~~ FRANKENSTEIN ~~ The Creature Auction

Hey guys,

As some of you might know, my dear friend Steve Niles and his partner Monica Richards have suffered some devastating damage to their house in Austin last week due to flash floods.
The damage was so heavy that Steve and Monica had to relocate to temporary housing while they figure out what can be done to salvage the house (and their goods).

Steve has always been the first to jump into action when someone else needed help (both among peeps of the industry or national tragedies like last year's hurricane SANDY), so it's the right thing for all of us to help him out now that he is the one in need.

For this reason I decided to auction this artwork from my personal vault: the Creature of Frankenstein is a favorite of Steve's and a personal favorite of mine, so I thought it would be fitting to put this up for grabs.
This piece was done for Comic Twart and it's the very first "TWART" art I am putting on sale/auction. It's for a good cause so it needed something special.

Here's how it'll work (because I don't use eBay):

Original artwork is fully inked on 9x12" bristol board.
If you're interested, please type your bid in the comments feature. Bidding starts at $200 and goes up in $5 (or multiple of 5) increments.
Important: Paypal payment only ~ US bidders only at this time.

Bidding will end at 3pm EST (that's 12pm for the west-coasters) tomorrow, Sat, Oct 26, 2013.

Highest bidder* gets the art and I will be sending the money raised to Steve to help him with his recovery efforts.
I'm also covering the shipping cost for the winner.
This is a great chance to donate to a good cause and get some nice art in the process.

If you'd like to help more, here is the link to Steve Niles' store page where you can buy some of his books and help at the same time: http://www.steveniles.net/store.html

Cheers,
Francesco

*In case the highest bidder doesn't come through with payment, prize goes to 2nd highest bidder.
 Paypal payment only ~ US bidders only at this time.

Artwork © 2013 Francesco Francavilla.

FFlipping Through Previews ~ August 2013

Hello everyone! :)

Since I am getting busier than usual, I thought to start to do a monthly post about my work in the current PREVIEWS catalog. This will help you - and mostly me - to keep track of all the FF work that comes out every month. (that's why, pun intended, I titled this FFlipping Through Previews ;))
Today we go through August 2013 issue of PREVIEWS (#299, cover shown on the left), the one that you can find in stores right now and that presents all books that will ship in stores in October.

Let's start with the big NEWS everyone was waiting for: THE BLACK BEETLE IS BACK! (page 40)
YES! After a little break following the critically acclaimed first mini NO WAY OUT, The Black beetle is hitting the stores again with a second mini titled NECROLOGUE.
Above you can see my cover for the first (of five) issue that will be in stores on October 23rd.
You can read more about NECROLOGUE in this interview I did with CBR.

THE BLACK BEETLE: NECROLOGUE #1 (of 5)
WRITTEN BY: Francesco Francavilla
ART BY: Francesco Francavilla
COVER: Francesco Francavilla
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: 10/23

Someone’s murdering the citizens of Colt City, and there’s only one man who can stop this killing spree: the Black Beetle! 

But as Black Beetle investigates these grisly murders, questions arise about the masked detective: Is he a daring hero or a reckless vigilante? With a past veiled in the shadow of mystery, Black Beetle takes on a dark mission that will keep you screaming in the thrilling new miniseries Necrologue! 

* From the mind of Eisner Award–winning and New York Times best-selling creator Francesco Francavilla! 
* “The hard-boiled mystery hits the ground running and doesn’t pause to catch its breath.”—Nerdist 
* “Francesco Francavilla creates a fully realised pulp hero in the Black Beetle. Do we have a new Rocketeer here? It’s looking more and more like it.”—Bleeding Cool 

For TEEN+ readers.

And while we are in Dark Horse territory, on page 67 there is the first issue of Eisner nominee Alex De Campi new mini, GRINDHOUSE. I am providing the main covers for this horror, awesome new title.

GRINDHOUSE: DOORS OPEN AT MIDNIGHT #1
Writer: Alex de Campi
Artist: Chris Peterson
Colorist: Nolan Woodard
Cover Artist: Francesco Francavilla

Literature: overrated. Morality: expendable. Tonight is right for some over-the-top sex and violence! Bringing the flavor of midnight exploitation flicks to comics, Grindhouse delivers four two-issue gore operas, starting with “Bee Vixens from Mars,” pitting a one-eyed southern Latina deputy against lusty alien chicks bent on laying eggs in the entire male population!

