Sherlock Holmes Year One #6 Cover

~~ Click on the image for biggie ~~

Hello Pulp Friends,

For today's installment of COVER WEEK, here's my final cover for the Sherlock Holmes Year One mini. I am gonna miss drawing the Greatest Detective of all times, at least in the near future.
I hope you guys are picking up this book becuase it's a really entertaining read, Scott Beatty is doing it right :)

Covers by Francesco Francavilla, Aaron Campbell, Daniel Indro
Writer: Scott Beatty
Penciller/Inker: Daniel Indro

Captured by the Twelve Caesars Killer, Holmes, his reluctant partner Dr. John Watson, and the fetching Irene Adler fight to free themselves before the maniacal murderer completes his deadly dozen! But when the madman's identity is finally revealed, the greater horror may be what the Killer intends to accomplish with his terrible infamy! Will London survive?

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2011 Francesco Francavilla

Detective Comics #879 Cover

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Hello Pulp Friends,

Cover Week continues with DETECTIVE COMICS #879 cover.
This issue will be on sale in July (see solicitation details below)and again fully illustrated by yours truly :)
If you have been reading the latest issues (#875 in particular), you will recognize that item our beloved Commissioner is holding in his hand.

I am not saying anything else except don't forget to pick up Detective Comics #876 in stores today. It's the first part of a new 3-issue arc, HUNGRY CITY, that will reveal new villains in the Gotham landscape and will add more details to the James JR storyline.
Written by mastermind Scott Snyder and illustrated by Jock and David Baron :)

And here's the solicits for #879, on sale in July.
DETECTIVE COMICS #879
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA

For years, Jim Gordon has been tormented by the possibility that his son, James Jr., might be a killer. Tonight, he'll get the answers he's been after. But is the truth about James even darker than the Commissioner, or even Batman, could have guessed?

On sale July 13 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2011 Francesco Francavilla

The Storyteller, The Immortals, & PIGS

~~ Click on the image for poster size! ~~

Hello Pulp Friends,

Thanks to the several panels/announcements in San Francisco's WonderCOn this weekend, I can finally reveal a few more of the things that boil in my giant cauldron (sorry, I couldn't find a smaller pot at Macy's ;)).
All of these involve my good friend Nate Cosby (who is playing Editor and Writer duties) who kindly invited me to be part of such cool books. Thanks, Nate :)

First up: Jim Henson's THE STORYTELLER, an hardcover anthology inspired by Jim Henson's famous TV series, published by Archaia, and edited by Nate, who gathered quite a lineup of talents: Roger Langridge, Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, Jeff Parker, Paul Tobin, Colleen Coover, Brian Clevinger, Tom Fowler, Marjorie Liu, Evan Shaner, Jennifer Meyer, Katie Cook, Chris Eliopoulos, Ron Marz, Jim McCann, Janet Lee, myself and more.
I am writing and illustrating a short for this anthology and will make sure to give you more details when I am allowed. All i can say there is a little hint in the above little tribute poster I did for today's Pulp SUnday :)


~~ Click on the image for poster size! ~~

Another anthology, still to be published by Archaia and still edited by Nate, will be centered on classic mythology and will be based on The Immortals movie. More talents lined up here as well: Ben Templesmith, David Mack, Ron Marz, Dennis Calero, Jock, myself, and many others will bring short classic tales to life.
Once again, I am writing and illustrating a short and, again, will reveal more when it's time (Note - the above illo is just an old drawing I did for 300 :))


~~ Click on the above image for larger view ~~

And then there is PIGS, a new Image ongoing written by Nate and Ben McCool with interior art by newcomer Breno Tamura, SotoColor on color, Rus Wooton lettering and an amazing group of cover artists that include Jock, Amanda Conner, Humberto Ramos, Becky Cloonan, myself and more. Can't wait to share the cover I did for issue 2 :)
EDIT: Ok, above is my cover for issue 2 :) More details on my Sketchblog

Ok, I guess that should be it for now. Please lemme give a HUGE THANKS to all of you who picked up Detective Comics #875 this week and made it one of the most memorable moments of my making comics experience - so glad you all enjoyed reading it as much we did making it :)

Have a wonderful Pulp Sunday everyone!

