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

GARRISON

So, the news is finally out, even if was half hidden in a small blurb (about the recent Phoenix Con) on the Newsarama blog.
I can finally reveal what I have been working on since beginning of the new year (and still working on it as I type this): it's GARRISON, a creator-owned 6 issue mini from Jeff Mariotte and me that will published by Wildstorm pretty soon (I hope ;)).
The pitch? In Jeff's words: "It's a near-future action epic about the most dangerous man in the world, Lester Garrison, who happens to look like someone you'd find at the tractor pull on Friday night."

Jeff is not kidding when talking about action: I think it's the most action packed book I have drawn to date (and my past books had lots of action in them anyway), plus other cool, noirish, and hi-tech elements related to a colossal manhunt.
This book is anything but boring, I can promise you that :)

I can't show any of the artowrk yet, not until we get the ok to show by DC Comics, but you can trust me when I say this is gonna be a really fun ride :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Click on the teaser image above for the colored, bigger version.

Introducing Max Malone

A Blast from the Past!

Hello Pulp Friends,

a couple of weeks back I told to our friend Neue that I was a big fan of Tech-Noir as well and I even did some sequentials, back in the days, in that genre. Well, I dug 'em up and they are 15 years old (it was 1994 AD ;)) so be gentle if you see some stiffness and a few issues ;)

I remember creating Max Malone for a monthly magazine: it's gonna be harder try to find all the character sheets and concept art, but now that I look at it, I may try to give it some new life (see new logo above, i.e.), maybe as webcomic? What you guys think?
The original story was inspired a bit by Blade Runner but I think I will change that if I give this another go.

Apologies for the italian balloons, which I drew straight in the pages, but I hope the action reads well anyway.

Hope you dig it :)

Cheers,
Francesco

SCARFACE!!!

No, it's not the classic movie with Paul Muni (even if it's on my list of things to tackle here at Pulp Sunday) or the remake with Pacino either. What I am referring to here is Gonzales who now shows quite a few scars after his last meeting with Zorro (issue 8). Well, he will be back in issue 12, uglier than ever, but you can take a peek at his ugly mug on the back cover of the current issue 11 of Zorro which comes out today in the stores.

Also, last week, the hardcover collecting the first arc (drawn by me) hit the stores so, if you haven't had chance to collect the single issues or you like to get the trase HC anyway, now it's the time to do it ;)

I will be back drawing interiors on the third arc: stay tuned for more details and sneak peeks.

Cheers,
Francesco

"HAIR"

Hello Pulp Friends,

I wanted to share just some concept art I did for a short story I am writing.
More about this soon, hopefully.
Meanwhile I wish you all a wonderful Pulp Sunday.

Cheers,
Francesco

~~~ Opening Doors Into The Darkness ~~~

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Minutemen's Comedian

Hello Pulp friends,

Continuing my take on the golden age Minutemen, here's the Comedian.
Why it's reminding me the Untouchables' "Riiiidiii, Pagliaccioooo, Ridiiii..."? ;)

Cheers,
Francesco

P.S. I know the golden age Comedian didn't have the mustaches, but I had to add them ;)

Minutemen's Captain Metropolis

Hello Pulp friends,

The Shadow will be back next week with a new episode. Meanwhile please enjoy my take on another member of the Minutemen: Captain Metropolis! (yeah, still in Watchmen nostalgia mood here ;))

Cheers,
Francesco

The Hunt!

Hi guys,

New day new post: this time it's page 2 from my short story "Lullaby" for the western anthology "Outlaw Territory" Vol.2, edited by Michael Woods and to be released through Image comics. While working in between issues for the Wildstorm mini, I am slowly getting this little tale done as well. Hope you guys dig it :)

Have a great Pulp Friday everyone :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Minutemen's Hooded Justice

Hello Pulp friends,

Who will be watching the Watchmen? I bet MANY MANY will ;)
While preparing to go to watch the movie myself (probably this weekend), I thought to pay tribute to some of the Minutemen: here's the Hooded Justice to start with. Hope you guys dig it.

Cheers,
Francesco

BC - Jack of Spades

Hello Pulp friends,

Continuing in my one-a-day week (which I hope you guys are enjoying) here's today a sketch I just did for a charity art auction that will be held during the next FX show in Orlando. I will be posting the final piece (washes on bristol) when it's done and will give more details about the auction and the theme of it. Meanwhile hope you dig my Black Coat as Jack of Spades :)

Cheers,
Francesco

"REDUCTION OF THE INNOCENT"

"His Mom always said they'd rot his brain.
But Stevie was crazy about comics.
There wasn't much he wouldnt do
for the the chance to get more of the darn things.

Like accepting a ride from a stranger.".

~~~ Opening Doors Into The Darkness ~~~

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"Amorous Avenger"

Hello Pulp friends,

This week I will be posting something everyday, either a concept, a sketch, a sneak peek, a tribute, something from past projects, some from future stories, you name it, and all will be unmistakanbly pulp.
I am doing a smiliar "one-a-day" thing for this week also on my other sketch blog: check it out if you have an extra spare minute :)

To start, here's a concept cover I did a few months ago for an ad agency as part of a campaign inspired by pulp and noir. Needless to say it was a fun gig to work on. First time I let this out so you are seeing it here first :)

See you tomorrow with more pulp goodies :)

Cheers,
Francesco

"Altar of Death" (March 15, 1942)

Hello Pulp Friends,

Today's episode of the SHadow has all the elements of those exotic mystery tales: a vulcano island with natives, drums beating and fires going by night, people disappearing (usually a couple, a man and a woman, every year during Girmet, "The Night That Eats Men"), human sacrifices, and, of course, The Shadow finding out if all this is really about a primitive god or something much more "material".

Enjoy the show and have a great (pulp) Sunday!
Francesco

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