PULP TRIPLE FEATURE! The Shadow, The Spider, and MASKS!

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Hello Pulp Friends,

   Today we have a TRIPLE PULP FEATURE with The Shadow, The Spider, and MASKS! :)

  MASKS is the miniseries featuring all of the classic pulp heroes in one book: Shadow, Spider, Zorro, Green Hornet, Kato, you name it and it will probably be in there :)
I was fortunate enough to provide a variant cover for the first issue and I was very happy to be asked to do some more covers, like the one for #7 above.


   In addition, above and below are the newest covers for THE SHADOW and THE SPIDER: all these books are slated to be released in May, so make sure to have them on your pull list: good writing (from dear friends Chris Roberson and David Liss) and great art make these a no-to miss addition to your pulp reads.



Have a wonderful Pulp Sunday, everyone, and don't forget to pick up Black Beetle #2 this coming Wednesday! :)

Cheers,
Francesco

PULP TRIPLE FEATURE! The Shadow, The Spider, and The Beetle

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Hello Pulp Friends,

   To make up for the missing post last Sunday (blame those deadlines!), here's another TRIPLE Feature featuring The Shadow, The Spider, and my own Black Beetle! :)

   Above and below are the covers for The Shadow #13 and the Spider #11 (both out in April). Both these series are doing really well, and that's a good thing because they both have strong creative teams behind and they are helping bringing the PULPS  back in everyone's hands.
   Speaking of strong creative team, look for the upcoming THE SHADOW YEAR ONE, written by dear friend Matt Wagner (so you know it's gonna be pretty darn good) and drawn excellently by Wilfredo Torres.

   And above is a sneak peek at THE BLACK BEETLE NO WAY OUT #2 used as ad by Dark Horse with a series of quotes praising #1 that came out last week and it's pretty much sold out (or close to) everywhere.
   Can't wait for you guys to dig into issue 2, out in stores in about 3 weeks :)



Have a wonderful Pulp Sunday, everyone :)

Cheers,
Francesco

PULP Double Feature! The SHADOW and The SPIDER!

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Hello Pulp Friends,

Time for another PULP Double Feature, this time with two of our favorite (and very old acquaintances here at Pulp Sunday) heroes: The Shadow and the Spider.

Above you can see the cover for issue 12 of The SHadow, and below the cover for #10 of the Spider, both issue will be in stores in March from Dynamite Comics.



Have a wonderful Pulp Sunday, everyone :)

Cheers,
Francesco

PULP Triple Feature! The SHADOW ~ The BLACK BEETLE ~ The SPIDER!

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Hello Pulp Friends,

Time for another TRIPLE Feature featuring The Shadow, The Spider, and that new guy, The Black Beetle! :)

Above and below are the covers for The Shadow #11 and the Spider #9 (both out in February) and a couple of new lobby card I did for The Black Beetle #1, featuring a quote by dear friends MATT WAGNER (remember our Zorro and Green Hornet runs?) and STEVE NILES (my partner in crime on the adaptation of Frazetta's DRACULA MEETS WOLF-MAN)

All these 3 titles are in this month's Previews, including my own BLACK BEETLE #2: please pre-order #1 as well, since there is still time to do so - the success of the book will depend by those numbers, so I can't stress enough :)




Have a wonderful Pulp Sunday, everyone :)

Cheers,
Francesco

The SHADOW ~ The BLACK BEETLE ~ The SPIDER! A PULP Triple Feature

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Hello Pulp Friends,

Today we have a TRIPLE Feature of three Pulp icons (well, Black Beetle sure hopes to become one ;)).

I give you the covers for The Shadow #10 and the Spider #8  and a new lobby card I did for The Black Beetle #1, featuring a quote by dear friend Rick Remender (my partner in crime on SORROW and other books like FEAR AGENT and SEA OF RED, now acclaimed writer of the new relaunched Captain America)


All these 3 books are in this month Previews and once again I invite you to pre-order them, especially my own BLACK BEETLE #1: the success of it will depend by those numbers, so I can't stress enough :)

And here is the solicits for issue 1.

THE BLACK BEETLE: NO WAY OUT #1 (of 4)
Francesco Francavilla (W/A/Cover)
On sale Jan 16. FC, 32 pages $3.99

Black Beetle’s investigation of two local mob bosses is interrupted when a mysterious explosion murders them and a pub full of gangsters—taking out most of Colt City’s organized crime in one fell swoop. Who could pull off such a coup, and what danger might that murderous bomber do to Colt City and Black Beetle?



Last but not least, a heartfelt THANKS goes to all the Veterans out there: Happy Veteran's Day!

Have a wonderful Pulp Sunday, everyone :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Pulp Double Feature: THE LONE RANGER & THE SPIDER

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Hello Pulp Friends,

Time for another Double Feature here on Pulp Sunday.
Here's my covers for THE LONE RANGER #12 an THE SPIDER #7, both in stores in December.

