FOG! Chats It Up With ZUDA COMICS Creators Tony Trov and Johnny Zito

San Diego Comic-Con International 2010 went into the books a week and a half ago, but as always, its impact is still felt throughout the geek sphere. If you were there, you're probably still decompressing as we speak, and if you weren't, you're probably still catching up on all the news to come out of it.

No Comic-Con catch up would be complete without seeing the video recap from Philadelphia-based creators Tony Trov and Johnny Zito. The two writing partners are best known for their Zuda Comics offerings, La Morte Sisters and Black Cherry Bombshells, and talked a little about their Comic-Con 2010 experience with Forces of Geek.



FORCES OF GEEK: How many Comic-Con appearances have you made in your comics career?

TONY TROV: This was our 3rd time out at San Diego.

JOHNNY ZITO: It's an extreme place that is becoming part of our regular routine.

FOG: How did this year stack up against past Comic-Cons for you?

JZ: Last year we drove out on a cross country trip from Philadelphia. It was intense and we were out of minds by the time we got to Comic Con.

TT: It feels like every year Comic-Con gets a little bit bigger. It's hard to imagine that next year will be even larger. There's rumors of the convention moving to Anaheim since San Diego is on the brink of being overrun so many cosplayers.

FOG: This year, you debuted two original series exclusively for the Comixology iPhone/iPad app. Tell me a bit about Moon Girl Fights Crime and Carnivale De Robotique.


JZ: Moon Girl is [a super-hero thriller] about masked vigilantes waging a war of terror against the rich and powerful of 1950's New York.

TT: Carnivale De Robotique is about Wendy, a nanny droid who runs away to join the robot circus. We've been referring to it as a fairy tale from the future.

FOG: How is creating for the iPhone/iPad compared to your previous digital work for Zuda?

TT: Comixology's guided viewing experience is very cinematic. Our Zuda titles were illustrated in a wide screen format as well. Coming from a film background that really appeals to us.

JZ: Thanks to the freedom of the net we get to do a five page spread in Black Cherry Bombshells or include graphic supplementals in Moon Girl. Zuda and Comixology have been extremely supportive in helping get our ideas out there.

FOG: What's next for the two of you?

TT: We're releasing more Moon Girl and Carnival De Robotique for ComiXology and a new project called DOGS of Mars in the next few months.

JZ: Our Zuda comics, Black Cherry Bombshells and LaMorte Sisters will be available in the fall on the DC Comics App.

TT: Check out our studio, SouthFellini.com, for updates.

FOG: One last question: from your perspective, do you feel Comic-Con is getting too big for comics, or does the medium still have a strong enough presence there?

TT: It's funny because the first word in Comic-Con is comics, yet there's so much more.

JZ: It is a mecca of geek culture; everyone must make the pilgrimage once. It's a place where we can all meet, share ideas and live in harmony.

TT: Except for that guy who stabbed his friend in the eye with a pen.

JZ: I said I was sorry, bro.