With the recent passing of legendary comic book artist and writer
Carlos Pacheco, I wanted to make a small post as tribute. While Carlos
never directly worked on an MC2 title, not only has his costume designs
influenced the MC2, he has also depicted various MC2 characters
as we will soon discuss.
At the very end of Tom Defalco’s run on the Fantastic
Four title, regular penciller Paul Ryan was replaced by Carlos
Pacheco who closed out the comic’s first volume with its final two issues, #415
and #416, which formed part of the Onslaught crossover. It is in these
two issues that the Fantastic Four team’s new costumes debuted. Not only
do these costumes make a return later starting with Fantastic Four vol. 3 #12
but they also appear to have strongly influenced the costumes of the MC2’s
Fantastic Five team.
While the Fantastic Five’s first cameo appearance in What
If #105 seems to depict them in the classic F4 costumes, starting
with their first full appearance the Fantastic Five’s costumes are Pacheco-inspired
(Spider-Girl #3). This is evident from the stylized insignia and the gizmos
on the gloves, with penciller Pat Olliffe and colourist Christie
Scheele adding their own twists to the design; removing the appearance of
boots, changing the belt, and giving the various members different costume
colours. The late great Paul Ryan would again tweak this design, making
small changes and restoring the classic boots for the team’s own title (Fantastic
Five Vol. 1 #1). The Fantastic Five’s costumes would change over
time, but their basic design owes much to Mr Pacheco.
To round out this post, let us look at the time Carlos
pencilled some of the MC2 characters. I have briefly touched on the Avengers
Forever series a few
times in
the past, so you may already be aware that various members of the MC2’s
Avengers
and one from the Fantastic Five make cameo appearances. In Avengers
Forever #11-#12 Mr Pacheco gives us his rendition of American
Dream, Freebooter,
Coal
Tiger, and Kristoff Vernard.
I hope it is clear I greatly respect the artistic skills and
imagination of Carlos Pacheco. I am deeply saddened by another passing
of an extremely talented member of the comics pantheon, we have lost too many
already especially lately. Thanks for all the wonder you have added to the
world of comics, Mr Pacheco.
Until I can better express my condolences, I remain
frogoat