mathews |author2=Jonathan Ellis |year=2005 |accessdate=2007-07-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930014538/http://www.popimage.com/content/jose2005.html |archivedate=2007-09-30 }}</ref> It was translated and published in French as ''Le Miroir de l'amour'' (November 2006), by Carabas Revolution, in Italian as ''Lo Specchio dell'Amore'' (September 2008) by Edizioni BD and in Spanish as ''El Espejo del amor'' (November 2008) by Editorial Kraken. In 2020 Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Editori published a new edition with a new Italian translation by Marco Rosary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.feltrinellieditore.it/opera/opera/lo-specchio-dellamore/#descrizione|title = Lo specchio dell'Amore - Alan Moore - Feltrinelli Editore}}</ref>

The longest running project in which Villarrubia has been involved has been the comics series ''Sweet Tooth'', where he colored almost all 40 issues (written and drawn by [[Jeff Lemire]] from 2009 to 2013). In 2020 Lemire and Villarrubia returned to the character in a new series published under DC Comics' Black Label Imprint. The series was titled ''Sweet Tooth: The Return''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://comicbook.com/comics/news/jeff-lemire-reveals-first-details-of-sweet-tooth-the-return-comi/|title=Jeff Lemire Reveals First Details of Sweet Tooth: The Return Comic Series|newspaper=Comics }}</ref>

From 2012 to 2018, Villarrubia colored the three graphic novels by [[Anthony Bourdain]]: ''Get Jiro!'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tor.com/2012/07/03/sushi-chef-against-the-world-anthony-bourdains-get-jiro/|title=Sushi Chef Against the World — Anthony Bourdain's Get Jiro!|date=3 July 2012}}</ref> ''Get Jiro: Blood and Sushi'' and ''Hungry Ghosts''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eater.com/2018/10/3/17929834/anthony-bourdains-hungry-ghosts-comic-book|title = 'Anthony Bourdain's Hungry Ghosts' is a Collection of Eerie Food Tales Steeped in Samurai Lore|date = 3 October 2018}}</ref> [[Sony Pictures]] is then began developing ''Hungry Ghosts'' as an animated series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/sony-pictures-animation-slate-boondocks-hungry-ghosts-superbago-1202631478/|title = Sony Pictures Animation Unveils Expanded Slate: New 'Boondocks', 'Hungry Ghosts' Anthology, More – Annecy|date = 12 June 2019}}</ref>

In 2019 [[Casterman]] published the first French language graphic novel completely colored by Villarrubia.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bdgest.com/chronique-9328-BD-Le-transperceneige-Extinctions-acte-1.html |title=Transperceneige (Le) 5. Extinctions acte 1 |author=J. Milette |date=July 11, 2019 |website=BD Gest |access-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812183208/https://www.bdgest.com/chronique-9328-BD-Le-transperceneige-Extinctions-acte-1.html |archive-date=August 12, 2019}}</ref> A new chapter of the series ''[[Le Transperceneige]]'' (''Snowpiercer: Extinctions''), the comic was written and illustrated by series co-creator [[Jean-Marc Rochette]]. The publishing of this new volume was timed originally to coincide with the release of the new [[Snowpiercer (TV series)|''Snowpiercer'']] TV series that adapts this comic. The series was produced by [[TNT (American TV network)|TNT]] and premiered in May 2020.

DC Comics' prestige imprint [[DC Black Label|Black Label]] published two series colored by Villarrubia launched in November 2020, ''Sweet Tooth: The Return'', where he reunited with collaborator Jeff Lemire and the long delayed ''The Other History of the DC Universe'', written by [[John Ridley]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/the-other-history-of-the-dc-universe-is-finally-coming/ |title=The other history of the DC Universe is finally coming |last=Quaintance |first=Zack |date=August 12, 2020 |website=The eat |access-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923164246/https://www.comicsbeat.com/the-other-history-of-the-dc-universe-is-finally-coming/ |archive-date=September 23, 2020}}</ref>

In 2022 he restored the original colors of the classic series ''[[Swamp Thing]]'' by [[Len Wein]], [[Bernie Wrightson]], and [[Nestor Redondo]] for the deluxe oversize edition ''Absolute Swamp Thing''. It collected ''[[House of Secrets]]'' #92 and ''Swamp Thing'' #1–13.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://downthetubes.net/creating-comics-jose-villarrubias-incredible-colour-restoration-on-new-absolute-swamp-thing-collection-surely-makes-it-a-must-buy/|title=Creating Comics: José Villarrubia's Incredible Colour Restoration on New Absolute Swamp Thing Collection|date=26 December 2022 }}</ref>

