Zuda Comics:
If you haven’t heard, Zuda Comics is the newest online initiative by DC Comics. Some charge that it is an intellectual property farm that will take ideas away from their creators. Others see it as an opportunity to launch their comic book careers. It has gotten a lot of press recently that could easily launch this idea forward with a lot of hits. No doubt there will be a lot of eyes on this website, how it treats it’s winners, and who will rise out of the pack as the next comic star.The Entries:
Title: Alpha MonkeyWriter/Artist: Bobbie Rubio/Howard M. Shum
Summary: In a misguided attempt to save his son from the destruction of Earth by a comet (which then happens to miss the Earth entirely) a scientist rockets his son into another dimension. The child ends up on a parallel world ruled by Monkeys! Given unique powers by the planet’s bananas, the young boy fights off invading monsters as the planet’s new defender, Alpha Monkey!
Comments: Interesting premise and you probably had me until the unique powers with bananas. I am imagining that this entry is in the comedy vain, but I worry it could easily go into a realm of silliness that won’t be very funny.
Title: This American Strife
Writer/Artist: Jason Longo
Summary: A quirky, humorous “Dear Diary” recounting of the artist’s observations on life, This American Strife is a sharp-witted visual stab at editorial blogging.
Comments: I can’t think of a comic based on blogging, so this could easily be one of those “firsts” that spawn a bunch of copycats. If the original is good, then you won’t have to worry too much. It’s gonna have to be plenty “sharp” if it is going to survive.
Title: Battlefield Babysitter
Writer/Artist: Matthew Humphreys
Summary: In a family of superheroes, in a city of superheroes, in a world of superheroes, Katherine Fields is a babysitter. But when a routine night of babysitting turns into a villainous invasion, Katherine finds herself transformed into a super strong heroine. At $8.00 and hour, it’s going to be a long night.
Comments: The babysitter premise is pretty fun, but the name has got to go. I would have liked this one to stay more in the realm with the babysitting of superhero children. I think that could be a lot of fun.
Title: Black Swan
Writer/Artist: Mulele Jarvis
Summary: A young college student, Nina, is embroiled in a 500-year-old vendetta when she encounters a spirit bound to a mystic dagger left on her doorstep. Implicated in murder and on the run from a detective possessed by a rival spirit it’s up to Nina to relive an age-old battle – without dying in the process.
Comments: The term “black swan” is a metaphor for something that cannot exist. Again, is it action? Comedy? Something in between? It seems that a lot of these titles are shooting for something that hasn’t been quite successful yet. I hope they pull it off.
Title: Dead in the Now
Writer/Artist: Corey Lewis
Summary: When Braz – a young, cynical boy – discovers the world’s first authentic zombie he decides to end Earth’s monotonous routine and usher in an age of zombie-infested, chaotic adventure! Gathering supplies and weapons, Braz sets his friends up like modern, urban Lost Boys with himself as their Pan.
Comments: I’m also a sucker for Zombies. I think the problem I may have with this premise is that I already hate Braz, the main character. He finds a zombie and uses it to usher in the apocalypse? What a jerk! When you find a zombie, shoot it in the brain kids, shoot it in the brain.
Title: The Dead Seas
Writer/Artist: Pop Mhan
Summary: Legions of undead controlled by Necromancer warlords destroy life as we know it, plunging the Earth into a futuristic Dark Age. But it’s adventure and romance on The Dead Seas as a swashbuckling young pirate named Devin teams up with an adventurous crusader name Luna. Armed with the secret of Pandora’s Box, they set out destroy the Necromancers and save the world.
Comments: I’m a sucker for post-apocalyptic settings. This story could attract a lot of different groups with it’s romance/adventure genre, but it will need to strike a careful balance or it could easily loose either group.
Title: The Enders
Writer/Artist: Tim Smith III
Summary: Aluna didn’t ask to be given godlike power and she certainly didn’t ask for her parents to be killed in the process – but the enigmatic alien known as The Ender works in mysterious ways. Without time to grieve, Aluna is tasked with using her power to save the Earth from imminent destruction. The only question – how?
Comments: Hmmm. When I hear the word “Ender” I think of Ender’s game, a classic sci-fi book and one of my favorites going up. Is it bad of me to compare just based on that? I guess that’s something to think of when you are starting a new concept. You don’t want people thinking of something else when they hear about your webcomic. All that aside, it has promise.
Continue on to the rest of the Zuda Comics lineup.
