ROBOT TERROR!

~~ Click on the image for biggie ~~

Hello Pulp Friends,

   Inspired by the COLONIZED cover I posted this past Sunday, I decided to make this a ALIENS WEEK! So expect to see Martians (and other creatures from Outer Space) to land right here on Pulp Sunday all this week.

   Today we showcase those bad bad Martians from the classic TOPPS' MARS ATTACKS, which is having a revival as comicbook series thanks to IDW.
   I was asked to do a variant cover for #6 and had the option to be inspired by the classic set of cards by participating to the "30 seconds later" initiative. Pretty self-explanatory, the cover has to happen 30 seconds later of any of the scenes from the original cards.
   I went with ROBOT TERROR, (card #32) because, ya know, Aliens and Robots! :D

   Below the original card from the 50s, and above my 30 seconds later (and cover for #6).

 

FUN!

Check back for more Aliens Week!

Cheers,
Francesco

COLONIZED!

~~ Click on the image for biggie ~~

Hello Pulp Friends,

It has been a while I haven't featured some good ole Sci-Fi art here on the blog.
I am very happy to fix that by sharing this recent Var Cover I did for Chris Ryall's and Drew Moss' "THE COLONIZED", their sci-fi book that is an homage to classic '50s genere book featuring (get ready) ZOMBIES VS ALIENS! :D
FUN!
Issue 4 (with this cover) will be on sale in June from IDW.

Have a wonderful Pulp Sunday, everyone :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Martian Pulp Sunday!!!

~~ Click on the image for biggie ~~

Hello Pulp Friends,

Honoring the landing of NASA's Curiosity rover on Mars, I am doing a Martian themed Pulp Sunday :)

Above is the classic "INVADERS FROM MARS" and following are in the order:
- a made up "MARS ATTACKS!" Topps' style card titled "The Welcoming"
- 2 of my personal favorite covers I did for WARLORD OF MARS - Fall of Barsoom mini
- a movie poster style for Doctor Who's special episode "THE WATERS OF MARS"

And if you can, check out my silly-toons, funny strips on my sketchblog which chronicle the adventures of Curiosity in the series titled "LIFE ON MARS" :)

Have a wonderful Pulp Sunday, everyone :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Sci-Fi Matinee Saturday: FLASH GORDON!

Click on the image for the Bigger Movie Poster


Hello Pulp Friends :)

here's my latest (and last for now) Flash Gordon cover (for #8).

These have been all fun to draw and I am not done with sci-fi yet: as mentioned earlier, I am planning to develop and bring to life my PHANTOMS OF SPACE stories, so expect more laser guns and deep space from me very soon :)

Meanwhile here is the solicits for Flash Gordon #8

FLASH GORDON – ZEITGEIST #8
Written by ERIC TRAUTMANN Art by DANIEL INDRO
Covers by ALEX ROSS (main), FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA (1:10)

While exploring the subterranean labyrinths beneath the Imperial Palace of Mongo, Dr. Hans Zarkov—brilliant scientist and engineer—finds himself trapped in his own past, courtesy of an insidious trap left behind by Ming the Merciless. Is even Zarkov’s genius enough to free himself from this deadly snare?

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2012 Francesco Francavilla
*Prints of the PHANTOMS OF SPACE poster available if interested.
PHANTOMS OF SPACE & Artwork © 2012 Francesco Francavilla

Sci-Fi Double Feature: PHANTOMS OF SPACE & FLASH GORDON #7

Click on the image for the Bigger Movie Poster



Hello Pulp Friends :)

As promised, here's another Double Feature, after the Western and the Horror of yesterday, today it's all about old pulp sci-fi with a new PHANTOMS OF SPACE and the most recent FLASH GORDON cover.

Hope you enjoy the show and I hope you will be happy to hear I decided to give PHANTOMS OF SPACE a go, so stay tuned for more :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2012 Francesco Francavilla
*Prints of the PHANTOMS OF SPACE poster available if interested.
PHANTOMS OF SPACE & Artwork © 2012 Francesco Francavilla

"PHANTOMS OF SPACE" (1958?)