THE LONE RANGER #12 is written by Ande Parks with Art by Esteve Polls
Here's what you need to know about this story:
The epic conclusion of the Native Ground arc. The Lone Ranger has traveled through Indian lands in search of a healer for his friend Tonto. Now, the healer has been found, and she is not at all what the Ranger expected. Has the Ranger come all this way just to watch his friend die? The battle for Tonto's life and soul will be resolved. Your understanding of this iconic character will be forever changed.

THE SPIDER #7 is written by David Liss with Art by Ivan Rodriguez
Here's what you need to know about this story:
NEW STORY ARC! Police Commissioner Kirkpatrick lies dead. His wife grieves, and a twisted killer stalks the city. The Spider has inadvertently set into motion the chain of events that leads to his friend’s death, and now he’s out for bloody vengeance – Spider style! But will Richard Wentworth be able to resist the grieving window when she’s the woman he loves? It’s a game-changing issue of the neo-pulp sensation.

Have a wonderful Pulp Sunday, everyone :)

Cheers,
Francesco

THE SHADOW Double Feature! Introducing MASKS!!!

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Hello Pulp Friends,

here's a couple of pulpy covers that will hit the stores in November.

The bottom one is the cover for #8 of THE SHADOW, which will see our hero bringing some action in the alley of Paris, France :)

The top one is for what it might be one of the coolest projects that are coming your way.
Written by my dear friend Chris Roberson and illustrated (for the first issue at least) by Alex Ross, MASKS will see some of the top Pulp heroes joining forces (and guns): this promises nothing good for the criminal underworld, doesn't it? :)

Hope you enjoy these covers/illos (pls drop a note if you do - this place got really quiet lately ;)) and I wish you all a wonderful Pulp Sunday :)

BONUS QUESTION: Next Sunday (August 26th) will mark the 5th anniversary for PULP SUNDAY: should I put together something special to celebrate? 

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2012 Francesco Francavilla 

SDCC & TR!CKSTER 2012 FF Full Schedule

Hey guys,

First: my most recent cover for THE SPIDER to celebrate this Pulp SUnday.
And following is my entire schedule for this year SDCC (or CCI) and TR!CKSTER shows. Hope to see you guys there in SD: looks like it's gonna be GOOD time :)

~~~~

Thursday, July 12


10-11am
SIGNING at DC Booth #1915 - bring your Black Mirror HCs or Swamp Thing #10 issues by to get them signed.

1-2pm:
Dark Horse Panel: Powered by Creators, Room 23ABC
An In-Depth Look at the Best in Creator-Owned Comics— Just over 25 years ago, Dark Horse arrived with a different agenda than any other publisher in comics. The young company was founded on the belief that comics creators should have the option to retain the rights to their own work, and today it continues to be a highly fertile breeding ground for new characters and concepts. Self-publishing sensation Sam Humphries introduces Dark Horse publisher Mike Richardson, along with a cast of top talent from around the industry. Expect exclusive announcements, and much, much more!
FF: A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT coming out from this panel, so make sure to be there :)

3-4 pm 
SIGNING at Dark Horse Booth #2615 Creator-Owned Signing with Eric Powell (The Goon), Francesco Francavilla (The Black Beetle), Matt Kindt (MIND MGMT), Tony Puryear and Erika Alexander (Concrete Park), and Sanford Greene (Rotten Apple)

4-5pm:
SIGNING at CBLDF Booth #1920

~~~~~~

Friday, July 13

10-11am
>>> Secret Project & Con Exclusive Merchandise Signing – Project & Items To Be Announced & Tweeted at Show
FF: make sure to check my twitter feed (@f_francavilla) at 10am for details on the what and where!

12-1 pm SIGNING at MARVEL Booth #2329

2-4pm
Trickster Symposium
NEW LOCATION!!! Wine Steals/Proper, 795 J Street

Get tickets and information for all Trickster Symposia and events at http://trickstertrickster.com/events/symposia/

THE ART WORKSHOP
Afternoons at TR!CKSTER will feature THE ARTISTS’ WORKSHOPS, a series of informal demonstrations by a gathering of today’s top visual storytellers. Designed to allow for up-close-and-personal demonstrations of technique and method, these workshops will feature artists creating original works on-site and in the moment, from watercolor and acrylic to pencil and ink. Work might include actual comics pages being produced, thumbnails, or original paintings that might be used for production. Some work will be available for sale as its produced, some just for demonstration, but these workshops have been hailed as some of the more memorable experiences at TR!CKSTER. Make sure to include this experience in your schedule this year!
Demonstrating artists will include  JILL THOMPSON (Scary Godmother),  JIM MAHFOOD (L.A. Inkstains), FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA (Black Beetle, Sorrow, Garrison), FABIO MOON (BPRD, Casanova), SCOTT MORSE (Strange Science Fantasy, BRAVE), ARMAND BALTAZAR (The Collidescape Chronicles, Pixar designer), and an assortment of other top visual storytellers from comics, film, and illustration backgrounds. Artists will vary daily.

