Career
Pacheco was studying biology in Seville when he began working in comics,[9] his first work being in Spanish-language editions of Marvel Comics published under the Cómics Forum imprint at Planeta De Agostini.[4] He primarily drew covers, posters and pin-ups for Spanish translated editions of Marvel Comics, published at the time by Planeta under the imprint called Cómics Forum.[12]
Pacheco's first published superhero comic was an eight-page story titled American Soldier with writer and translator Antonio Moreno, and published as a back-up in Marvel Héroes #41 (May 1991).[13]
Pacheco later teamed up with writer Rafael Marín to create the characters Iberia Inc. and Tríada Vértice, two groups of Spanish superheroes, that starred in two miniseries published by Planeta-DeAgostini Comics under the imprint called "Línea Laberinto", with plots by Pacheco and Marín, script by Marín and art by Rafa Fonteri (in Iberia Inc.) and Jesus Merino (in Tríada Vértice).[12]
Pacheco first got attention in the United States for his work as penciller on Dark Guard, a four-issue Marvel UK title, and the first book he fully drew by himself,[1][4] That assignment teamed him with writer Dan Abnett and inker Oscar Jimenez. This led to his international career, which began in 1993,[9] when he was offered the art duties on Marvel Comics' Bishop miniseries, which was published in 1994, and which teamed him with writer John Ostrander and inker Cam Smith. Later that year Pacheco did his first work for DC Comics on The Flash #93–94 and #99, with writer Mark Waid and inker Jose Marzan Jr.
After that Pacheco's next stateside work came in 1995's X-Universe two-part limited series (a part of the "Age of Apocalypse" storyline), published by Marvel. Pacheco was joined by writer Terry Kavanagh and was again inked by Cam Smith. In late 1995 and early 1996, Pacheco and Smith collaborated with writer Warren Ellis on a Starjammers limited series. This series was successful enough that the creative team was reunited on Marvel's Excalibur ongoing series for a brief run in 1996. Shortly after this Pacheco became penciller on Marvel's Fantastic Four for two issues (#415–416), where he worked with writer Tom DeFalco as the title wrapped up in preparation for the "Heroes Reborn" storyline. By that point Pacheco's art had become a fan favorite, with his work regularly getting coverage in magazines such as Wizard. In early 1997 Marvel acknowledged this by assigning Pacheco to one of its flagship titles, X-Men, with #62 (March 1997). On that title he worked with writers Scott Lobdell and Joe Kelly and inker Art Thibert and produced the "Operation: Zero Tolerance" storyline.[15] He left the series at #75 in May 1998.[12]
After X-Men, Pacheco began work on Avengers Forever, a 12-issue limited series, where Pacheco worked with writers Kurt Busiek[16] and Roger Stern and for the first time in the U.S. inker Jesus Merino, who from that point on became Pacheco's regular inker.
Pacheco's next assignment was in 2000, a four-issue Inhumans limited series, co-written with Rafael Marín with pencils by José Ladrönn and Jorge Lucas. Pacheco wrote, again with co-writer Rafael Marín, a return to the Fantastic Four, with vol. 3 #35. This time he took on the co-writing chores (initially with Rafael Marín, later joined by Jeph Loeb) as well as pencilling duties. Pacheco's pencilling contributions were shorter than expected, with his last art contribution coming in #50, and him leaving the series entirely by #54.[12]
His next substantial work after Fantastic Four was for DC Comics: JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice, with writers David S. Goyer and Geoff Johns. This 96-page graphic novel united the Justice League and the Justice Society against common foes in the style of what once had been an annual tradition.
In 2003 Pacheco reunited with his Avengers Forever collaborator Kurt Busiek for the creator-owned fantasy war series Arrowsmith, published by WildStorm. This series envisioned a world where magic is real and the First World War was fought with dragons, spells, vampires and others used as weapons by both sides. The six-issue miniseries[5][6][12] garnered positive reviews, holding a score of 7.8 out of 10 at the review aggregator website Comic Book Roundup.[7] The series earned Pacheco and Busiek and an Eisner Award nomination[17] for Best Limited Series.[18]
Pacheco returned to DC Comics to pencil the "Absolute Power" storyline in Superman/Batman #14–18 (Jan.–April 2005), where he was again joined by writer Jeph Loeb.[19] The two told a tale in which, due to the time-traveling machinations of the Legion of Super-Villains, Batman and Superman took over the world and a group of Freedom Fighters has to rise up against them. Later that year at DC, Pacheco shared alternate monthly pencilling duties with Ethan Van Sciver on the new Green Lantern series written by Geoff Johns.[20]
From 2006 to 2007, Pacheco worked with Kurt Busiek on DC comics' Superman, illustrating issues #654–658, 662–664, and 667. Due to the difficulty of drawing twelve issues a year, the final chapter of their "Camelot Falls" story arc appeared in Superman Annual #13 (January 2008).[12]
In 2008, Pacheco produced covers for DC's weekly series Trinity, featuring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, and assisted artist J. G. Jones in illustrating the 2008-09 miniseries Final Crisis, on issues #4 to #6.[21][22]
In February 2009, Comic Shop News announced that Pacheco signed an exclusive contract with Marvel.[23] Pacheco's 2009 work included Ultimate Comics: Avengers. Pacheco was one of the artists on the Age of Ultron limited series in 2013[24] and collaborated with writer Rick Remender on the Captain America series later that year.[25]
In 2022, Pacheco and Busiek reunited on a sequel, Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines, which garnered critical acclaim.[8]
In September 2022, Pacheco announced his retirement, and tweeted his final comics work, the cover to Damage Control vol. 4 #2, which featured the characters Ant-Man and Wasp.[2][4][13]