Starting in 2023, he became the Project Art Director and art restorer for The [[Richard Corben]] Library from [[Dark Horse Comics]]. The collection would reprint all of Corben's classic comics, starting with the complete stories of [[Den (comics)|''Den'']].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.darkhorse.com/Books/3010-741/DEN-Volume-1-Neverwhere-HC|title=Den Volume 1: Neverwhere HC on Dark Horse}}</ref>

In 2024, Casterman published a newly colored version by Villarrubia of ''Exterminator 17'' ({{langx|fr|Exterminateur 17}}) by [[Jean-Pierre Dionnet]] and [[Enki Bilal]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.casterman.com/Bande-dessinee/Catalogue/exterminateur-17-nouvelle-edition-colorisee/9782203247468|title=Exterminateur 17 Nouvelle Édition Colorisée on Casterman}}</ref>

==Awards and Honors==

*1997: Nominated for Best Colorist and Best Painter, Squiddy Awards. <ref name="1997 Squiddy Awards">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/squid97.php|title=1997 Squiddy Awards|website=Hahn Library|access-date=2024-12-06}}</ref>
*1998: Won the Alex Sidorowicz Award for contributions to the Performing Arts from the Baltimore Theatre Project.
*2000: ''Veils'' (Illustrated by Villarrubia with Stephen John Phillips) was nominated for the Eisner Award for Best Designed Publication.
*2001: Nominated for Best Colorist for Marvel.com Awards.
*2001: Nominated for Best Colorist and Best Painter, Squiddy Awards.
*2002: Nominated for the Eisner Award for Best Colorist (for ''Fantastic Four: 1234'').
*2006: Won the Comicdom Award for Best Colorist for ''X-Factor''.
*2006: Nominated for the Eisner Award for Best Colorist (for ''Desolation Jones'').
*2007: ''Batman: Year 100'' (colored by Villarrubia) won the Eisner Award for Best Limited Series.
*2008: Nominated for the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Great Graphic Novels for Teens: ''Spiderman: Reign'', ''Crossing Midnight'' and ''Batman: Year 100''.<ref name="YALSA">{{cite news |url=https://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklistsawards/booklists/greatgraphicnovelsforteens/annotations/08ggnt |title=Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2008 |publisher=Young Adult Library Services Association |access-date=2024-12-06}}</ref>
*2010: ''Unknown Soldier'' issues #13-14 (colored by Villarrubia) won the Glyph Comics Award for Story of the Year.
*2011: Won the Harvey Award for Best Colorist for ''Cuba: My Revolution''.<ref name="Harvey">{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/baltimore-comic-con-your-2011-harvey-award-winners-are/2011/08/21/gIQAnWnJUJ_blog.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=2011-08-21 | first=Michael | last=Cavna | title=BALTIMORE COMIC-CON: Your 2011 Harvey Award winners are}}</ref>
*2013: ''Django Unchained'' (partially colored by Villarrubia) was nominated for the Eisner Award for Best Adaptation From Another Medium.<ref name="Django">{{Cite web|url=http://hudlinentertainment.com/the-django-unchained-graphic-novel-is-nominated-for-an-eisner-award/|title=The Django Unchained graphic novel is nominated for an Eisner Award! « Hudlin Entertainment}}</ref>
*2016: Won the Rankin Award from the Robert E. Howard Foundation for ''King Conan: Wolves Beyond the Border'' (with Tomás Giorello).<ref name="Rankin2016">{{Cite web |url=https://www.blackgate.com/2016/07/01/announcing-the-2016-robert-e-howard-foundation-award-winners/ |title=Announcing the 2016 Robert E. Howard Foundation Award Winners |last=Oneill |first=John |date=July 1, 2016 |website=Black Gate |access-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805013514/https://www.blackgate.com/2016/07/01/announcing-the-2016-robert-e-howard-foundation-award-winners/ |archive-date=August 5, 2021}}</ref>
*2017: Won the Carlos Giménez Award for Best Colorist.<ref name="Giménez">{{Cite web |url=https://www.zonanegativa.com/ganadores-premios-carlos-gimenez-2017-heroes-comic-madrid/ |title=Ganadores premios Carlos Gimenez 2017 - Heroes Cómic Con Madrid |last=Lopez |first=Raul |date=November 11, 2017 |website=Zona Negativa |language=Spanish |access-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114003800/https://www.zonanegativa.com/ganadores-premios-carlos-gimenez-2017-heroes-comic-madrid/ |archive-date=November 14, 2017}}</ref>
*2017: ''America'' (colored by Villarrubia) was nominated for a GLAAD Award.<ref name="GLAAD">{{Cite web|url=https://graphicpolicy.com/tag/deadman-dark-mansion-of-forbidden-love/ |title=Glaad media award nominees have been announced |date=January 22, 2018 |website=Graphic Policy |access-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924043033/https://graphicpolicy.com/tag/deadman-dark-mansion-of-forbidden-love/ |archive-date=September 24, 2020}}</ref>
*2017: ''Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love'' (colored by Villarrubia) was nominated for a GLAAD Award.<ref name="GLAAD" />
*2018: ''Infidel'' (edited and colored by Villarrubia) was chosen as one of NPR's "100 Favorite Horror Stories." <ref name="Click If You Dare: 100 Favorite Horror Stories">{{Cite web | url=https://www.npr.org/2018/08/16/632779706/click-if-you-dare-100-favorite-horror-stories | title=Click If You Dare: 100 Favorite Horror Stories | publisher=NPR | date=August 16, 2018}}</ref>
*2022: Won second Prize for Best Edited Book in the category of General Works for ''Hércules 1417'', edited by Villarrubia.<ref name="Hércules">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cultura.gob.es/actualidad/2022/06/libros-mejor-editados.html |title=Libros mejor editados - Ministerio de Cultura y Deporte |website=Cultura.gob.es |date=June 2022}}</ref>
*2022: Nominated to the Tripwire Award for Best Colorist <ref name="AWARDSTripwire Awards 2022 Results In Full">{{Cite web |url=https://tripwiremagazine.co.uk/headlines/tripwire-awards-2022-results-in-full/ |title=Tripwire Awards 2022 Results In Full |website=Tripwire Magazine |access-date=2024-12-06}}</ref>
*2024: Won a second Rankin Award from the Robert E. Howard Foundation for the ''Conan the Barbarian series'' (Titan Comics, with Roberto de la Torre).<ref name="Rankin2024">{{Cite web |url=https://rehfoundation.org/2024-reh-award-winners/ |title=2024 REH Award Winners |website=Robert E. Howard Foundation |date=June 9, 2024 |access-date=December 2, 2024}}</ref>
*2024: ''Den Volume 4: Dreams and Alarums'' by Richard Corben, art directed and restored by Villarrubia, was chosen by the New York Times as one of eight Best Graphic Novels and Comics of 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last=Thielman, Sam |title=The Best Graphic Novels and Comics of 2024 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/06/books/review/best-graphic-novels-comics-2024.html?searchResultPosition=1 |work=The New York Times |date=December 6, 2024 |access-date=December 11, 2024}}</ref>

