Jason Franks's Blog

Well, bad news for long time readers. I have lost my status as a multi-award losing author.

Apparently I won an Australasian Shadows award for my graphic novel Gourmand Go!

Enormous thank you to the art team: Harold Purnell, Cristian Roux, Laura Renfrew, Aly Faye, Ben Michael Byrne, Gavin Thee Thomson, Matt Kyme, and Graeme Jackson for bringing it to life. Cheers to the judges, and bless you to all the Kickstarter backers. Atchoo. 

Here is a full list of all the winners for works published in 2024. Congratulations to all the other winners and short-listees! 

2024 Australasian Shadows Awards Winners

I have a new comic series coming out. 

Vale of Tears is a historical fantasy series about Hannibal the conqueror in his years of exile after his failed conquest of Rome. This book is based on a teleplay by Steve Kilbey (frontman of the legendary rock band the Church!) and Nicol Madunic. Adapted to comics by me (script) and the magnificent Keith Donald, whose art you can see below.

Published by IPI Comics, the first issue will be in stores in December and then bimonthly. If this sounds cool please ask your comic store to order some copies! It’s available through Lunar Distribution. Preorders are essential so please help us out!

https://www.lunardistribution.com/home/search?term=vale+of+tears 

Well, that was 2024. One day left but I’ll be happy to see the back of it.

Putting aside wider world events… difficult as that is at this juncture…2024 was a very different year to 2023 for me. I ditched Substack, after investing probably a year’s worth of grind into building it up. I worked m day job without much time off. I also did a fair bit of editing for IPI Comics on books like Superhumanity, the Human Fly and Sherlock Holmes: the Dark Detective. I wrote a lot of words, but I didn’t see much actually published besides two short stories, which appeared in these two late-in-the-year anthologies:

My short story “Grizzle” in Spawn 2: More Weird Horror Tales About Pregnancy, Birth and Babies (edited by Deborah Sheldon) is a psychological horror story about a sleep-deprived widower trying to look after his newborn son. I wrote a bit about it for Ginger Nuts of Horror here: https://gnofhorror.com/spawn-2-behind-the-scenes-part-3/

“No Paradox” in the Time Machine: Australia Bound (edited by Chris Sequeira and Steve Proposch) is an SF/horror story about an IT admin who uses a time machine to prosecute an unending cycle of vengeance on the serial killer who murdered his little brother.

I also wrote a non-fiction piece for the Jewish Independent, the Fake Jew Furphy, which is my first serious attempt to write a non fiction, current affairs piece. I hope you learned something from it. I learned a lot from writing it and I’m very proud of it.

I wrote a lot of stuff that’s not out yet. The sequel to Bloody Waters is with my publisher Outland for appraisal, and there’s a bunch of other stuff I wrote that’s complete but needs polish. A novelette, some short comics, the third issue of Frankenstein Monstrance. An issue of The human Fly, with another to come. A Killeroo graphic novella for Darren Close, which Ben Sullivan is illustrating. Register your interest in the Kickstarter here to be notified when it’s live!

I also completed a middle grade science fantasy novel co-written with Jason Banico. I’ll speak more about this when we have news. And of course I have other stuff germinating.

It’s been a tough year, but I know plenty of folks who have it much tougher than I do. Some friends passed away. Others have been struggling with illness or trauma. We’ll just keep on going, making art and making it through.

Peace through superior comics power,

— Jason

My (prose) novel X-Dimensional Assassin Zai is going to be distributed to comic shops by IFWG Publishing/ IPI Comics.

If you’re a comics reader who is looking to try out one of my novels this is the perfect opportunity. It’s in the current Diamond Previews (with order code MAR241724), as well as from Lunar Distribution. Should be in stores on May 29th. 

Here’s the blurb:

Zai is an international assassin whose agency sends him to places that do not exist! He hunts crooked accountants, faerie industrialists, hero scientists, down-at-heels gods, and refugees from Atlantis; and he finds them: in hidden continents, secret space stations, or post-apocalyptic Faerie Lands. Good thing he's a professional killer who likes to travel.

X-Dimensional Assassin Zai Through the Unfolded Earth was a Ditmar Award finalist last year and I would appreciate it if you would spread the word.

Distributing novels to comic stores is an experiment and if it goes well we’ll do this more often. If you’ve already read the book, I will be forever in your debt if you would leave me a review on goodreads or amazon, or anywhere people might see it.

Here are order links you could share with your comic store:

Diamond: https://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/MAR241724
Lunar: https://www.lunardistribution.com/home/search?term=Zai

See you in the funny pages,

— Jason

2023 was quite a big year for me, writing wise. Here’s what I published:

1/ A full issue preview of Frankenstein Monstrance, my new comic with Tam Nation. This is a book about science, journalism, body autonomy, AI, and drone warfare, rooted in Mary Shelley’s creation. Tam is currently drawing #2 and I am writing #3. This will be a four issue series and should be in comic stores world wide in 2025 from IPI Comics.

Frankenstein Monstrance #1 cover by Tam Nation

2/ A short story “Contract Lore” in THIS FRESH HELL, edited by Narrelle M Harris and Katya De Katya de Becerra. This is a horror/comedy about a software startup and a deal with the Devil. A look at big data and surveillance capitalism.

This Fresh Hell cover by Claire L/ Roden

3/ Gorgeous new editions of my novels BLOODY WATERS and SHADOWMANCY released in North America from Outland Entertainment.

4/ A chapter for the choose-your-own-adventure mystery MURDER YOU WROTE, edited by L.J. M. Owen.

