Agreda's girl

José Luis Ágreda began drawing at age four, copying his brother Joaquín, founder of the No fanzine. He moved from Bilbao to Seville in 1989, where he began working for several amateur publications, like No de Bilbao, El Dado de Barcelona, El Tebeo Veloz de Sevilla and publications by Habeko Mik or the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Basque Government. Being inspired in his work by film directors, musicians and several foreign comic artists, Ágreda developed a personal and experimental style, as can be seen in 'Redes' and 'El Enanito y las Tres Blancanueces'. On a professional base, he began some sporadic collaborations with magazines like El Víbora, El País de las Tentaciones and El Jueves. He started the 'Los Chapas' series in 1998 along with Bernardo Vergara, which became his most popular work. He also illustrated 'Gomaespuma Raúl y Andrea'. Ágreda is also an illustrator and an animator. In 2002, his book 'Cosecha Rosa' won the prize for best spanish book in the Saló del Comic of Barcelona and the Salon del Comic of Madrid. More recent work includes the acclaimed children's book series, 'Carla' (Timun Mas). Text (c) Lambiek