After Robin's competitive streak gets him and his teammates banned from superhero summer camp, they end up attending a very different sort of sleepaway in Teen Titans GO! To Camp, a new graphic novel from the DC Comics young reader program.
Written by Sholly Fisch and lettered by Wes Abbott, Teen Titans GO! To Camp features art by Marcelo DiChiara, Agnes Garbowska, Dario Brizuela, Abigail Larson, Emma Kubert, Leila del Duca, Erich Owen, Jamal Igle and Franco, as well as colors by Franco Riesco, Silvana Brys, Brizuela, Larson, Kubert, Marissa Louise, Owen, Igle and Franco.
Here's the full synopsis:
Summer's in the air, and the Teen Titans are leaving Jump City behind for six funfilled weeks of mosquitoes, sunstroke, and poison ivy at summer camp! What the Titans don't realize until they arrive is that this is Camp Apokolips, where the "bug juice" is made with real bugs, the swimming pool is a fire pit, and the lunch lady is Granny Goodness! Things only get worse when they encounter the bunks they'll be competing against in the camp's games: the Titans East and the H.I.V.E. Five! Given all of that, there's only one thing on Robin's mind... No, not escape. It's how to beat the other bunks to become the camp champions. This is Robin, remember?
Each chapter of this graphic novel is followed by a letter home from camp, with a different artist taking on the task of representing each character's particular style of communicating. DC Comics has provided CBR with an exclusive look at Franco's pages from Teen Titans GO! To Camp, as well as a brief interview with the creator himself.
CBR: How did you get involved in Teen Titans GO! To Camp?
Franco: I'm a big fan of Teen Titans! I'm a big fan of Sholly as well! When he and Kristy thought of me, it totally floored me! I've had some experience with the Titans, having worked on Tiny Titans and even did some of the art in a couple of issues, but this was the first time I was called on in a strictly artist capacity instead of just writing or writing with artwork. I was honored that they thought of me.
Why did you choose crayon for Parademon's camp letter? What made that feel like the right choice?
Franco: When he and Kristy Quinn concocted the idea of having the Parademon writing home from camp and having me doing it in crayon i was jazzed about the idea. I do crayon drawings all the time! They're fun to work with. I suggested about maybe doing the pages digitally and making it look like crayon, but we discussed the idea and we all thought it would be fun to actually do them on paper, in crayon.
Was it more difficult to illustrate and color using strictly crayon, or did it give you more creative freedom in terms of look and feel?
Franco: A little bit. Thankfully I've done lots of drawings in crayons, so I know the ropes. It takes a little planning, but once you know which colors you are laying out first, it all works out. Crayons give you a lot of freedom to play with things. I think that's why I like using them so much. Plus, I'm one of the few guys that when I tell my wife that I'm heading off to work, she says, "Okay honey, do you have your crayons?"
What's your preferred illustration medium?
Franco: I like all sorts of mediums. I love drawing in crayons. I draw digitally on an iPad pro, full on comic pages. I love acrylic painting. I have had gallery shows and sell my paintings online, but I have to say that my hands down favorite is just plain old paper and pencil, with ink afterwards. I love the feel of paper and the magic you can create with just a pencil.
How do you think Parademon would have reacted to the molten hot marshmallow situation?
Franco: Pretty sure he would have gotten some chocolate and some graham crackers and made the best of that situation. Or at least, that's what I would have done.
How long has he had his binky? What is his binky, exactly?
Franco: Well, if you have a binky you know that is something that's always been with you. As to what is his binky? Well, that's between a Parademon and his binky. I'm not getting in the middle of that.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Franco: Yeah! I wanna ask Sholly and Kristy if they would consider adding a new teammate to the Teen Titans GO! roster. It would be awesome to add a FRANCO along with Robin, Starfire, Raven, Cyborg and Beast Boy. It would be peachy keen and oh the adventures we would have! I promise to only use my crayons powers for good!
You can see CBR's exclusive preview of Teen Titans GO! To Camp below.
Teen Titans GO! To Camp is available now.