Manuel Rodriguez (March 2, 1940 – November 28, 2012), better known as Spain or Spain Rodriguez, was an American underground cartoonist who created the character Trashman. His experiences on the road with the motorcycle club, the Road Vultures M.C., provided inspiration for his work, as did his left-wing politics. Strongly influenced by 1950s EC Comics illustrator Wally Wood, Spain pushed Wood's sharp, crisp black shadows and hard-edged black outlines into a more simplified, stylized direction. His work also extended the eroticism of Wood's female characters. Robert Crumb and Rodriguez share influences.
Spain Rodriguez has 5 screen credits in a career dating back to 1989. Signature works include Bad Attitude: The Art of Spain Rodriguez, Trashman: The Art of Spain Rodriguez, Crumb. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.