5/ A two part story in THE PHANTOM called “The Pinstripe Wizards” with artist Kay. Set in the 1970s, this story sees the Phantom trying to stop terrorist attack on a rock concert. This story ran in issues #1956 and #1957.

THE PHANTOM #1956 and #1957

6/ An essay describing Large Language Models in terms of Frankenstein’s monster, published in A VINDICATION OF MONSTERS, edited by Claire Fitzpatrick.

A Vindication of Monsters cover by Greg Chapman

And finally, I ran a successful Kickstarter for my cannibal space opera graphic novel GOURMAND GO, which will be out next year.

Gourmand Go cover by Harry Purnell

Not a bad run, I think. I have my work cut out for me in 2024, although of course one never knows exactly what will be published when.

The other big thing I did in 2023 was… this Substack. Initially, I just wanted to do something a bit more interactive than my old mailing list, but I quickly came to love the platform and I spent a lot more time writing here than I had planned. I tried to be weekly, and was mostly successful at that. Many of the posts here, especially those that deal with the topic of AI, took many many hours to put together and I’m gratified that readers have enjoyed them.

Another side effect of starting this Substack was that I started drawing again, for the first time in many years. While I am unlikely to resume doing full art duties on any comics any time soon this is something I plan to keep doing indefinitely. I’ll write more about this next year.

Next In 2024

I have three short stories under contract, plus I will be printing and shipping Gourmand Go . I’ll probably run another, smaller Kickstarter for a Smiling Damned #2 (you heard it hear first, in the small print).

I’ll also be finishing off a middle grade Science Fantasy novel with Jason Banico, plus more Monstrance and continuing the teleplay-to-comicscript adaptation of a project called VALE OF TEARS, which is a historical fantasy story about Hannibal after he lost his famous campaign in Italy. I’ll talk more about this in future, too.

Finally, BLACKENED SKIES, the sequel to BLOODY WATERS, is just about ready to show around. So, uh, I’m not planning to let up the pace or anything.

It’s been a wild year and I just want to thank you for reading Franksly Speaking—it’s been an unexpected highlight and I’ve got lots more to talk about. I have the next post, which is about deanthropomorphising AI, lined up and ready to go, but I’ll probably keep that until after the holiday break.

I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing break and a happy New Year. See you killers in 2024!

Franskly Yours,

— Jason

I’m very pleased to announce that I sold my short story “Grizzle” to the anthology Spawn 2: More Weird Horror Tales About Pregnancy, Birth and Babies.

I’ve had this story in my head since my son was an infant. I planned to write the story when IFWG and editor Deborah Sheldon announced the first Spawn anthology, but I was so busy at the time that I hadn’t even started when the deadline passed. I am very glad the book did well enough for a sequel, and I’m grateful that Deb accepted the story.

Grizzle is about a widowed father trying to care for his newborn child while plagued with insomnia.

The book contains stories by Helen Stubbs, Matt Tighe, Matthew R. Davis, Alannah Pearson, Pauline Yates, Anthony O’Connor and many other excellent Australian writers and I’m thrilled to be in the lineup. Here’s Luke Spooner’s amazing cover:

Spawn 2 cover by Luke Spooner

My cannibal space opera graphic novel, Gourmand Go, is entering its final hours. The book 130% funded, with one stretch goal unlocked. The next goal is a new story. Don’t risk going hungry! https://kickstarter.jasonfranks.com

My first superhero comic, roughly 20 years after I made my photocopied minicomic zine. The Phantom #1956, which I think is in stores today. Part 1 of my story The Pinstripe Wizards, with art by the artist known only as Kay. (Except when he’s called Boris Kay, or sometimes Kay Boris).

This story was really fun to write. I wanted to do something a bit off the wall, and so we have a 1970s Phantom fighting evil at a rock concert.

I had two goals for this one: a really cinematic style, and an emphasis on Kit and Diana’s relationship. I hope you cats enjoy it.

And yes, the Pinstripe Wizards bear some resemblance to a little ol’ band from Texas. Also, discerning Melbourne music fans might recognize the Mawitaan Concert Hall

Hello friends.I am crowdfunding a new graphic novel, Gourmand Go, and it’s my pleasure to announce that it’s now live on Kickstarter. Here’s the blurb:

The Gourmand Go is a tramp freighter that travels the galaxy on a mission to seek out new life–and eat it. But when times are lean the officers are not above eating more… human… cuisine.

From shopping mall food courts to the heart of a gas giant, from reality cooking shows to the table of a planetary warlord, the crew of the Gourmand Go will face any challenge with a thirst for adventure and a taste for the finer things.

This book is the product of many years of work by me and the art team: co-creator Harold Purnell, Laura Renfrew, Gavin Thee Thomson, Matt Kyme, Cristian Roux, Aly Faye and Ben Michael Byrne, with lavish colours by Graeme Jackson.

The book is ready to print so there’s no risk to you for supporting it. Please check out the page, and order up a healthy serving:

Gourmand Go Go Go

My cannibal space opera graphic novel, Gourmand Go, is coming to Kickstarter October 25th.

The book is about the crew of the starship Gourmand Go, whose mission is to seek out new life–and eat it. But when times are lean, which they frequently are, the officers are not above eating more… human… cuisine.

Featuring the interior artwork by Harold Purnell, Laura Renfrew, Gavin Thee Thompson, Matt Kyme, Cristian Roux, Aly Faye and Ben Byrne, with colours by Graeme Jackson.

Strap in!