Whilce Portacio

The following is a questionnaire filled out by Whilce Casiano Portacio (in 1993). It was published in a comic called Image Plus #1 !!!!!!

Birthdate:
Early 60's
Birthplace:
Phillipines
Hometown:
San Diego, CA
Favorite Movies:
Five Fingers of Death, Star wars, Aladdin
Favorite Foods:
Mexican-especially nachos, liver, pasta, shrimp
Favorite Restaurants:
Alberto's, Roberto's, Gilberto's
Favorite Athletes:
Joe Mendoza, Kristi Yamaguchi, Kristy Y., Kristi
Favorite Comic Artists:
Bill Watterson
Favorite Comic Issue:
Dark Knight
Favorite Comic Character:
Calvin and Hobbes
What Are You Asked Most Often?
"Where is Wetworks?", "What's your name?", "Are you Japanese?", "Are you sure you don't have a twin brother?"
What Are Your Pet Peeves?
Kristi Yamaguchi isn't on television often enough.
Biography:
"If it weren't for comic books, I would have been a mercenary, a race car crasher, or Kristi's bodyguard," says Whilce Portacio, referring to one of his favorite athletes!
Whilce started drawing seriously when he began getting paid for it, and his first professional work was Longshot #1. He got his big break in San Diego when Carl Potts saw his work and believed in it.
"Being true to myself and doing things my way are my greatest accomplishments," Portacio says. He lists Jack Kirby, Gil Kane, Neil Adams, Frank Herbert, Marion Zimmer Bradley, William Gibson, Orson Scott Card, and David Brin as his biggest influences.
"My top skill is conning people into thinking I have talent," he says.
Twenty years from now, he'd like to have Wetworks #1 finished and direct a movie about life in the Philippines. He'd like to be remembered as Whilce-not Will, Willy, Willsee, Willis or Willsee what's-his-name.
To Aspiring Artists:
Look carefully at everything that catches your eye (see favorite athlete), and wonder why it attracts you. Learn from life...and in lieu of that, learn from the movies.
To My Fans:
Thanks for believing in me and the fantasy that we in this industry create.

 

 

Addendum from November of 2004

 

Just some other fun info from Whilce himself...

 

Favorite current comics:

Lucifer, ME3, Hellblazer

 

Favorite Music:

Queen, David Bowie, Sex Pistols, or any good guitar work

 

Favorite TV show:

Discovery Channel, History Channel, etc...

 

Favorite Video Game:

Any good war or racing sims...  Right now it's B52 - Super-fortress

 

First Car:

Toyota Tercell

 

Dream Car:

Lotus Esprit

 

And technically, his first job was inking Alien Legion...  :)