* Covers by superstar artists Francesco Francavilla and Coop!
* First issue in a brand-new series of B-movie masterpieces!
* Eisner nominee Alex de Campi (Smoke, Ashes) is a writer to watch in 2013!

Let's continue with IDW (page 172) and with my favorite Doctor WHO:  the Tenth Doctor!

DOCTOR WHO PRISONERS OF TIME #10

(W) David Tipton, Scott Tipton
(A) David Messina
(CA) Francesco Francavilla, Dave Sim

Our yearlong celebration of Doctor Who's 50th anniversary continues! Brilliant! The Tenth Doctor takes the spotlight in this issue of a 12-part epic adventure featuring all 11 incarnations of the Doctor. 

The Doctor brings Martha to 1950s Los Angeles and the Griffith Observatory to give her a glimpse of Gallifrey, but soon encounters a film crew whose members are mysteriously disappearing!

And still with IDW, on page 174:

THE COLONIZED TPB

Writer: Chris Ryall,
Artist: Drew Moss,
Cover Artist: Francesco Francavilla   
Pub. Date: October 09, 2013
104 pages - Price: 17.99

A spaceship crashes into a separatist camp and manages to reanimate the dead! Now, cut off from any military aid, it's Aliens vs. Zombies vs. Militiamen in a carnage-filled tale from the writer/creator of Zombies vs Robots!


And now onto the lil MARVEL Previews (inserted catalog)

ANother BIG NEWS for this month is that I will be drawing a couple of issue of GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (October's and November's issues) :)

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY - pag.21 of Marvel Previews

(W) Brian Michael Bendis 

(A/CA) Francesco Francavilla

INFINITY TIE-IN
•  What will it take for Peter Quill to betray the entire Marvel Universe?
•  And if you don't know Eisner award winning artist Francesco Francavilla yet, you will after this comic! 

And now a few covers done for Marvel titles.

MIGHTY AVENGERS #2
AL EWING (W) • GREG LAND (A/C)
Variant Cover by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA
THOR BATTLE VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
INFINITY TIE-IN! new ongoing series!
• Proxima Midnight is killing New York City one block at a time…
• Luke Cage’s ad-hoc Avengers might not be able to stop her…
• And the one hero who can is at the bottom of the Mariana Trench.
• Think it can’t get worse? It can always get worse.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

AVENGERS ARENA #16
DENNIS HOPELESS (W)
KARL MOLINE (A)
COVER BY FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA
THOR BATTLE VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
“BOSS LEVEL” PART 3:
THE FINAL BATTLES BEGIN!
• Up on Murder World Island, it’s the surviving contestants in an all-out battle royale!
• Down in Arcade’s lair, it’s two other contestants vs. Arcade!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

Last but not least, I will be providing covers for the new FANTOMEX MAX mini.

FANTOMEX MAX #1 (of 4)
ANDREW HOPE (w) • SHAWN CRYSTAL (a)
Cover by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA
• The X-Men’s own International Super-Thief in his own MAX miniseries!
• Sexy secret agents, weird weaponry, vintage champagne and a damsel in distress.
• All the uncensored action you could ever want in a comic… and MORE!
32 PGS./Explicit Content …$3.99
THERE IS A STRICT NO OVERPRINT POLICY ON ALL MAX TITLES.

Ok, back in the big PREVIEWS now and on page 257 were we find the third book I will be doing interiors for this month: did a mentioned it was going to be a busy one? ;)

AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE #2

Writer: Sacasa, Roberto Aguirre
Artist: Francavilla, Francesco
Cover Artist: Francavilla, Francesco

New Ongoing Series! The horror continues as a zombified Jughead goes on a relentless hunt for brains in this shocking new series by Harvey Award-winning comic/screenwriter Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Stephen King's Carrie, Archie Meets Glee) and Eisner-winning artist Francesco Francavilla (Batman, Black Beetle). When he performs a despicable and frightening act in front of everyone at the Halloween dance, tensions start to rise and fears begin to mount-who will be next to join Jughead in the Afterlife? And what about those who are already infected? Be warned, kiddies, this one's not for the faint of heart!