Click on the image for the Bigger Movie Poster



Hello Pulp Friends :)

I came up with this classic, low budget (Italian maybe?) sci-fi movie for fun, but now its story is screaming to come to life from outer space: what do you guys think? Should I listen to that screaming voice from beyond and bring "PHANTOMS OF SPACE" to your screens (or shelves)? Pls let me know what you think :)

Oh, if I do, I am gonna need some popcorn ;)

Cheers,
Francesco

*Prints of the poster available if interested.

PHANTOMS OF SPACE & Artwork © 2012 Francesco Francavilla

Planet of DOOM!

Click on the above and below illo for LARGER views.

Hello Pulp Friends,

First please let me apologize for the missing KARA BOCEK episode this past Sunday: I was out of house most of the day and couldn't finish the page in time. To make up for that, if all goes smoothly, we my have double page next Sunday :)

Meanwhile here's my latest COMIC TWART contribution: "Johnny Recon" created by fellow Twartist Mitch Gerads and his good freind Scott Dillon.
This was fun to draw and reminded me of the good times I had while drawing Fear Agent a couple of years ago (Rick, when am I up again for a one shot? ;))
Pure Pulp Sci Fi Fun :D
Below the original inks before color and type treatment.

Cheers and stay warm,
Francesco



Artwork © 2010 Francesco Francavilla

Ro-Man Vs Mr Snuffleupagus?

A silly little sequence sparkled by my recent offerings to Pulp Sunday and to my sketchblog ;)
It's pretty clear who is gonna win this match ;)
Hope you get a laugh or two from it like I did :D

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2009 Francesco Francavilla.
"Watchers from Outer Space" © and TM 2009 Francesco Francavilla.

"Vultus Premens Belua" (1204 circa)

Hello, Pulp Friends,

as mentioned yesterday, this November will be dedicated to all those aliens out(er) there who try to conquer Earth (or let's say we prefer them evil ;))
The occasion is the premiere of the new "V" series on ABC, a series I very much look forward to, being a big fan of the 1980s first version with Marc Singer and Michael Ironside (among others).

To start, a little Vultus Premens Belua, found in a bestiarium from 1204 and in a series of successful movies in recent years ;)
Stay tuned for more "Watchers form Outer Space"!

Happy Pulp Sunday, everybody! :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2009 Francesco Francavilla.
"Watchers from Outer Space" © and TM 2009 Francesco Francavilla.

BLACK BEETLE Vs MAX MALONE ( poll - updated!)

Hello Pulp Friends,

last Sunday I shared a pulpish creation of mine that dates back to 15 years ago, MAX MALONE: I was wondering if I should take it to the next step and have it developed in the form of webcomics and you guys seemed excited about that idea.
Well, diggin through my things, I found this other guy I came up with about 3 years ago, BLACK BEETLE. Where MAX MALONE is more a sci-fi pulp noir, this is more in the vein of masked vigilante pulp in some sort of '40s/'50s settings, with some slight (40s/50s) sci-fi tone to it.

Now here's the idea: I know a few pulp fans visits this blog regularly, so I would like to do a poll. Since I am kinda busy with several projects, if I have time to develop a webcomic, which one you would like to see "sequentialized" first: Max Malone or Black Beetle? Let me hear it from you and thanks for the input :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Click on the teaser image above for the bigger version. The art is from 2006, the "dress-up titles" from today ;)

Edit: I added an updated teaser for MAX MALONE (below) to have a fair fight ;)



Edit: The generous response from you wonderful pulp aficionados pushed me to put up some more art to help to decide. :)
Here's another teaser for Black Beetle and look for more Max Malone later today or tomorrow.

Thank you all,
Francesco



Edit> And here is the new art for Max Malone, as promised. Sorry for the little delay but I had to wrap up issue 4 of GARRISON and that's exactly what I did this morning ;)
Please keep the voting comig - would love to hear from all of you :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Pulp Screen: "Phantom From Space", 1953

Hello Pulp friends,

Hope everyone is enjoying these Holidays :)

Before gettin' to the Holiday SPecial part 2 for the last of year (tune in as it's also the 100 post in Pulp Sunday, so it should be big, I hope ;)), here's another tribute to a less known Sci-Fi classic, here in its Italian dress (which I took as inspiration).
Directed by W. Lee Wilder, "Phantom From Space", from 1953.
Happy Sunday everyone :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Please Click on the sepia image for the full Technicolor image.

