Sunday, January 30, 2011

Detective #874 & #875

DETECTIVE COMICS #874 Cover
DETECTIVE COMICS #874 Cover
~ 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.

DETECTIVE COMICS #874 Cover
~ 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.

DETECTIVE COMICS #874 Cover
~ 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
DETECTIVE COMICS #874 Cover
~~ 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
DETECTIVE COMICS #875 Cover
~~ 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

Sunday, January 23, 2011

"Lone Ranger: Death of Zorro" #2 Cover

Lone Ranger - Death of Zorro #2 Cover
~~ Click on the image for biggie ~~

Hello Pulp Friends,

Today's offering is my second cover for Dynamite's mini "Lone Ranger: Death of Zorro".
Been pretty busy lately with the funnybooks: currently working on a Detective issue (I will be fully illustrating both issues 874 and 875) and getting ready to start on another Black Panther issue.
I have a couple of other projects in development (creator owned projects) I can't wait to tell you guys about in detail (not sure when I can, but I can't wait ;)).

So, busy but pretty excited by all these books :)

Enjoy the cover and have a wonderful Pulp Sunday everyone :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2010 Francesco Francavilla

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Happy Birthday, Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe
~~ Click on the image for bigger size! ~~

Today is the birthday of one of the greatest writers of thriller and horror ever: Edgar Allan Poe!
And as many of you Pulp Sunday friends know, I am a huge fan of Poe. I wish my current schedule allowed me more time to do a proper tribute, but I managed to do a quick - and a bit fun - tribute to the Mask of Red Death (below) and also found an old commission I don't think I have ever posted her eon the blog (above).
Hope you guys dig it and clebrate EAP's birthday by reading some of his tales :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2011 Francesco Francavilla

Edgar Allan Poe and the Mask of Red Death
~~ Click on the image for bigger size! ~~

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

¡More Hombres!

Coming in 2011
~~ Click on the image for bigger size! ~~

Hola Pulp Amigos,

As promised, here's another teaser from one of my creator owned projects/books I am planning to launch in 2011. These are studies and aren't necessarily final designs (they might end up into the book) :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2011 Francesco Francavilla

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Coming in 2011

Coming in 2011
~~ Click on the image for bigger size! ~~

Hola Pulp Amigos,

A little teaser from one of my creator owned projects/books I am planning to launch in 2011. Sorry if I can't tell you more right now, but I hope you guys enjoy the teaser art and have a wonderful Pulp Sunday :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2011 Francesco Francavilla

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Black Panther Layouts

Black Panther TMWF #513 Layouts
~~ Click on the above and below images for the preview ~~

Hello guys,

Black Panther TMWF #514 come out yesterday and early reviews are all agreeing: this new arc of Hell's Kitchen is a good one :)
For those who enjoy the "making of" I am posting some layouts from issue 513 (click on the above image).
Click on the below image for a 9 pages preview plus cover. Hope you guys pick up the book an enjoy the read :)

Black Panther TMWF #514 Preview


Here's MARVEL solicts for it:

Luke Cage guest stars as T'Challa's new adventure in NYC continues!

The former King of Wakanda has sworn to protect the mean streets of Hell's Kitchen, and while battling the mob is one thing, how does he stop a killer targeting innocent people?

It's a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, as T'Challa hunts ruthless new crime lord Vlad the Impaler, while Vlad concocts a desperate and bloody scheme to entrap the mysterious new vigilante that's ruining his plans.

T'Challa learns what it really means to be a man without fear.

Story by David Liss
Art by Francesco Francavilla
Cover by Simone Bianchi, Simone Peruzzi

Price: $2.99



Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2011 Francesco Francavilla.
All Characters ™ and © 2010 Marvel Characters, Inc. All rights reserved.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Green Hornet Year One #12 & Lone Ranger/Zorro #1 Covers

Green Hornet Year One #12 Cover
~~ Click on the image for biggie ~~

Hello Pulp Friends,

Let's start a new year of pulp goodness with a double cover post that we can safely title: "Family Business" :)
Above is the cover for issue 12 of Matt Wagner's Green hornet Year One, which concludes the second arc of this critically acclaimed tale of the first year of operation of the GH and Kato.
And to keep it in the "family" the second cover (below) is for Green Hornet's gran gran pa: The Lone Ranger, here in the first crossover with another favorite of mine (and yours): Zorro.
Kato Origins #10 Cover
~~ Click on the image for biggie ~~
The crossover is a 4 issue mini written by Ande Parks and titled, sadly, "Death of Zorro". Don Diego is here in his late 60s and will ask for Lone Ranger help when things go bad.
Since Dynamite solicited the book, I read a lot of people thinking this mini means no more ZORRO YEAR ONE.
No worries, this is a completely different story, and last time I talked with Matt, he is still planning to pick up from were we left in issue 14. Zorro Year One is on hiatus but is not over :)

Have a wonderful Pulp Sunday everyone :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2010 Francesco Francavilla

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Happy Pulpy New Year!

Coming in 2011
~~ 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