The Birth of a Comic Book Legend

The fortuitous birth of a collaboration

Blacksad, a Franco-Spanish comic strip, is the result of a chance meeting between Juan Díaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido who, by chance, were working in Paris at the same time in 1999 after meeting at Lapiz Azul in 1990. The project initially conceived by Canales, based on an anthropomorphic world that mixes detective stories and fables, quickly captivated Guarnido, and together they developed a rich and visually captivating narrative universe that gives a new hero to the world of comics.

Cover of volume 1 of Blacksad: Somewhere between the shadows

Juan Díaz Canales: A screenwriter with a prolific imagination

Juan Díaz Canales, born in 1952 in Seville, Spain, is a screenwriter whose career was already well established before Blacksad. Before creating this series, he wrote for various successful series, incorporating elements of suspense and adventure that prefigured his work on Blacksad. His passion for film noir and American detective literature of the 1950s deeply permeates the scripts of Blacksad, enriching the series with incisive dialogues and unpredictable twists.

Juanjo Guarnido: A virtuoso illustrator

Juanjo Guarnido, born in 1967 in Granada, brings to Blacksad an artistic style that combines realism and expressiveness. Prior to working on Blacksad, Guarnido worked as an animator, which honed his ability to capture movement and emotion. His attention to detail, particularly in urban settings and period costumes, contributes greatly to the immersive atmosphere of the series. Each panel is a work of art, reflecting the influences of Art Nouveau and American realism, while injecting a modern sensibility.

Urban settings in Blacksad

Blacksad: A captivating and dark saga

Blacksad's story is set in an anthropomorphic version of the United States in the 1950s, a choice that allows Canales and Guarnido to subtly comment on social issues such as racism, corruption and the Cold War. John Blacksad , the protagonist, is a black cat who embodies the archetype of the tough but ethically unwavering private investigator, often facing cases that lead him into the darkest shadows of society.

International success and lasting impact

Since its initial publication in 2000, Blacksad has been hailed as a revival of the noir genre in comics. It has won numerous awards, including the prestigious Eisner Award, and has been translated into over 25 languages. The series is particularly praised for its ability to transcend cultural and linguistic barriers, reaching an international audience with its universal themes and exceptional visual treatment. Blacksad remains a seminal work in the modern comics landscape, thanks to the collaboration between Canales and Guarnido. Their combined talents have created a series that not only entertains but also provokes reflection on enduring moral and social issues. The series continues to captivate new readers and maintain its status as a benchmark in the art of comics.