Onto Dynamite Comics covers now!

Pag.300-301
THE SHADOW  #19

(W) Chris Roberson
(A) Giovanni Timpano
(CA) Alex Ross, Francesco Francavilla

A voice from the past raises questions that the Shadow cannot answer, and leads him away from the concrete canyons of New York City on a journey that will carry him halfway round the world, from the snowy wastes of Siberia to the steaming jungles of Guatemala. What is the secret of the girasol?

THE SPIDER VOL. 2: THE BUSINESSMAN FROM HELL TPB
Price: $19.99
Writer: David Liss
Artists: Ivan Rodriguez
Format: Softcover Trade Paperback
Page Count: 144+ pages

Who has the drive, the intelligence, and the means to destroy the Spider? The Fly, a playboy with all the resources of Richard Wentworth's masked alter-ego! Dedicated to criminal perfection, the Fly targets the outlaw hero and the city itself in the midst of a serial killer's rampage and terrorist attacks! Will the Spider overcome the Fly's machinations and prevent the wholesale slaughter of every police officer in the Big Apple.

Pag.304
DARK SHADOWS  #22

(W) Mike Raicht
(A) Nacho Temorio
(CA) Francesco Francavilla

Evil Barnabas and his family of vampires triumphant and growing larger?! Say it ain't so! Will anyone be able to stop them before they spill more innocent blood? And most importantly, can Julia and Willie return Barnabas' good soul back in his body before it is too late? If not, prepare to enter a new even Darker Age on the Collinwood Estate.

SHERLOCK HOLMES VOL. 2: THE LIVERPOOL DEMON TPB
Cover: Francesco Francavilla
Writer: Leah Moore, John Reppion
Artists: Matt Triano
Publication Date: October 2013
Format: Softcover Trade Paperback
Page Count: 120+ pages
With mauled bodies appearing on Liverpool streets, rumors circulate that the culprit might be an inhuman monster known as Spring Heeled Jack. Determined to debunk the city's superstitions, Holmes delves into the criminal underworld, piecing together an intricate and deadly puzzle. Meanwhile, Dr. Watson witnesses the creature with his own eyes, and sets out alone in pursuit. Will Holmes be able to save his dear friend from the perils beneath Liverpool?

And that's all (i think).

See you next month for a new "FFLIPPING". Until then I better get busy!

Cheers,

FF

SDCC 2013 FF Full Schedule

Hey guys,

following is my entire schedule for this year SDCC (or CCI). As you can see it;s a short one, that's because I had to make a shorter trip due to the many projects I am working on. Still it's plenty of opportunity if you want to stop by and say hi and/or bring your book for me to sign: it doesn't matter if I am at the Archie booth or the Dark Horse booth: if you want me to sign that Black Mirror HC or the Captain America and Black Widow collection, I will be happy to oblige :)

Also I don't have a schedule set and defined yet, but I might do a quick signing with MONDO and/or with TRICKSTER! on Friday. Make sure to follow me on Twitter at @f_francavilla for last minute updates on where and when if these signings will actually happen.

Hope to see you guys there in SD: looks like it's gonna be GOOD time :)

Thursday, July 18

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm, Room: 23ABC ~ Dark Horse: (Super)Powered by Creators,

The latter half of 2012 saw the return of two of Dark Horse's classic characters, Ghost and X, the appearance of new faces like Michael Avon Oeming's The Victories and Francesco Francavilla's The Black Beetle, and the reimagination a hero from yesteryear, Captain Midnight! Join Dark Horse publisher Mike Richardson, PR director Jeremy Atkins, and a cast of the industry's top talent, including Joe Casey (Catalyst, Sex), Francesco Francavilla (The Black Beetle), Duane Swierczynski (X, Two Past Midnight), Joshua Williamson (Captain Midnight, Masks and Mobsters), Tim Seeley and Mike Norton (Revival, The Occultist), along with comics newcomer Donny Cates (Buzzkill), for a look at an exciting new cast of characters!