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2011 Francesco Francavilla

Detective Comics #875 Preview

~ Click on the images for a larger size ~

Hello Pulp Friends,

Here's the first page of Detective Comics #875, out in every comic shop tomorrow.
Hope you guys enjoy it and don't forget to pick up your copy :)

Cheers,
Francesco

DETECTIVE COMICS #875
Written by Scott Snyder
Illustrated by Francesco Francavilla
Lettered by Jared K. Fletcher
Edited by Mike Marts, Janelle Asselin, Katie Kubert
Cover by Francesco Francavilla
“There are some cases that come screaming back at you…like phone calls in the night…”
For years, Jim Gordon has been haunted by the unsolved case of Gotham’s notorious
“Peter Pan Killer.” Now, armed with new evidence, Gordon is determined to put the case to rest.
But as he digs deeper, he’ll unearth a shocking discovery about his own past – a revelation that will shake him to the core. Skeletons will be exposed and secrets revealed in this special issue featuring art by Francesco Francavilla!

On sale March 30 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Artwork © 2011 Francesco Francavilla

A look inside Detective #875

Hello Pulp Friends,

Only 2 days to the release of Detective Comics #875, def the Scott Snyder/ Francesco Francavilla's MUST HAVE Detective book. I got my comps today and I can't wait for you all to dig into it :)

Today's offering: A look at a detail from a double spread in #875 and, below, the (half inked) layout of the spread.

Hope you guys enjoy it and don't forget to pick up your copy this Wed :)

Cheers,
Francesco


~ Click on the images for a closer look ~

DETECTIVE COMICS #875
Written by Scott Snyder
Illustrated by Francesco Francavilla
Lettered by Jared K. Fletcher
Edited by Mike Marts, Janelle Asselin, Katie Kubert
Cover by Francesco Francavilla
“There are some cases that come screaming back at you…like phone calls in the night…”
For years, Jim Gordon has been haunted by the unsolved case of Gotham’s notorious
“Peter Pan Killer.” Now, armed with new evidence, Gordon is determined to put the case to rest.
But as he digs deeper, he’ll unearth a shocking discovery about his own past – a revelation that will shake him to the core. Skeletons will be exposed and secrets revealed in this special issue featuring art by Francesco Francavilla!

On sale March 30 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Artwork © 2011 Francesco Francavilla

James JR. Revealed

~ Click on the images for a closer look ~

Hello Pulp Friends,

A week from today, on Wed March 30th, Detective Comics #875 will be in stores. It's, without doubts, the best issue I have done with Scott on Detective so far, and def one of the best book I have done in quite some time.

The story is self contained, so it can be read/enjoyed without needing to know that much (well, I am assuming everyone knows who Gordon is, and by now you may also know he has an estranged son, James JR. ;)). The book is only 22 pages but, trust me, it feels a 30 or more page long book. It's an excellent read and has a couple of pretty pictures in it as well ;)

Ok, enough gushuing about it, I wanted just to let you know I will be posting a few things until the book release next week. Hope you enjoy it and hope you will tell to your local comic shop to save a copy for you while you are shopping today or this week :)

Today's offering: the last splash page from Detective 874 teasing at the upcoming story in #875.

Cheers,
Francesco

DETECTIVE COMICS #875
Written by Scott Snyder
Illustrated by Francesco Francavilla
Lettered by Jared K. Fletcher
Edited by Mike Marts, Janelle Asselin, Katie Kubert
Cover by Francesco Francavilla
“There are some cases that come screaming back at you…like phone calls in the night…”
For years, Jim Gordon has been haunted by the unsolved case of Gotham’s notorious
“Peter Pan Killer.” Now, armed with new evidence, Gordon is determined to put the case to rest.
But as he digs deeper, he’ll unearth a shocking discovery about his own past – a revelation that will shake him to the core. Skeletons will be exposed and secrets revealed in this special issue featuring art by Francesco Francavilla!

