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THE MAY 2008 ZUDA COMPETITION IS ON! | | Check out the Top 10 Entries!
| | | By The Wizard Staff | | Posted 5/09/2008 | |  | |  Let the battle begin! Zuda Comics has launched its latest competion for the month of May, pitting creators against each other for a shot at a DC contract. From smashing superheroes to samurai showdowns, this month's challengers have got it going on. We've got the lowdown on May's Top Ten entries, including summaries of the comics, comments from the creative team and even our take on each project! Check 'em out below and then fly your fannies on over to ZudaComics.com to read the first eight pages of each comic!
ACTION, OHIO
Writer: Neil Kleid (Bronx, NY)
Artist: Paul Salvi (Baltimore, MD)
Summary: What if the Silver age of comic book heroes was created to distract us from the real thing, from the existence of real super humans hiding in the heart of America?
What Neil Says: "Supported by an aging group of heroes, a homicide detective investigates [Action, Ohio: a town of superheroes] that's imprisoned itself to save the world while hoping to solve a murder—and as she does, she wonders: if Action, Ohio is a town of comic book heroes, then where are the villains?"
What We Think: Written with an authentic 1960s narrative and visuals that pop off the screen, Action, Ohio sets up a mysterious world that we can't wait to explore.
Click here to read Action, Ohio!
CAPTAIN LUCK
Writer/Artist: Dan Davis (Celina, OH)
Summary: Captain Jake Luck and Wink Goodwin hunt for fortune in one of the weirdest places on Earth: The Bermuda Triangle! Ghost pirates, ancient relics, disappearing ships, UFOs, lost treasure—just another day at work for the Good-Luck Salvage Company!
What Dan Says: "Captain Luck is set in modern times, but has a classic adventure comic strip feel. It's about two treasure hunters in the Bermuda Triangle whose efforts to find fortune are constantly hampered by the strange paranormal phenomena that haunts the region."
What We Think: Captain Luck looks playful enough, but don't let the visuals fool you. From the wrathful elements to deadly armored mercenary boats, this book is filled with danger.
Click here to read Captain Luck!
CELADORE
Writer/Artist: Caanan Grall (Toronto, Canada)
Summary: Celadore is a centuries-old monster hunter. Christian is a centuries-older vampire. With the day candle in his possession vampires can now walk in the sun. Celadore CAN stop them, only she's not quite feeling herself these days...
What Caanan Says: "Imagine you've been in a coma for three months, and you wake up, but you're not you? You're a centuries old monster hunter in the body of an 11-year-old girl. Imagine you've just failed to stop the vampires from getting their hands on something that allows them to walk in the sun. Imagine you've got to fix things, all the while being plagued by the ghost of the girl who's body you inhabit? Imagine all that, and you're part way to imagining Celadore."
What We Think: With snappy dialogue and fast-paced action, Celadore combines elements of teenage angst and Vampire butt-kicking violence that's sure to please.
Click here to read Celadore!
CHILDREN OF BIGHAND
Writer/Artist: Rudy Dean Guara (Bartlesville, OK)
Summary: Bighand is a giant ape that the military has captured and turned into a mind controlled living weapon. The Children of Bighand set out on a quest to free their father from enslavement, but Bighand has been programmed to kill his own children...
What Rudy Says: "[My] comic is controversial according to the feedback, where [commentators] have accused [me] of endorsing bestiality, which has already made Children of Bighand the most popular entry in the competition. It advances the classic giant ape story to the next level through his children, and has greek tragedy written all over it."
What We Think: If King Kong and Frankenstein had a lovechild, its name would be Bighand. How's that for beastiality? Fans of monster movies will surely get a kick out of this book. And how can you not love a big-footed ape named Cankles?
Click here to read Children of Bighand!
COLONEL MACTAGART
Writer/Artist: Steve Steiner (Meadville, PA)
Summary: Seeking fortune and glory, Colonel MacTagart and his companion, February, go on safari in search of the mysterious creature known as the "Serrapoh."
What Steve Says: "I've been making comics featuring Colonel MacTagart for about eight years now and he's gone through a lot of incarnations in that time. For this comic I really wanted to try and achieve a painterly kind of look, something I've never tried with my comics. It was some of the most fun I've ever had making a comic so I hope that joy shows through somehow."
What We Think: The joy certainly shows, Steve! MacTagart's dialogue and February's lack thereof provide laughs, and the background art proves particularly impressive.
Click here to read Colonel MacTagart!
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"E"
Writer/Artist: Kerry P. Talbott (Richmond, VA)
Summary: Who is the man called only "E?" He can't tell you, because he doesn't know either. What he does know is that he's tired of being harassed by the little green guys that show up at his door every morning to watch him fight their pets. All that's about to change, when two strangely familiar characters show up to help him in his time of need. But have they really come to help him? Or are they just as confused as he is?