4:30 pm - 5.00 pm Archie Booth at #2842:
Archie Comics Booth: Signing Francesco Francavilla (Afterlife)
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm DARK HORSE SIGNINGS - Booth #2615
 Dark Horse Booth: Signing Francesco Francavilla (Black Beetle, Grindhouse)

Friday, July 19
3:30 pm - 4.00 pm Archie Booth at #2842:
Archie Comics Booth: Signing Francesco Francavilla (Afterlife)

    ******

CBLDF/TFAW Auction

Francesco Francavilla Donates Black Beetle Sketch to the CBLDF
Our Fifth Annual SDCC Autograph Card/CBLDF Auction event just keeps getting better and better! Amazing artist Francesco Francavilla (Batman, Hawkeye) has created an original sketch depicting the title character from his creator-owned series with Dark Horse Comics, The Black Beetle, and is donating it to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund!

The CBLDF is dedicated to protecting the First Amendment Rights of the comics community, offering legal counsel, informational resources, and more to comic book fans, creators, publishers, and librarians. Since 1986, they’ve worked tirelessly to support free speech, funded in part by their annual auction at San Diego Comic-Con.

For the past four years, TFAW has solicited donations from dozens of generous, talented artists on behalf of the CBLDF and is proud to have helped raise more than $100,000 for this important cause. In addition, we’ll be creating free, limited-edition sketch cards of many of this year’s pieces and giving them out at SDCC.

This is Francavilla’s second donation to the CBLDF–see his Captain America sketch from last year, below! Going to SDCC? You can bid on the original sketch at the CBLDF Auction July 20 (stay tuned for details). Plus, remember to pick up a free autograph card at the CBLDF booth at #1920. While you’re at it, make sure to stop at the TFAW booth at #5625 to browse graphic novels and more at special low prices.

FFlipping Through Previews ~ July 2013

Hello everyone! :)

Since I am getting busier than usual, I thought to start to do a monthly post about my work in the current PREVIEWS catalog. This will help you - and mostly me - to keep track of all the FF work that comes out every month. (that's why, pun intended, I titled this FFlipping Through Previews ;))
Today we go through July 2013 issue of PREVIEWS (#298, cover shown on the left), the one that you can find in stores right now and that presents all books that will ship in stores in September.

Let's start with the big NEWS: AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE! (page 246)
I am teaming up with talented powerhouse writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Archie Comics to bring the HORROR to Riverdale with the new book AFTER LIFE WITH ARCHIE.
Above you can see my cover for the first issue and on L.A. TIMES’ HERO COMPLEX you can learn a bit more about the book and on how it came to be thanks to an interview with Roberto and me.
If you love the classic EC and Creepy stile horror books, you guys are gonna love this, I promise!
Here’s the solicits for #1 and - below - my variant cover for #1.

AFTER LIFE WITH ARCHIE #1
WRITTEN BY: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
ART BY: Francesco Francavilla, Jack Morelli
COVER: Francesco Francavilla
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: 10/9
NEW ONGOING SERIES! “Escape From Riverdale”—This is how the end of the world begins… Harvey Award-winning writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Stephen King’s Carrie, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark) and Eisner-winning artist Francesco Francavilla (Batman, Black Beetle) take Archie and the gang where they’ve never been before—to the grave and back! A horrific accident sets off a series of grim events and Sabrina the Teenage Witch must try to repair the unspeakable evil her spell has unleashed. Gasp in horror as Riverdale faces an impending zombie Arch-pocalypse in this brand-new, spine-tingling ongoing series—but be warned, kiddies, this one’s not for the faint of heart! For TEEN+ readers.

Let's continue with IDW (page 160) and one of my favorite subject (as you know ;)), Doctor WHO!

DOCTOR WHO PRISONERS OF TIME #9

(W) David Tipton, Scott Tipton (A) David Messina (CA) Francesco Francavilla, Dave Sim

Our yearlong celebration of Doctor Who's 50th anniversary continues! The Ninth Doctor takes the spotlight in this issue of a 12-part epic adventure featuring all 11 incarnations of the Doctor, with fan-favorite companion Rose Tyler in tow! Plus: Who has been kidnapping the Doctor's companions? The Doctor's mysterious enemy revealed! 

DOCTOR WHO PRISONERS OF TIME VOL.2

(W) David Tipton, Scott Tipton (A) Philip Bond, John Ridgway, Kev Hopgood, Roger Langridge (CA) Francesco Francavilla

Doctor Who's 50th anniversary celebration continues in Prisoners Of Time, Vol. 2. The 5th through 8th Doctors get a turn from writers Scott & David Tipton and artists Philip Bond, John Ridgway, Kev Hopgood and Roger Langridge. 