On sale March 30 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Artwork © 2011 Francesco Francavilla

The BATMAN, 1935

~~ Click on the image for poster size! ~~

Hello Pulp Friends,

I have been messing with a Batman story set in the 30s for a while now, and decided to share some of the concept art I have done (above). Especially now with the news coming from ECCC that DC is planning a new season of Wednesday Comics, I feel even more inspired to develop a little more this story, fully packed work schedule permitting. ;)
Speaking of, I hope you guys picked up Detective Comics #874 last week: it's getting tons of supernice reviews from everyone and that makes me very happy because Scott and I did even better in #875, out later this month. More on that when we get closer to the release :)

Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy the above poster (click for the bigger size) and wish you all a wonderful Pulp Sunday :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2011 Francesco Francavilla

Sherlock Holmes Year One #5 Cover

~~ Click on the image for biggie ~~

Hello Pulp Friends,

I can finally reveal my cover for the issue 5 of Sherlock Holmes Year One.
Hope you guys enjoy it :)

I also hope you guys picked up Detective Comics #874 this past Wed: it's the first of 2 issues written by mastermind Scott Snyder and entirely illustrated by me and both focus on Gordon and his "prodigal" son James Jr.
Critics and fans seem to LOVE it, so if you haven't picked up yet, please do so: it really is a good read :)
Also I will be at ECCC this next weekend: details coming soon, but if you are attending, pls feel free to stop by and say hi :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2011 Francesco Francavilla

The Stakeout

~ Click on the images for a closer look ~

Hello Pulp Friends,

How about a little piece of Noir courtesy of Commissioner Gordon and Detective Comics #875? :)
Hope you guys dig the sneak peek at the layout for this page.

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2011 Francesco Francavilla

Detective #874 & #875

~ Above: The making of #874 cover: layout & inks - Click on the images for a closer look ~

Hello Pulp Friends,

this week has seen the release of Detective Comics #873 with part 3 (and conclusion) of the Black Mirror story, Scott Snyder's and Jock's first critically acclaimed arc on Detective. If you haven't picked up your copy yet, you better do it soon cause they are selling out (once again!)

With the book out, I have read about lots of people wondering what happened to the co-feature, "SKELETON CASES", I was illustrating. Part 3 was supposed to be in 873 but it wasn't, fans noted. Some wondered if the co-feature has been killed because of the new format and reduced price tag of $2.99.
To help to clear some of this confusion, I thought to dedicate this post to SKELETON CASES and what's coming up in Detective.


~ Above: An intense moment between Jim Gordon and his estranged son James Jr. ~

With the new format there was no room for the initially planned co-feature in 873. For that reason we all decided to move pt 3 of Skeleton Cases to #874. So, next issue (out in February), will see the conclusion of SKELETON CASES in the first half of the book, and the second half will have a little Batman tale - featuring guest star Red Robin - that is a bridge between the first and second Snyder-Jock arc.
The whole issue is written by Scott and entirely illustrated by me.


~ Above: Batman and special guest Red Robin study the adversary... ~

And in March we will have Detective #875, (see below) a full issue dedicated to a Jim Gordon story, a "hardcore cold case mystery" that has been haunting him since Jr was a little kid. And speaking of Jr., we will find out more about him in this issue.
This will be written by Scott and - again - illustrated entirely by me.
I read the script and it's a chilling story, so you guys don't want to miss it, trust me :)

Detective #876 in April will see the first part of a 3 issue arc with Jock and David Baron back to art duties: hints of this new arc are in the short story that will be in Detective 874 next month.

I (and Gordon and Jr.) will be back on the pages of Detective after this arc.

And that's it for now: hope you guys have a clearer idea of what's ahead and hope to see you on board for the whole run: Scott is a talented writer and it's making this a hell of a run: Jock, David, and I are all happy to be on board with this and you can tell :)

Hope you enjoy the making of the cover for 874 above and below are the solicits for #874 and #875.

