Dave Franchini cut his teeth at Horsham comic book publisher Zenescope Entertainment. He rose from intern to sales lead, then editor, and eventually publisher over a 16-year run. Along the way, he helped shape fan-favorite titles (including Philly-set monster hunter stories) and learned every step of taking an idea from script to shelf.
In February, Franchini stepped out on his own. He launched Weird Brain Entertainment—built to house the ideas that didn’t quite fit anywhere else. “I want to be able to exist after I die,” Franchini said, describing Weird Brain as a vehicle to leave a creative legacy.
A Weird Pennsylvania
Weird Brain’s comic book slate is a Pennsylvania-rooted shared universe. “Sven the Groundhog, Savior from the Stars” is a rock-’n-wreck, Body Snatchers-style romp set between Punxsutawney and D.C., where an extraterrestrial groundhog fends off invasive mushroom creatures (and a cult).
“Hell of a Job” is a dark workplace comedy set in Nazareth. It follows office staff who discover their employment contracts accidentally sold their souls—think The Office meets Severance.
The upcoming “Anti-Christine & The Four Unicorns of the Apocalypse” visits the devil’s daughter, who isn’t interested in her calling to reign in the end of days. Instead, she turned her Horsemen into a metal band. Now, the new Anti-Christ, her younger sister, is coming to finish the job.
Small Easter eggs cross-pollinate the books, hinting at bigger crossovers if reader support continues.
A Fear That Makes You Feel Alive
For Franchini, making comics offers a thrill that no other medium can match. “I get an instant gratification,” he said. “I get to write what’s in my brain and give it to an artist. And a month later I get to hold my brain in my hands.” That immediacy fuels Weird Brain’s energy, with monthly Kickstarter campaigns funding meaty 48-page first issues, limited covers, and fast fulfillment.
His latest Kickstarter will fund the release of “Anti-Christine & The Four Unicorns of the Apocalypse.” Backers are rewarded with exclusive variant covers and art bundles. The campaign runs until Wednesday, September 17.
“I’m scared every day,” he admitted of the leap from publisher to solo creator, “but it makes you feel alive.” For Dave Franchini and Weird Brain Entertainment, the plan is simple: keep shipping, keep growing, and keep the Pennsylvania multiverse weird.
To learn more about Dave Franchini and purchase copies of his work, visit Weird Brain Entertainment. To contribute to his next issue, visit his Kickstarter.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on MONTCO.Today in September 2025.