And now onto page 284 with DYNAMITE COMICS!

CODENAME: ACTION  #1

(W) Chris Roberson (A) Jonathan Lau (CA) Jae Lee, Francesco Francavilla, Jonathan Lau, Art Baltazar

During the height of the Cold War, unknown forces scheme to heat up a global conflict.  As key officials on both sides of the Iron Curtain are replaced with doppelgangers, the infiltration threatens to disrupt the precarious state of world affairs.  The security of the Free World depends on a young secret agent, one assigned to shape the world's masked heroes into a force with singular purpose and unyielding resolve! 

 

THE SHADOW  #18

(W) Chris Roberson (A) Giovanni Timpano (CA) Alex Ross, Francesco Francavilla

 

All the mysteries will be solved as the Shadow and the Light face one another in a final confrontation high above the streets of New York! Two knights, each dedicated to a very different moral code, in a duel to the death!

DARK SHADOWS  #21

(W) Mike Raicht (A) Nacho Temorio (CA) Francesco Francavilla

 

In the fight against the soulless Barnabas Collins and his vampire army, how far will Nicholas Blair go to change the horrible future glimpsed in far-off 1984? Could his decision lead the Collins clan into an even darker future? Or will his actions be too late to save a trusted ally?

LONE RANGER  #20

(W) Ande Parks (A) Esteve Polls (CA) Francesco Francavilla

 

The Lone Ranger and Tonto head back to Abilene, where the town's respected marshal has been murdered. With a band of angry, vengeful deputies in pursuit of those responsible, will the Lone Ranger be able to convince them that the murderers deserve a trial? Or will their thirst for slaughter prevail?

And that's all (i think).

Next "FFLIPPING" is gonna be really one you can't miss :)

Cheers,

FF

~~ BATMAN FOR OKLAHOMA ~~

Hey guys,

As you know, yesterday Oklahoma (Oklahoma City, Moore) was hit hard by a giant tornado which has caused devastating damage.
To help the victims I decided to auction some artwork.

Here's how it'll work:
I've posted the art above: BATMAN with Bat-Signal in the bg.
Original artwork is fully inked on 9x12" bristol board.
If you're interested, please type your bid in the comments feature. Bidding starts at $50 and goes up in $5 increments.
Important: Paypal payment only ~ US bidders only at this time.

UPDATE!!!Since you guys are showing so much generosity, I am including a copy of the new Bat-Classic THE BLACK MIRROR HC signed by me and with a Commissioner Gordon sketch inside the book. :)

Bidding will end at 4pm EST (that's 1pm for the west-coasters) tomorrow, Wed, May 22, 2013.

Highest bidder* gets the art and the money raised goes straight to American Red Cross Disaster Relief.
I'm also covering the shipping cost for the winner.
This is a great chance to donate to a needy cause and get some nice art in the process.

If you'd like to help more, here is another option: Text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief.

Cheers,
Francesco

*In case the highest bidder doesn't come through with payment, prize goes to 2nd highest bidder.
 Paypal payment only ~ US bidders only at this time.

Artwork © 2013 Francesco Francavilla.

Doctor WHO - Nightmare in Silver [Ep.7.13] ~ The Crimson Horror [Ep.7.12]

(click on the above image for the larger poster view)

Hello everyone, 
Since I missed to post it in the last 2 weeks, you get another double DOCTOR WHO art today!

Above is NIGHTMARE IN SILVER aired on BBC America last week and written by Neil Gaiman, and below THE CRIMSON HORROR, aired  2 weeks ago (I was out of town for FCBD) and a rare case where I thought I needed to use a color instead to go plain B/W as usual.
Hope you guys enjoy 'em :)


(click on the above image for the larger poster view)

Cheers,
Francesco

Doctor WHO - Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS [Ep.7.11]

(click on the above image for the larger poster view)

Hi everyone, 

here's this week's Doctor Who episode poster for "Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS".

I think this might be my new favorite poster yet: it came out kinda Twilight-Zoney, which I love :)
I hope you dig it too :)

Cheers,
Francesco