'Ellsworth' gag from Le Journal de Mickey #2021, 1991 © Disney.
The Catalan artist Francisco Figueras, also known as Frankie Figueras or Frankief, was a longtime inker for Studio Comicup in Barcelona.
Life and career
Originally from the Catalonian town of Ripollet, Francisco Figueras Farrès (Francesc, in Catalan) developed an interest in drawing and photography. After starting out with affiliations with Studio Recreo and then Estudios Bonnet S.A. of Blas Sanchis, Figueras began his fruitful association with José Cánovas' Studio Comicup. Between 1985 and 2022, he was the studio's longtime inker, known for his firm and steady line. For both Recreo and Comicup, he has worked extensively as an inker of Disney comics, commissioned by publishers from Italy, France and The Netherlands. Besides inking the work of his studio colleagues, he also inked the work of the Dutch Disney artists Bas and Mau Heymans. During the 1990s, he also penciled some of the 'Ellsworth' ('Génius') back cover gags for the French magazine Le Journal de Mickey.
Eventually based in Cerdanyola del Vallès, Figueras moved on to work in animation. He has worked as an illustrator/inker for the artist Javier Mariscal, and for the SOFA Barcelona team of commercial directors that has worked on cult comics, animation series, TV programs, music videos, a record label and branded content.
Frankie Figueras (left) and Diego Canovas (right) at Studio Comicup in 2004. Photo © José Cánovas.