In June, Inc. Magazine called me and asked if I could write a comic for their upcoming “500 Fastest Growing Companies” issue.
Aside from the fact that it was a comic, they were giving me the chance to write it myself. This is the first time I’ve gotten to actually write the text for a comic I’ve done for an illustration job. The most interesting part of the job was interviewing the subject of the piece, multi-millionaire Andrew Gross. During our conversation, he passed on to me the secret to becoming extremely wealthy. Thanks, Andrew!
Here’s the final printed version of the story, in the current issue of Inc., on stands now.
Billboard Update
I’m still waiting for more pictures, but this is all I’ve been able to drum up so far. That white burst was added to the image after I got done with it, so I didn’t have total control over it, but I still think it looks okay. One of these looks to me like it’s a subway ad, and the other is a mural.
best,
Frank
12 Comments
Add Yours →Normally biography-type articles of business people, regardless of how rich they are, make my eyes glaze over, but the comics and illustration really got me more interested in the story. I also like the color palette for this one – I'm not sure what era it speaks of exactly but it helps with the whole flashback thing.
Absolutely beautiful. Love the clouds in the 2nd panel of the 2nd page, they remind me of Tintin for some reason. Please draw more comics!
Looks like they really messed with your billboard, the disco lights are all gone and the background colors are pushed way further, are you cool with that frank?
It still looks cool but I feel like alot of the fun intricacy and depth is gone.
Comic is awesome by the way!
Thanks for the comments on the comic, M and Woods. There is a tiny bit of Tintin in there, but Hergé is more of an indirect influence on my work. I'm more into the comics work of Ware, Eisner, Seth, De Crécy, Clowes and Crumb.
Mike — I supplied the final image to them with certain elements on different layers so that they would have the option of removing the glowing lights and the strobe effects, if they wanted, and they chose to go for that option. The only thing that disappointed me about what they did with it was the white starburst thingy behind the girl. I don't think it looks bad compositionally but I would have preferred to have done it myself to make it relate better to the over-all image. It was a learning lesson. Over all though, I can't say I'm dissatisfied.
f.
It is pretty awesome you have a bill board though!
I love that you are getting these comics as illustration assignments, seems like the best of boths worlds.
Lovely work very strong and contemporary in the vein of James Jean and Tomer Hanuka.
DUDE!!! That looks so fantastic. Nice job. So awesome.
Wow! This is fantastic, really inspiring blog.
Frank, that comic is so well done, especially the bottom panel on page two, where the hero walks towards us, has his epiphany, and then runs away – very cinematic, and I don't think I've seen that specific device in a comic before.
I like the original colour better. It's a shame most of the times our colour are different from what's in our head to what's been printed. However it's a very good job you did.
So what's the secret?
🙂
I can see why they did the star burst thing–for a billboard they needed the woman to pop, but I agree–it doesn't really go.
I'm also a huge fan of De'Crecy. They need to translate more of his books! There's only one small paperback from First Second! I have one European import that I totally love.