Have a wonderful Sunday, everyone :)

Cheers,
Francesco

DETECTIVE COMICS #874
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA

~~ Click on the image for biggie ~~

Gordon faces James Jr. in the conclusion of the 3-part SKELETON CASES arc. Meanwhile Batman - and guest star Red Robin - gets a little taste of a new menace for Gotham City while still dealing with the after effects of the Black Mirror arc!

On sale FEBRUARY 23 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

DETECTIVE COMICS #875
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA

~~ Click on the image for biggie ~~

“There are some cases that come screaming back at you…like phone calls in the night…”
For years, Jim Gordon has been haunted by the unsolved case of Gotham’s notorious
“Peter Pan Killer.” Now, armed with new evidence, Gordon is determined to put the case to rest.
But as he digs deeper, he’ll unearth a shocking discovery about his own past – a revelation that will shake him to the core. Skeletons will be exposed and secrets revealed in this special issue featuring art by Francesco Francavilla!

On sale March 30 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Artwork © 2010 Francesco Francavilla

Happy Pulpy New Year!

~~ Click on the image for biggie ~~

Hello Pulp Friends,

I wanted to wish you all a Happy Pulpy New Year! Hope it will be a healthy a good one for you all and your families :)

2011 looks like is gonna be another busy year for me (which is always a good thing, yes? ;)) so here's a little peek at what's coming in the first half of it. Hope you guys tune in all along and will enjoy most of it :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2010 Francesco Francavilla

Black Panther Book of the Month!

Hi guys,

while I am still happy for all the praise that my run on Detective (with those talented Snyder and Jock fellas) is getting, I found out today that in the new Wizard Magazine (now on the shelves) my other BIG-TWO debut book with writer David Liss, Black Panther Man Without Fear #513, has been picked as "BOOK OF THE MONTH" in the PULL LIST section of the magazine by the Wizard staff.
The book will be in stores on December 15th - mark your calendars!
If you have been enjoying my noirish art on Commissioner Gordon, well you are gonna get 23 pages of down to the street noir/pulp action in here too :)
Will share some preview when we get closer to the release.

Cheers,
Francesco

All images © 2010 Francesco Francavilla.
Black Panther ™ and © 2010 Marvel Entertainment

Everyone Loves Detective

(click on the above image for a bigger reading experience ;))

Hi guys,

Detective Comics #871 (with the brand new team of Scott Snyder on the story, and Jock, David Baron, and me on art chores, all under the great supervision of editors Mike Marts and Janelle Siegel) come out last week and since then reviews are poring in and the verdict seems to be the same: Detective is the Bat book you must buy :D
Check these reviews out :) (click on links to read the reviews)

iFanboy: 5 out of 5!

TECHLAND: I like the new look of Detective a lot--two schools of European cartooning in just one book!

CBR

Crave OnLine: t’s hard to read Detective Comics #871 and not feel like a new era is upon us. With only one issue, Snyder and the team of artists have established a very new take on Dick Grayson, Jim Gordon, and their relationship with Gotham City. If you don’t love absolutely everything the new Detective Comics, there’s something fundamentally wrong with the way you view art.

Newsarama Best Shots Extra

Multiversity Comics: I can't say enough about this book. From top to bottom, from the writing to the art to the editing to everything else, this book is simply one of the best big two superhero books of the year. 9.8

The Outhousers

Read/Rant: A-

Comics And... : Overall Grade A + - If you aren’t reading this book you are missing what could become a classic.

Paradox Comics Group: the Vertigo sophistication and sensibility being applied to the DC Universe [..] 8/10

Comic Attack!: I highly recommend it!

The Weekly Crisis: Must Read. You are going to want to be in on the ground floor for what’s going to be a great year for Batman. this reads like Dashiell Hammett’s take on the character and the city.

Weekly Comic Book Review: Snyder “get’s it” and is writing a uniquely Dick Grayson detective story. Jock and Francavilla are delivering awesome art. Must read! A-

Gotham Knights Online: Jock and Francesco’s artwork matches Snyders writing perfectly and [..] puts Detective Comics at the top of the pile for Batman titles currently out there. 5/5

Heroes Online: Atmospheric and intelligent, an excellent start for this title’s new direction.