PERFECT FOR: artists and aspiring artists in all fields; anyone looking to explore new media and technique/method

~~~~

Saturday, July 14


5-6 pm
SIGNING at DC Booth #1915

7.30 pm 
CBLDF Art AuctionA first look of preview images is available at http://tinyurl.com/CBLDFauction or at the CBLDF’s booth, number 1920! This auction will take place at the Hilton Bayfront, in the Sapphire AB Room, at 7:30 pm. YOU DO NOT NEED A COMIC CON BADGE TO ATTEND. More art will be added up til the auction begins!
FF: I have two pieces in this auction Captain America and Golden Age Sandman (see below). Pls bid generously for a great cause.





Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2012 Francesco Francavilla

Pulp Double Feature: DARK SHADOWS & THE SPIDER

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Hello Pulp Friends,

Time for another Double Feature here on Pulp Sunday.
Here's my covers for DARK SHADOWS #11 an THE SPIDER #3.

Have a wonderful Pulp Sunday, everyone :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Pulp Double Feature: THE SHADOW & THE SPIDER + HeroesCon Schedule

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Hello Pulp Friends,

Here's my covers for THE SHADOW #6 an THE SPIDER #5* due in stores in September.
These are some of my favorite covers yet for this Pulp-tastic duo so I hope you dig them :)
Also a reminder that I will be at HEROES CON in CHarlotte this coming weekend. I will be sketching and have some Pulp Sunday and Black Beetle prints (among other stuff) - pls feel free to stop by and say hi. 
Here is all the details about panels and sketching.
 
HEROES CON - Charlotte June 22-24

I'm so excited to be back to one of my favorite shows ever, especially after missing it last year for health issues. A lot of people have asked me about my sketch availability and rates, so here's how I plan to handle that (subject to change if needed).

Location: I'm in Artist Alley, table 313 (see diagram below), near dear friends like the Immonens and Mike Mignola.



Panels: I'm on 2 panels Saturday & a panel on Sunday I hope you'll attend.

SATURDAY 11:00 am
Room 207ABCD
COVER me HELLBOY (Covers Mini-series #2)
How do you scare someone or repulse someone and at the same time entice them enough to buy your comic book?  That is the challenge that Hellboy and BPRD face every time they release a book.  Join Cap Blackard as he examines Hellboy Cover art with Mike Mignola, Becky Cloonan, Francesco Francavilla and Dave Johnson.  Stop reading this program and get your-bad-self up here NOW!!!!

SATURDAY 3:30 pm
Room 207ABCD
HEROES DISCUSSION GROUP #48
Batman: Black Mirror with Scott Snyder and Francesco Francavilla--Join our stalwart Discussion leader Jason Wheatley (sorry ladies--he’s single) as he sits down with Snyder and Francavilla, the creative team behind the best-selling Batman: Black Mirror storyline.  Bring lots of questions.  This is going to be really good!

SUNDAY 12.30 pm
Room 206
Comic Twart
Born on Twitter, several comic artists joined forces to draw a new character each week. Comic Twart is one of the longest running collectives of it’s kind! Visit them at www.comictwart.com/. Please join fellow “Twarters”:  Francesco Francavilla, Mitch Gerads, Andy Kuhn, Dan Panosian, and Ramón Pérez, Ron Salas and maybe more as they discuss this fabulous site and maybe create art right before your eyes!

Signings: I will sign books and prints (and thank you for supporting me by buying my stuff)! If you have a lot of books and there's a long line, I may ask you to let me do it in batches just to be considerate to others. There might be some scheduling for the signing: if so, I will make sure to have a sign at my table.



Convention Sketches: Yes, I will be doing sketches at the show. I can't do any sketching prior to the show due to deadlines.
The sketches will be 9x12 Bristol, single-figure, some background, done with pencils, inks and probably washes.
My prices are: Head/Bust - $60; Full-Figure $200.
I try to do 8-10 of these per day. It's done first-come, first-serve, so just come see me early to get on the list. I will do a new list every day. I take cash or credit card (assuming this new iPad gizmo works).
Below is a sample of a 9x12 full figure, fully inked sketch.

Prints & Books: I'm driving so I will have a larger variety of prints with me. I'll definitely have some Black Beetle, Poe, Lovecraft, Phantoms of SPace (above), USRA, and lots of other prints. I'll also have a limited quantity of my sketchbooks (Chiaroscuro Vol.1 & Schermoscuro Vol.1). If there's something specific you want, I will gladly pre-sell these to you and you can pick them up at the show and save some shipping. Just email me for details and availability.

Hope to see you at the show :)

Meanwhile, wish you all a wonderful Pulp Sunday :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Caught in the Web of THE SPIDER!

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Hello Pulp Friends,

Here's my cover for THE SPIDER #4 due in stores in August.

