AVENGERS Earth's First Heroes by Gordon & Francavilla

(click on this for the larger poster view)

A couple of good things that came out of this collective blog known as Comic Twart is that 1) the weekly topics sparked quite a few new ideas/concepts fans seem to dig and 2) the weekly jams and artwork inspired other artists -outside the Twart group- to tackle these topics.
So I give you this new take on the Avengers Earth's First Heroes (a concept I had for the WHAT IF week) with pencils from my dear friend Steven E. Gordon and inks and colors by me. Steve was inspired by the topic (you can see his pencils here) and I was inspired by his pencils so much I had to ink this amazing piece. Individuals inspiring each other: at the end of the day I think this is the essence of this blog I am so proud to be part of :)

Hope you enjoy and pls click on the image to really appreciate the details.

Thank you all for checking this blog and making a cool place to hang around :)

Cheers,
Francesco

Concept by Francesco Francavilla
Artwork © 2011 Steven E.Gordon & Francesco Francavilla

NICK FURY and his HOWLING AVENGERS by Chris Samnee

click to embiggen

"What if" I wanted to draw a team book? I'd want to draw this one. Nothing high concept here. Just wanted to put my favorite versions of some of my favorite Marvel characters into the Avengers, and have them lead by Nick Fury, who would make a kick-ass leader of any group! And yes, Beast is now a member of S.H.I.E.L.D - he's a joiner! :)

EDIT: Fellow Twartist Nathan Fairbairn colored this guy up for me. Amazing work, Nathan! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! :D

EDIT: Holy cats!! Another outstanding take on colors by fellow Twartist, Evan Shaner!! Thanks a ton, Doc, it looks A-MA-ZING!!!!

WHAT IF: THE AVENGERS by Francesco Francavilla

(you wanna really click on this for the larger poster view)

(you wanna really click on this for the larger poster view)

When we decided to do a "what if" Marvel cover week, I had several ideas. I had some "what if" moments already in the past twarts (remember Ben Grimm P.I.? ;)) but for this little Twart event I thought to dust off an old idea/pitch of mine for a MARVEL what if.
So I give you, for the first time I think, Hulk the Druid (a celtic primeval force of nature), Captain Amerigo (from the New World), Thor himself, and an unknown mysterious clad-armored gladiator known as Iron Man . Tigether they are The AVENGERS, EARTH's FIRST HEROES and they fight evils and undead armies. How does that sound? :)
Hope you guys dig it and stay tuned for the color version of this I will be posting next week (way too many deadlines this week ;))

EDIT: WOW, this concept (and image) is all over the Web and everyone is excited about the possibilities of such tale. Thank you all, I will see if I can make it happen at MARVEL again - maybe all this warm response will help ;)
I know I had said I was gonna color the cover (and still plan to) but because of time and schedule restrictions, I decided to do a quick sketch of THOR the first Avenger, just becuase Viking Gods on a horse on the snow are too cool :D

One little note: I know the cover is going around as "AVengers in the 1500s" but I had envisioned this to be more in a fictional/fantasy middle age - I apologize for tricking you in believing that is set in the 1500s because of the Capt Amerigo (he is not Vespucci but he could be his grand-grand-father ;))

Cheers,
Francesco

Concept & Artwork © 2010 Francesco Francavilla