Welcome to our exclusive spotlight “Whatcha Doin’ in Comics?”
Welcome to our exclusive spotlight “Whatcha Doin’ in Comics?” – a feature where we interview people in the comic book industry who are making an impact with what they created above and beyond just making comics.
For the sixth episode of “Whatcha Doin’ in Comics?,” I spoke with writer, editor, and publisher Dave Franchini. The creator, known for his work across a variety of titles at Zenescope Entertainment, has launched his own publishing label, Weird Brain Entertainment – publishing comic books to ensure that stories stay fun and ideas stay weird.
Head over to the Weird Brain Entertainment website to Subscribe to the publisher’s Substack and be sure to Follow on Kickstarter so you’ll know when more projects are coming down the pipeline.
The intial offering from Dave’s publishing company is SVEN THE GROUNDHOG: Savior From the Stars #1. The series debut was successfully funded on Kickstarter in March of 2025. Take a look at this wild story!
SVEN THE GROUNDHOG: SAVIOR FROM THE STARS #1 is a full 48-page, color comic book with 48 pages of story! This is the first issue of a new 4-issue comic book series meant for teen readers with some mature themes featuring the first appearance of the first ever space groundhog you need to know more about–Sven! And did we mention the first issue is 48 pages of story! If not(we did), it is(we promise) and it’s one you can’t miss out on(we hope!)!
From the very, probably too weird, mind of Dave Franchini (Zenescope Entertainment’s Belle: Beast Hunter, Cinderella: Serial Killer Princess, & Grimm Fairy Tales) comes a new story, from a new publisher(created by Dave himself winky face) that is sure to test the sane confines of the universe and all the imagination within it.
Sven is a groundhog, he’s from space and he’s here to save us, or at least that’s what the title implies. But when Sven’s first encounter with humans is the not-so-sober Sarah…and her car, things don’t really go as planned. And what comes next you will need to read to believe!
Drawn and colored by the amazing Matteo Leoni, and lettered by the phenomenal Taylor Esposito of Ghost Glyph Studios–This action-adventure, sci-fi story packed full of strange and lovable characters, monstrous fungi and mysterious tuxedo’d men from the small town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania — really earns it’s spot as the first published comic from new publisher, WEIRD BRAIN ENTERTAINMENT!
Time to listen to the interview!
“Whatcha Doin’ in Comics?” – Ep. 6 w/ Dave Franchini
Special thanks to Dave Franchini for sitting down with us at PopCultHQ/PodCultHQ and sharing what he’s doin’ in comics. Be sure to follow Dave & Weird Brain Entertainment on social media (links below).
Thanks for listening and watch for our next episode spotlighting Rylend Grant of Half Evil hComics!
About Dave Franchini:
Dave Franchini is best known for his writing and editing at Zenescope Entertainment. He also served as Zenescope’s publisher for over three and a half years. He recently decided to fulfill a dream of his and establish his own publishing company – Weird Brain Entertainment. His debut launch at Weird Brain was the successfully-funded SVEN THE GROUNDHOG: Savior From the Stars #1 – the 48-page first issue of a new 4-issue comic book series meant for teen readers with some mature themes.
About Weird Brain Entertainment:
Weird Brain Entertainment is the publishing outlet for the strangest things that comic book creator Dave Franchini’s mind can come up with. Filled with genres ranging from comedy, action, adventure and horror–as well as content suitable from all-ages to mature–there’s no limit to the weirdness of these character-driven stories and collectible comic covers!.
