Dynamite Announces Francesco Francavilla's 'The Spirit'

Ever since Dynamite picked up the license to Will Eisner's The Spirit, it has been doing some pretty interesting stuff. Matt Wagner and Dan Schkade's "Who Killed The Spirit?" told a compelling story that was, as you might expect from the title, focused on the main character's absence. Now, though, Dynamite is kicking off 2017 with an all-new five-issue series from Francesco Francavilla.

Set to be solicited in November's Previews for a release in January, The Spirit: The Corpse-Makers will be written and drawn by Francavilla, focusing on an investigation into a series of disappearances in the crimefighter's hometown of Central City.

Here's the official word from Dynamite and Francavilla:

"I couldn't be more honored and humbled to have been asked to do a story with one of the icons of the comic universe," says Francesco Francavilla. "I'm not going to lie -- tackling one of Maestro Will Eisner's most famous creations and following in the steps of my dearest friends Darwyn Cooke and Matt Wagner is not gonna be an easy task, but I'll make sure my love for the character, for those legendary creators, and for the medium will show. And I hope readers will be along with me on this new ride. Thanks again to the Eisner Estate and Dynamite Comics for inviting me to Central City; I think I'm gonna like living here for a bit!"

"We have been very fortunate to have Francesco lend his talent to such stunning cover art on multiple titles over the years," says Dynamite CEO and Publisher Nick Barrucci. "He is a true master of the pulp style in every sense, and to have him tackle The Spirit? That is something every comic book fan will want to see!"

"Francesco Francavilla is part of Dynamite's very DNA," says Joseph Rybandt, Executive Editor. "From his first interior work with us back on Zorro, to the multitude of covers he's done for us over the years - each better than the last - he is one of our go-to artists and he always makes time for us in his increasingly busy schedule. To have him not only write, but draw (and do covers!) The Spirit for five issues? A glorious proposition!"

Francavilla is likely best known these days for his work as the artist of the horror-themed Afterlife With Archie, alongside writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. The Spirit makes for a pretty solid stage for Francavilla to return to writing and drawing, especially since his previous work as a cartoonist, The Black Beetle, definitely falls into that same pulp-inspired adventure genre.

The Spirit: The Corpse-Makers #1 will be released in January of 2017.