Pulp Screen: "The Man From Planet X", 1951

Hello Pulp friends,

I am probably going to tribute some more classic sci-fi movies so I guess that turns December in Pulp Sci-Fi month ;)

The original movie posters were announcing "the weirdest Visitor the Earth has ever seen". I am not sure if this is the weirdest, but it sure is the coolest in that Wally Wood kinda way :)
From 1951, directed by Edgar G. Ulmer and with Robert Clarke, Margaret Field, Raymond Bond, I give you "The Man From Planet X"!
Once agai, click on the sepia image for the full Technicolor image ;)

Enjoy! :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Pulp Sci-Fi Week: Amazing and Wonder Stories

I can't let this first Pulp Sci-Fi event go without mentioning the magazines that have been around since the '20s, that have been the cradle for so many famous Sci-Fi writers and many legendary fictional characters (including the freshly spotlighted Buck Rogers), and that have defined the Science Fiction as we know it today. The magazines I am talking about are Amazing Stories and Science Wonder Stories.

Amazing Stories was first published in New York back in April 1926. The antholgy format, collecting many short stories and novels, has been proven successful for years, even if the magazine has seen the end of his days just recently, in 2006, after 80 years of great stories that made all of us dream.

Science Wonder Stories (or simply Wonder Stories) was edited and published in 1930 by Hugo Gernsback, who was also the founder of Amazing Stories (but he lost control of it pushing him to create the new magazine). The ones showcased here are my humble tribute to recreate that kind of sense of fantastic and wonder you feel when looking at those covers of these pulp sci-fi magazines. They lack of the colors from those covers but I hope they don't lack of the magic :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Pulp Sci-Fi Week: Commando Cody

Hello pulp-friends,

Today installment of Pulp Sci-Fi week is dedicated to Commando Cody, a character relatively "younger" than the ones spotlighted in the past days, but that definitely has all the flavor of the ulp fiction we all love :)
I hope you all will forgive me if I borrow a little blurb (below) from Wikipedia as I am in the middle of a BIG project with tight deadline and could only find time to draw the illo above.
Hope you enjoy it :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Commando Cody was the hero in a 12-episode science-fiction serial made in 1952 by Republic Pictures entitled Radar Men from the Moon, which was followed up 1953 with the 12 episode Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe.

The strange character name "Commando Cody" was possibly an attempt to make children think they were going to see the adventures of Commander Corry, the hero of the ABC TV and radio series Space Patrol (1950–1955). The equally strange title "Sky Marshal of the Universe," was probably the studio's imitation of Corry's title, "Commander-in-Chief of the Space Patrol," proclaimed at the beginning of every Space Patrol radio and TV broadcast.

Pulp Sci-Fi Week: Buck Rogers

While surveying an abandoned mine, Rogers, a former United States Army Air Corps officer, falls into a coma after exposure to a leaking gas, and awakes in the twenty-fifth century. Together with his new comrades, the beautiful Wilma Deering and the intrepid Dr. Huer, he struggles to rid the world of evil warlords and "Mongol" hordes.
Created by writer Philip Francis Nowlan in 1928 for a couple of novels published on Amazing Stories, Anthony Rogers changed name in Buck Rogers when his stories were adapted in a comic strip format and published daily on newspapers.


Since then, the popularity of Buck Rogers has grown and grown and reached other media like radio shows (I might illustrate some of them later on ;)), novels, movies, tv series (famous the one from the '80s), and comics again, thanks to the recent move of Dynamite (a publisher well known to me ;)) licensing the character to bring it on the shelves again.
My little challange of the day was to try to make the classic (and a little silly) design of Buck's rocket ship from the '30s look cool. Let me know if I succeded, if you have a min to spare :)

Cheers,
Francesco