There is plenty more reviews posted in the last days and more coming out this week, but you get the idea... :)
Thanks everyone for the support: I, Scott, Jock, David, Mike, Janelle, and all the DC COmics gang really appreciate all the bat-love you guys are throwing our way :)

Cheers,
Francesco

All images © 2010 Francesco Francavilla.
Detective Comics ™ and © 2010 DC Comics

The Making of Detective Comics #874 Cover

~~ Click on the image for biggie ~~

Hello Pulp Friends,

As promised, here is the "making of DC #874 Cover" with a little commentary to go with I prepared for the official DC Universe blog (thanks to Alex Segura for always doing such a great job in updating all the DC fans about current and upcoming books :))

"This is the cover of the first full feature dedicated to Commissioner Gordon you will see during 2011 on Detective Comics. That’s right, the back-up features will disappear after #873 to become full feature every 3-4 issue of Jock’s Batman feature. In Scott’s master plan, the Commissioner Gordon story is strictly correlated to what happens in the Batman story, so we thought this was the best way to get the two storylines run to parallel while still adapting to the new 20 pages format.

As always I try to do, I wanted this cover to reflect a bit the story inside issue 874, so I asked Scott for a brief synopsis and for what he would like to see on the cover. Once acquired that info, I produced the 2 layouts you see here. Everyone at DC loved the first concept (which was my favorite too) but we wanted to make sure there was some of the elements of the second concept too (the search in the woods). So I added some foliage to the insert image with the doll and voila’, you got the cover you saw yesterday.

Little trivia: the eye missing from the doll and ending up as something the kid is toying with was something I came up while working on the final inks (concept and pencils had the doll with both eyes - as you can see from the image below - and the kid just playing with a stick)

Hope you guys enjoy it and don’t forget to pick up Detective #871 at the end of November"


~~ Click on the image for biggie ~~

Hope you all had a wonderful Pulp Sunday and pls don't forget to pickup Detective #871 on the 24th of this month :)

CHeers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2010 Francesco Francavilla

Detective Comics #874 Cover

~~ Click on the image for biggie ~~

Hello Pulp Friends,

Cover Week continues with DETECTIVE COMICS #874 cover.
Tune in tomorrow for a "making of DC #874 Cover" look and some extra content about my work on Detective :)
Meanwhile here's the solicits for 874 (as they will appear in December Previews for Feb release) and don't miss the first issue of the new Detective arc (#871) by Scott Snyder, Jock & David Baron on the feature, and me on the Commissioner Gordon co-feature, on sale on Nov 24th, only 2 weeks from now :)

DETECTIVE COMICS #874
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA

“There are some cases that come screaming back at you…like phone calls in the night…”
For years, Jim Gordon has been haunted by the unsolved case of Gotham’s notorious
“Peter Pan Killer.” Now, armed with new evidence, Gordon is determined to put the case to rest.
But as he digs deeper, he’ll unearth a shocking discovery about his own past – a revelation that will shake him to the core. Skeletons will be exposed and secrets revealed in this special issue featuring art by Francesco Francavilla!

On sale FEBRUARY 23 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2010 Francesco Francavilla

Skeleton Cases

~~ Click on the above and below images for a bigger view ~~

Hello Pulp Friends,

with great excitement I can finally reveal that I will be part of the new Detective Comics creative team, along with talented writer Scott "American Vampire" Snyder, talented artist Jock (of Losers fame and phenomenal cover artist of one of my fave book, SCALPED), talented colorist David Baron, and super editor Mike Marts and assistant editor Janelle Siegel.
I will be drawing the co-feature focusing on Commissioner Gordon and a mysterious but dangerous figure from his past. It's gonna be a thrilling arc!

Couldn't be more excited about this.

Here's a link tot he DC annoucement and below is a shot Gordon story I did for the occasion :)

Book is slated for November relase: will make sure to give more details as we get closer :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2010 Francesco Francavilla.
Detective Comics ™ and © 2010 DC Comics. All rights reserved.