What Kerry Says: "I think what sets ["E"] apart [from the other books] is its utter inscrutability... it really makes the reader feel the plight of the main characters. It's also the only one with a 'Planet of the Apes,' Elvis and Bob's Big Boy reference all in the same panel. It may sound easy but I broke three fingers pulling it off."
What We Think: "Inscrutable" just about sums up this deliciously bizarre book. Kerry may have broken three fingers making "E" but we've got three thumbs up to take their place. (Severed thumbs, no less. From our enemies.)
Click here to read "E"!
GOLDEN
Writer: Troy L. Bowen (Dallas, TX)
Artist: Scott McIntire (Easton, MA)
Summary: Golden is the story of Kintaro, the Golden Boy of Japanese legend. The story moves between Kintaro's legendary childhood life in the forests around Mt. Kintoki and his adult life as Kintoki Sakata, master warrior who seeks vengeance for his father's murder.
What Troy Says: "Golden is a blend of historical fiction and legend based on Japanese myth. Kintaro is Tom Sawyer, Daniel Boone and Paul Bunyon rolled into one person. And let's face it, who doesn't love a book with Samurais, sword fights, creepy monsters and cute furry critters (who might possibly be demented furry critters)?"
What Scott Says: "Zuda is probably the best oppurtunity for unknown artist/writers to get seen by editors at the top of the comic book food chain. Web comics is potentially a huge market for comic books and its great to see a company with DC's clout jumping into the market making a big statement. I'm happy to be participating in this grand experiment."
What We Think: From decapitation to cute woodland critters, Golden demonstrates a wide range of emotional potential. If you're interested in Samurai stories with serious character depth, this book is for you. Did we mention it has decapitation?
Click here to read Golden!
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HANNIBAL GOES TO ROME
Writer: Brendan McGinley (Woodhaven, NY)
Artist: Mauro Vargas (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Summary: The amazing, true story of Hannibal Barca, who led elephants over the Alps to annihilate Rome—and almost succeeded! Thrill to tales of strategic genius, tactical daring, and "The Good Stuff" (sex! violence! wine!). It's humorous fun for the whole family, assuming you come from a brutal warrior horde.
What Brendan Says: "Hannibal Goes To Rome has swordfights and beautiful princesses and armor-clad elephants, so it's something everyone can relate to. Oh, and there's violence and sexiness and good jokes, which are three-quarters of what you need for a good story. This month's Zuda contest is a hard brawl, with some really great, deserving strips that I expect will play king of the mountain with us. But again: war elephants."
What We Think: Throw away your history books, Hannibal Goes to Rome is all you'll need to understand the plight of warrior Hannibal Barca. You'll need to strap on your running sandals if you want to keep up with this fantastic, frantically paced comic.
Click here to read Hannibal Goes To Rome!
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THE MEAN MODEL
Writer/Artist: Charlie Podrebarac (Westwood, KA)
Summary: Not all models are mean. But this one sure is. If you're a mean model and you think this is about you, then you probably always think it's about you. And you're probably right.
What Charlie Says: "My cartoon stands out from all the rest like a 6'4" mean model at a gymnastics event. The talent this month is phenomenal, but I think my style and subject matter are unique to the Zuda site. It's not a heavy story but it is good, mean fun. MM's a little different in that she's no superhero but a super-model. This cartoon has legs!"
What We Think: Certainly the least violent of all the comics but by no means the nicest, The Mean Model has a visual style that separates it from the rest of the Zuda competition. But don't expect this model to sleep with you if you vote for her. She definitely won't.
Click here to read The Mean Model!
ROBODEATH
Writer: Marco Della Verde (Tuscany, Italy)
Artist: Stefano Cardoselli (Tuscany, Italy)
Colors: Bill Key (Winston-Salem, NC)
Supervisor: Rita Gorgoni (Apulia, Italy)
Summary: The Realm of Death has been destroyed by humans. The God of the Void wants to rebuild his reign on our planet, slaughtering humanity with his army of living dead. Blue Leaf, a Shaman girl, could save us. But she doesn't want to...
What Marco Says: "An action comic full of robots, living dead and superpowers, which wants to explore important questions such as forgiveness, equilibrium, [and] the need of noble ideals to save a f—ked up world! If you want to know more about this issue while reading [about] supernatural action and tons of bullets, just give us your vote!"
What We Think: Question: What do you get when you put together zombies with giant guns, a tank that transforms into a robot, a female shaman armed to the teeth and human heads hollowed out to serve as bird's nests? Answer: Robodeath. Bring it on.
Click here to read Robodeath!
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