Writer (and my BLACK PANTHER partner in crime) David Liss and and artist Colton Worley are doing an excellent job on this book, so I hope you are picking it up (possibly the one with my cover ;))

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2012 Francesco Francavilla

THE SPIDER ~ Master of Men!

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Hello Pulp Friends,

Here's my cover for THE SPIDER #2* due in stores in June.
I really wanted to go all retro on this one - I hope I succeded.
I added the logo and the price tag (10 cents!) for this very post on Pulp Sunday, but they are not the final logo and price ;)

Also a reminder that I will be at ECCC in Seattle this coming weekend. I will be sketching and have some Pulp SUnday and Black Beetle prints (among other stuff) - pls feel free to stop by and say hi. All the details/info about ECCC here.

Have a wonderful Pulp Sunday, everyone :)

Cheers,
Francesco

*Not final logo and final price

Artwork © 2012 Francesco Francavilla

THE SPIDER #1 Cover Art

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Hello Pulp Friends,

I can finally reveal my cover for another great Pulp icon which is coming back in comicbook format: THE SPIDER!
The book will be written by my friend (and excellent Black Panther writer) David Liss , illustrated beautifully by Colton Worley (KATO: ORIGINS) and published by the good people at Dynamite.
Look for it in MAY on the shelves :)


~~ Click on the image for the Interview~~
Speaking of Pulp heroes, pls check this Black Beetle new interview I did with the cool people over at ComicsVine and that I just posted on The Black Beetle blog with some more sneak peek at NIGHT SHIFT :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2012 Francesco Francavilla

The Spider Dossier

Hello Pulp Friends,

still catching up on several projects I have going, so this week I wanted just to quickly introducea couple of elements you will find in the first Black Beetle Episode: Colt City PD Capt Will De Soto and the SPIDER Dossier. Click on the image for the bigger version.

Have a great Pulp SUnday everyone :)

Cheers,
Francesco

All images © 2009 Francesco Francavilla.
BLACK BEETLE & COLT CITY created by, ™ and © 2009 Francesco Francavilla

Double Feature: "The Spider's Web" & "The Locked Room Mystery"

Hello Pulp Friends,

Today double feature, like it was used to have a few years back in those matinee movie theaters :)

The above one is a real movie, from 1938, an attempt in putting the Spider in a real action movie. The result is something that reminds a bit the luchadores in the look (full head mask and web-ed cape ;). I decided to tribute that movie since we just recently were talking about the Spider, and that alternate look was cool and inspiring.

The next feature (below) is sadly just fruit of my imagination: I thought it would be cool to have a classic Agatha Christie mystery of the locked room murder with the Green Hornet.

Anyhow, hope you guys enjoy the features and please click on the images if you want to see them bigger :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Pulp Spotlight: The Spider (#2)

Hello Pulp Friends,

I know I have already dedicate a Pulp Spotlight to The Spider, but I thought that another illo showcasing our masked friend should be still well accepted while we wait to get out of the Halloween celebrations and get back to some old radio show.

Hope you guys dig it and wish you all a wonderful evening :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Pulp Spotlight: The Spider

New Feature: Pulp Spotlight

I have been illustrating several radio show of the Shadow in these past months, but it is my goal to cover also other characters of the Pulp Golden Age and other media as well. While I am planning to go back and do a few more Shadow radio episodes in the next few weeks, I would like to introduce a monthly new feature, called Pulp Spotlight. In this monthly appointment, I will provide a quick (illustrated) profile of other Pulp Heroes, based on suggestion you have been giving or on personal evergreen favorites.

Today's spotlight is dedicated to The Spider.


The Spider was initially created as competition for The Shadow. The Spider, Master of Men!!, appeared in a series of pulp magazines from October 1933 to December, 1943. Six writers using the pen name of Grant Stockbridge kept America spellbound with the epic battles of Richard Wentworth (as the Spider) against the crime world. The Spider was known to be quiet strong and sometime ruthless in bringing justice where needed, most of time killing the bad guys first and asking questions later ;)

Eventually the success of this pulp hero was enough to grant a couple of movies and a constant revival of his "adventures" through the 20th Century (lately brought back to pulp life by Moonstone in the form of illustrated prose).

A good starting point to know more about the Spider is, as usual, the related topic page on wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spider .

Hope everyone enjoy the illo and have a great Pulp Sunday!

Cheers,
Francesco