Few European comic book characters have left as deep a mark over the past two decades as Blacksad. And behind that white-coated feline detective with a sharp mind and a weary gaze stands the talent of Juanjo Guarnido, one of Spain’s most celebrated and internationally acclaimed artists.
Born in Granada and raised in Salobreña, Guarnido showed a passion for drawing from a very early age. While studying Fine Arts in Granada, he began collaborating with Planeta DeAgostini, creating illustrations and covers for the Spanish editions of Marvel comics and taking his first professional steps in the industry.
His career took a decisive turn in the early 1990s, first working in animation studios in Madrid and later joining Disney Studios in Paris, where he settled in 1993. Over the following decade, he contributed to some of the studio’s most beloved productions, including A Goofy Movie, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Tarzan, and Atlantis: The Lost Empire.
It was during those years that he began working alongside his friend and writer Juan Díaz Canales on the project that would change his career forever: Blacksad. First published in 2000, the series quickly became a landmark in European comics thanks to its extraordinary artwork, noir storytelling, and richly crafted world that captivated readers across the globe.
More than twenty years later, with seven volumes published and over two million copies sold worldwide, Blacksad remains one of the most important comic series of the 21st century and one of Spain’s greatest international comic book ambassadors.
His work extends far beyond the adventures of John Blacksad. In 2019, alongside writer Alain Ayroles, he published Les Indes fourbes, an ambitious continuation of the adventures of Quevedo’s iconic rogue Don Pablos, picking up the story where the original author left it centuries earlier.
Throughout his career, Guarnido has also returned periodically to animation, directed personal projects, and continued exploring new artistic challenges, establishing himself as one of the most influential and recognisable comic artists of his generation.
At San Diego Comic-Con Málaga 2026, you’ll have the opportunity to meet one of the true masters of European comics and one of the most important Spanish artists of the last several decades.