Posted By Dan Greenfield on Aug 1, 2025 | 2 comments

FRANCO’s FREE-FOR-ALL FRIDAYS!

By FRANCO

Just back from San Diego Comic-Con, where it was a week full of happenings and events. One of which was getting to hang with our esteemed leader Dan Greenfield and meeting Des “Despop” Taylor (terrific guy, by the way) and Art Baltazar, having dinner and seeing Fantastic Four!

The Fantastic Four with the Fantastic Four: Me, Dan, Des and Art

Most of my weekend was with Art.

I usually just have a bunch of conversations with him, but on the heels of San Diego and all the news and pics we see (in my case, after it’s over), I thought I would interview my buddy and sometimes (well, a lot of times) collaborator/brother/cartoonist pal Art Baltazar.

FRANCO: I haven’t seen you in a day or two. How was San Diego?

ART: It was awesome! Sold out of all my stuff. Got some rest. (Since the show ended.) Lotta shaking hands. Meeting the fans was awesome and people congratulated me on the Aw Yeah Comics universe Papercutz announcement.

FRANCO: Oh… there was an announcement?

ART: LOL

FRANCO: Kidding. Its a big deal! We’ve both got a lot a stuff happening at Papercutz!

ART: Yeah! The universe launches with our favorite characters Action Cat and Adventure Bug!

FRANCO: I like those two!

ART: Yeah, man, it’s awesome! The first book is going to be half new stuff and half classic.

FRANCO: Releasing in January.

ART: Yeah! The universe launches in January starting with Action Cat and Adventure Bug Vol. 1.

FRANCO: You’ve got a bunch of other things cooking over there.

ART: Aw yeah man, they will make announcements soon when the books are ready to go. I’ve been creating characters forever and all my characters can meet Action Cat!

FRANCO: Like a shared universe.

ART: Yup! Excatly!

FRANCO: Like? Which ones?

ART: Well, all of them. If you check out the artwork, that might give you a clue. LOL, pretty much everyone on this poster. Check it out.

FRANCO: I’ve been hearing about these guys that you created for years and I’ve seen them in your sketchbook and I’m excited to see them in books and come to life, so to speak.

ART: It’s exciting! A dream come true. Been dreaming of this since I was a kid. Never thought I would get to do this in my career. But you’ve been creating stuff too.

FRANCO: Yeah! They’re not AYC Universe connected but they are still me and also coming from Papercutz! Actually we — you and I, and bunch of other friends have Flash Gordon Vol. 2 hitting in November. And I have a new book called Chase Speedington and the Last Dragon’s Breath hitting November too, with awesome artist Mike Hartigan!

ART: I dig me some Chase!

FRANCO: Thanks man, that was a while in the making as well. Working on it for a number of years.

ART: And you got more stuff too.

FRANCO: Yeah, I got Ninja Kaiju coming in February.

ART: Yeah, you had those stickers. Kids dig those stickers.

FRANCO: Yeah, I’m excited about that too! Working with our buddy Scoot McMahon on what is undoubtedly the “biggest” character around. Papercutz will be making that announcement soon too.

ART: And some other stuff. What else you got? I been hearing rumors about something else.

FRANCO: Yeah, that’s super secret though. Can’t even talk about that or even mention that we mentioned it.

ART: LOL. Yeah, damn, we always have secret projects we’re working on in this industry. Speaking of spoiler-free things, what did you think of Fantastic Four?

FRANCO: LOL! Loved it — but did you forget we saw that together in San Diego?

ART: Oh yeah, that’s right, I liked it too! All of San Diego was a blur.

FRANCO: Well, we better get back to making comics.

ART: Yeah man! Lets do this! Which also happens to be the name of Action Cat Vol. 1 this January!

FRANCO: Yes it is!

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The Aw Yeah Comics Universe is coming to Papercutz, starting in January with Action Cat by Art Balatzar and Franco. You can preorder that now, as well as Flash Gordon Vol. 2 and Chase Speedington (by Franco and Mike Hartigan), both of which are set for November 2025. Plus, coming in February: Ninja Kaiju from Franco and Scoot McMahon.

Happy Friday!

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Franco and his forehead have traveled the world and he writes and draws stuff. Franco is the creator, artist and writer of Patrick the Wolf Boy and Aw Yeah Comics! Franco has worked on books/comics, including Tiny Titans and Superman Family Adventures. Franco was also a high-school teacher and is one of the principal owners of Aw Yeah Comics retail stores. Dan made Franco add that he has won three Eisners.