February 2006 Brings ZOMBIE-SAMA!

[BillyTucci]

Thank You Frankster.

Happy New Year!

[The Frankster]

Happy New Year toyou to and all of you.  This year will be my year in the Chinese new year (dog) some I'm hoping for good things this year.

[BillyTucci]

 
THE PULSE: Why do you think recently Zombies have become so hot with just about every media doing something featuring the walking dead?

Hello Jen!

Aside from Nazi's, zombies seem to be the only villains one can have that won't offend or alienate any one.


THE PULSE: What is your attraction to this type of story?

Personally, I've always been fascinated with Zombies, and for years wondered just how they came to be.  I believe in "Night of the Living Dead."  They hinted at a space mission that brought back some dust or something.  

Regardless, I LOVE ZOMBIES, and have a running zombie epic that I've been developing since high school.  Every time I visit someone I check to see (and inform them) if their home is zombie-proof or not.   Then I go about figuring out an escape plan for them as well.  Anyhow, it always gets a big laugh, but then again, it could save your life!




THE PULSE: How are your zombies different from the typical ones prevalent in comics and film now?

I'm trying to add a subplot that mirrors fear and persecution.  We have a elderly couple in the first book who actually survived the Holocaust.  Though the book is a basically a dark comedy, I don't want it to be devoid of the humanity and the fact that there are indeed monsters on this earth.  At one point one of our heroes, Abe, saves the kids as "this isn't the first time we've been hunted by monsters."

THE PULSE: How'd you come up with loser turned hero Jim?

Everyone has a calling in life.  A circumstances make the person.  Jim's just an ordinary chap trying to find his place in this world.  I love the idea that he absorbs his mentor Sanjuro's teachings about sushi and channels that into the way of the warrior.
THE PULSE: What are some of the things that influenced you when working on this? How did you take those influences and try to create something fresh?

Again, I've had this zombie story in my head for over 20 years, so I've had lots of time to develop it.  Of course, there wouldn't be a "Zombie-sama!" if it weren't for George Romero and I love the running zombies in  "Return of the Living Dead."  But what really got me going again was the remake of "Dawn of the Dead."  Though "Zombie-sama!" was mostly developed by the time I saw "Shaun of the Dead", it did inspire me to add the more human aspects of the plot.

To create something fresh, I basically took those influences and combined it with my love of the samurai and their code of life.  To be honest, it kind of all fell into place quite nicely having this kid's true calling be to slaughter zombies and save what's left of humanity.

THE PULSE: How did the world become infected with this biological disease that turned some of them into zombies?

Our zombies are the result of a mysterious "Red Rain" brought about when a sunken submarine from the former Soviet submarine is salvaged in the North Atlantic.  As it nears the surface, there is an explosion.  A mushroom cloud containing the sub's contents mixes with the atmosphere creating a suffocating  "Red Rain" that through trade winds is carried across the earth's northern hemisphere.

Once the "Red Rain" makes land and contact with humans all hell breaks loose as the
rain contains radioactive toxins depleting the red blood cells of oxygen killing them.
So this "red rain" is, in a sense the victims suffocating to death.   But the cancer is so
aggressive  and the white blood cell count so high, it's actually shocking the victim's
central nervous system into reanimation. In other words, the infected are dying coming
back to life in search of the oxygen carried by red blood cells.  And how they get that is
to take the blood of the living.


THE PULSE: Why does Jim take up the quest as "Yo Jimbo" to destroy Zombies?

It's simply Jim's calling. He really doesn't know a damn thing about being a samurai or martial arts, but has seen a ton of movies and "if you act like a hero, you will be one."  It's a very idealistic attitude, but if your in a situation where flesh eaters are tearing apart everyone you love, and you've got this really sweet katana hanging above the cash register, well, you'll know what to do.

THE PULSE: Besides Jim and the Zombies, who else are main characters in this?

Sanjuro owns the sushi resturaunt Jim works in and asks as a sort of sage, but of course he goes down (only to return at books end) defending Jim and the others.  Then there's Jim's sweetheart Suzy, who's just left him for an asshole named Brad, and his buddies, Dewey and Steph who are along for the ride.  As I mentioned earlier, there's the holocaust survivor Abe and his wife Paula.  All are aided by the Finney family who are hunters.

THE PULSE: What was the most fun about writing something like this?

The blood, my god woman the blood!  Also to explore sci-fi and horror.  Something I don't get a chance to do AT ALL!

[BillyTucci]

THE PULSE: How long did it take you to get this story done?

Again, it's been over 20 years in the making, but the story truly came together in 05'.

THE PULSE: Who is John Broglia?
I have no idea.

THE PULSE: What's it like working with him on this project?

Seriously though, John's an animator with this really terrific style that lends itself perfectly to our story.  He's really great to work with because he's so mellow and just wants to draw and write comics himself.  He's only 24 so it's good being around someone who's really enthusiastic and hasn't been jaded by the comics industry.

THE PULSE: What type of style is he using to illustrate this story?

John's style is very animation-like.  He knows how to draw movement and bring life to his figures and their surroundings.  It really helps move the story along at a smooth pace and is very clean and great to look at.

THE PULSE: What's coming up in your other comics work?
John will be illustrating our next book "The Magnificent 7th Graders."  "Mag 7" is created by JC Vaughn, Mark Haynes, Steven Peros and myself.  That will be out this summer.  I'll soon be writing and illustrating "A Child is Born" for Narwain.  I'm also writing the next Shi series for Dark Horse, Victoria Cross (which I might publish) and have a few secret "Main Stream" projects on the way as well.    

THE PULSE: What projects outside of comics are you working on?
I'm currently  working on the first set of revisions for the Shi screenplay with Kevin Bernhardt for producer Mimi Gitlin. I've also got to head out to California for "Mag 7" meetings.   So as it is right now, I'm pretty damn busy!

[kikuchiyo]

asshole named Brad

Billy, this part kills me.
Anyway, great interview. Having sat with you for numerous hours at cons, I feel as if I was there listening. I cannot wait for this title as well as the others.
btw, great image that you posted earlier.

[BillyTucci]

Thanks!  
The books looks great .  John Broglia did a really, really great job!

[jsniderfamily]

What is PULSE?

[sllamky01]

What is PULSE?

I found this

http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=004739

[california69gs]

I'm really looking forward to this one!  I'm a HUGE zombie fan!

[sllamky01]

I'm really looking forward to this one!  I'm a HUGE zombie fan!

How dose that not surprise me!

[california69gs]

LOL

[BillyTucci]

Here's my cover for Zombie-sama!  I'm trying to get them to make the zombie's eyes all red.  Let me know what you think...

[jsniderfamily]

Billy, Let us know how to buy them.  Narwain should not make it this tough to find an outlet.  Same with the hurricane artwork.

[pctchuck]

If you get them to go with red eyes, make sure that they set the colors so that they are different from the red in the tongues, dripping blood and the girl's top.

[california69gs]

nice work, I'm looking forward to this. Why not make it a ruby edition and get the zombie eye's in "rubby" along with the title.