FRANCO’S FREE-FOR-ALL FRIDAYS! By FRANCO I recently came across a social media post from someone asking the question: What is your favorite thing about being alive? Aside from the being alive part? Which I gotta admit, I’m kinda biased towards. Life, to me, is everything… I really love that part. The people in my life are another favorite thing. Aside from that, I think comic books are good stuff. This part was really driven home after last week, when I wrote a column about my mother’s (and my own) health issues. I knew there would be people who would react to it, but SO MANY people reached out. I was blown away by the outpouring of kindness and healing sentiments everyone sent me. People contacted me from every corner of my life and from literally all around the world, to express their kind wishes and thoughts. The comics community really is truly a great space. It almost feels like a bunch of you out there have been reading superhero comics and have this moral, ethical code and sensitivity to your fellow human beings, and it was a wonder to be on the receiving end of all of that. I really came away with a sense of the can-do spirit of the comics society and some of the lessons that have been imparted to me from stories I’ve read over the years. It got me thinking about that question in terms of comics. What would be my favorite thing? What would be the favorite things of people? That people are inherently good. They are full of kindness and empathy. Yes, there’re bad guys in comics, but we’re all there to side with the good guys. The heroes. And the one character that exemplifies that for me over all the others, and has done so much for me in comics, is… … Superman. So I decided that for this week’s column, I would draw Superman. Did this one sitting outside on the porch next to my mother. Even though she didn’t voice it, I knew she would approve. I went with that iconic profile and some really bright colors. This one was fun to draw. So, I guess the answer to the question I first asked is lasagna… but also that I’m glad I’m around during this time with all of...
FRANCO’S FREE-FOR-ALL FRIDAYS returns from hiatus… By FRANCO Hi there! I’m excited for you to be here and so glad that you came back. Welcome back. For you and me. Me? Yeah. I’ve been gone for a little bit. You may have noticed. I’m a bit tired. I’ve had to scale back on a few things. Hoping to pick things back up as I’m able to. Had to leave this column for a bit. I had to put some other work things off as well. Mostly travel stuff. I’ll be missing San Diego Comic-Con for the first time in many, many years. (I’m going to say conservatively 18 years — though it could be more. I’m bad at the math and spatial distance thing). It’s sad. Mainly because of all the friends and fans I can connect with, but also because it’s a source of work. I’ve had many projects over the years come from that place. Why am I not going? Mostly family stuff. My mother has dementia. Horrible disease. She’s been battling that for a few years but really became an issue we all had to deal with over the last year. She is a shell of the former person she used to be. There are glimpses of her occasionally but not the person she once was. This has taken up a huge swath of my time. I owe a lot of the love I have for comics because of my parents. Even though they couldn’t read, they always encouraged me to do so. Comics was one of those ways and it sparked a love for them that still holds sway over me today. I spend a lot of time sitting by my mother’s side drawing. It’s easiest with my iPad. I can leave it and pick it up easily. So the creativeness still burns within. And it’s always been a sort of therapy for me. The other thing is cancer. Cancer sucks. Full disclosure, I’m not sure I have prostate cancer. I need a biopsy that comes around the time (shortly after) San Diego would happen to let me know for sure. I’m hoping I don’t have it. The tests and appointments leading up to finding out also suck. Big time. The waiting is difficult. But through it all I make art. Or I write (which...
FRANCO’S FREE-FOR-ALL FRIDAYS…
FRANCO’S FREE-FOR-ALL FRIDAYS!
FRANCO’s FREE-FOR-ALL FRIDAYS…
