Stephan Franck.

Growing up surrounded by comics, Stephan Franck never saw animation and comic books as separate worlds. He joins Howard to trace the path from his parents’ store outside Paris to Hollywood, directing Marvel’s What If…?, and building stories of his own.

They explore how storyboards capture a performance before animation begins, what creative independence makes possible, and why making a comic has to be a labor of love. Stephan shares how he built an audience for his books through conventions, conversations, and Kickstarter, one reader at a time.

The conversation takes a closer look at Palomino, his neo-noir crime series set against Los Angeles’ country music scene. Stephan explains how music, family, and a changing city shaped the story, and walks through a process that combines digital drawing with 3D sets to find the right shot.

They also discuss AI, the experience of making things yourself, and why Stephan sees human connection as the heart of storytelling. It’s a conversation about doing the work, finding your readers, and giving yourself permission to begin.