This has been a fascinating read. I only briefly talked to Franchi when I bought a Wonder Woman print from him and it was/is amazing. I really regret not buying the Bat Girl print that he had. I do hope to see him at another pinball expo... How things are sounding on this board that might be unlikely. Its a shame, because he does amazing work. Lots of artists can draw realistic like him, but not many can capture the energy and essence of their characters like how he did. In a way he reminds me a bit of Boris Vallejo, except he doesn't focus on the muscle and sinew as much as Boris did. But, he has that air of gobsmacking amazement about his art.
I run my own very small potatoes indie comic business. Worked with so many talented artists, but his work is beyond what I could ever hope to contract out to. I only bring the former up however, because a lot of artists nowadays do have clauses in their contracts about them selling original works and prints. Yes, you're contracted out, but generally the artists can own their originals. There is a reason Alex Ross only does covers now. Interior art pays less, and takes too much time. He makes more doing 4 covers a month then spending a year to make a graphic novel. He also then gets to sell the original paintings of the covers.
And you bet he has in his contract that he also has the rights to sell the prints...
I'm not going to pretend I know what is in Franchi's contract. But, Stern is a big business. I know I tell the artists that work with me, what they can sell, what they can use, and what creative rights they have on our projects. I'm bit looser than Stern, because again its peanuts and no one is getting rich.
But, for a business like Stern, you can bet its spelled out what assets he can use to advertise, to sell, and all that jazz.
As people have posted above. No one is perfect. People do make mistakes. Sometimes you think you are in the right, or the hero of your story, and then one day you realize you were wrong/the villain, the jerk. I hope he and Stern can make amends. And continue their relationship. You don't always have to be friends to do business. But, you do have to respect each other. Some artists I work with I butted heads constantly. But, if it made for a better comic, that was fine. The problem is when they stop listening and go rogue and do what they want. Most of the time then the desired output is garbage and unusable. The only solution is to part ways.