Crowdfunding Spotlight: Becoming Frazetta

By John Freeman on June 6, 2025 • ( 0 )

Becoming Frazetta is the latest project from American comic historian Michael Finn, the publisher behind Thrilling Nostalgia Comics, who specialise in publishing classic characters from the past, drawing from the rich history of publishers like Nedor, Quality, Fawcett, and Ace.

Becoming Frazetta, a project seeking support on Kickstarter, is a beautiful, oversized hardcover full colour art book that explores the formative years of Frank Frazetta, long before he became a fantasy art legend, “the father of fantasy art”, as recently described by Joe Jusko. Running to over 360 pages it will feature plenty of rare and never-before-seen artwork, including over seven never-before-seen stories, illustrated by Frank.

The book traces Frank’s early influences, such as his classical training under Italian artist Michele Falanga, his start in comics with mentor John Giunta, and the passions that shaped him as a young prodigy.

Presenting Becoming Frazetta by comic historian, publisher, and writer Michael Finn (The Liberty Brigade) with an introduction by Sara Frazetta (of Frazetta Girls), art analysis by Mark Schultz (Xenozoic Tales), and a foreword by Joe Mannarino of Heritage Auctions — *Presenting* Becoming Frazetta by comic historian, publisher, and writer Michael Finn (The Liberty Brigade) with an introduction by Sara Frazetta (of Frazetta Girls), art analysis by Mark Schultz (Xenozoic Tales), and a foreword by Joe Mannarino of Heritage Auctions

Publisher Michael Finn and Sara Frazetta at Original Art Expo (OAX) last year, promoting "Becoming Frazetta" | Photo: Frazetta Girls — *Publisher Michael Finn and Sara Frazetta at Original Art Expo (OAX) last year, promoting “Becoming Frazetta” | Photo: Frazetta Girls*

A true labour of love, Becoming Frazetta has been created in collaboration with Frazetta Girls and Sara Frazetta, and features contributions from Mark Schultz and Joe Mannarino of Heritage Auctions, and has the support of the team behind a downthetubes favourite, Slingsby Bros. Ink, publishers of the brilliant Carol Day newspaper strip collections.

“If you appreciate rich comic history, elegant design, and untold artistic journeys, we highly recommend supporting this project,” say the Slingsby team, which is a fine recommendation as far as I’m concerned. Check out the Kickstarter here.

While in his 20s and working at Fiction House, Frank Frazetta spent his free time crafting a mysterious comic inspired by the 1942 horror film The Cat People, about a woman who transforms into a panther when overcome by passion or emotion. Originally penciled in a 3 x 5” sketchbook, Frank took it further by inking full-sized 13.5 x 18” pages. That story, “Panther Legend”, was never published... until now.

*A page from “The Slave and the Lion”, one of the unpublished and recently uncovered Frazetta stories that will feature in Becoming Frazetta*

Michael Finn is a Golden Age comic historian and has run several Kickstarter campaigns, such as the successfully-funded The Liberty Brigade, featuring art by Barry Kitson, Ron Frenz and Doug Braithwaite and edited by Mark Waid. Regular downthetubes readers may recall we previously covered that project here.

• Check out Becoming Frazetta on Kickstarter here

• Previewing Becoming Frazetta – The Early Years of a Fantasy Art Master

• Frazetta Girls

• Remembering Frank Frazetta 1928-2010 (Video Tribute by the Frazetta Girls)

• Thrilling Nostalgia Comics

Thanks to the Slingsby Bros. Ink! team for the news tip

About the Author
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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.