==Interviews==
The DVD of the documentary feature film ''[[The Mindscape of Alan Moore]]'' contains an interview with Villarubia about his collaboration with Alan Moore.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{gcdb|type=credit|search=José+Villarrubia|title=José Villarrubia}}
*{{comicbookdb|type=creator|id=394|title=José Villarrubia}}
*[http://thegaymenproject.com/2012/11/27/jose-comic-book-colorist-and-chair-of-micas-illustration-department-baltimore/ The Gay Men Project, November 21012]
*[http://www.clydefitchreport.com/2012/09/fine-arts-meet-pop-culture-the-art-of-jose-villarubia/ Clyde Fitch Report, September 2012]
*[http://www.gaycities.com/outthere/166/visit-baltimore-artist-jose-villarubia-tells-us-why/ GayCities, November 2008]
*[http://www.newsarama.com/comics/080811-BigPictureJoseI.html Newsarama (part 1), August 2008]
*[http://www.newsarama.com/comics/080814-JoseVillarrubia.html Newsarama (part 2), August 2008]
*[http://www.comicbookbin.com/charlie27.html Comic Book Bin, April 2004]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20131109173113/http://www.slushfactory.com/content/EpVEpZukAVgzsSQSmL.php Slush Factory, March 2003]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060317121623/http://www.popimage.com/mar00/interviews/villarrubia.html PopImage, March 2000]

{{Authority control (arts)|country=ES}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Villarrubia, Jose}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Artists from Madrid]]
[[Category:Comics colorists]]
[[Category:DC Comics people]]
[[Category:Harvey Award winners for Best Colorist]]
[[Category:Spanish gay artists]]
[[Category:LGBTQ comics creators]]
[[Category:21st-century Spanish LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:Maryland Institute College of Art alumni]]
[[Category:Maryland Institute College of Art faculty]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics writers]]
[[Category:Spanish comics artists]]
[[Category:Spanish illustrators]]
[[Category:Spanish photographers]]
[[Category:Towson University faculty]]