Macabras: The Horror Comic Art of Jayme Cortez

Welcome to the world of Jayme Cortez, the master of Brazilian horror comics.

With a style that was both chilling and beautiful, Cortez created some of the most memorable covers in the genre’s history. From the iconic to the grotesque, his art was a terrifying feast for the eyes. And now you, dear reader, can experience his art in all its horrifying glory.

This book features the covers Cortez produced for the publisher Outubro, each one more spine-tingling than the last, along with a look at some of his other work. So, whether you’re a seasoned collector or just starting to explore the world of horror, prepare to be thrilled by the incredible art of Jayme Cortez.

Jayme Cortez was born in 1926 in Lisbon, Portugal. He began his career in 1944, drawing comic strips in the weekly newspaper O Mosquito. In 1947, he migrated to São Paulo in Brazil and started creating cartoons, comic strips and illustrations for several newspapers. During the 1950s, Cortez enjoyed tremendous success in Brazil, thanks to his work in the magazine O Terror Negro (The Black Terror), published by La Selva; however, he also illustrated western, sci-fi, crime and adventure magazines. In 1951, with Miguel Penteado, Cortez organized one of the world’s first international comics exhibitions. In 1959, he became partner, art director and principal cover artist for Outubro, which published numerous successful magazines. In 1986, he was awarded the Caran D’Ache prize for illustration. Cortez passed away in São Paulo in 1987, at the age of 60, leaving behind an enormous collection of work across various fields of illustration.

Fabio Moraes is an illustrator, painter, art director and comic historian. He was born in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1965 and studied drawing, painting and sculpture at the Liceu de Artes e Ofícios. He runs the official Jayme Cortez blog, has organized several Cortez exhibitions in Brazil and Europe, and has been responsible for two compilations of classic Cortez comics in Portuguese.

Paul Gravett is a British writer and historian specializing in international comics art. He co-published Escape Magazine and directed the first Cartoon Art Museum in London. He continues to co-direct Comica, the London Comics Festival, author definitive studies and curate exhibitions, including shows for the Angoulême Festival, British Library, Barbican and Centre Pompidou.