Here’s a little more from writer Neil Kleid about his Zuda comic “Action, Ohio.”
Matt Price: How did you decide to submit to Zuda, and what was the process like?
Neil Kleid: Paul (Salvi) and I originally were going to pitch the series to Image and assorted print publishers, but I’d been jonesing to do something for Zuda and this project was in the early stages (at least in our partnership, it was - I’ve been working on this for years!) enough to reformat it for the Zuda proportions. I’ve had several friends and collaborators involved with the Zuda competition in the past, some whom have gone on to great success like David (HIGH MOON) Gallaher, Dean (STREET CODE) Haspiel, Kevin (STRANGLESWITCH) Colden and Jim (SAM AND LILAH) Dougan. With their encouragement and support, Paul and I created eight pages - a prologue of the larger ongoing story - and through the Zuda site, registered, filled out personal information and sent in the art and a short synopsis. It took about two months until we heard we were in the May competition and boy, it’s been promote, promote, get votes ever since!
MP: What’s been interesting, so far, about being a Zuda creator?
NK: I’m not big on confrontation, so it’s pretty hard to be walking the walk and talking the talk, getting people to vote for me instead of the other guy - especially when the other guy has a great comic that I’D vote for if it wasn’t running against my own! What I love about Zuda, though, is the fiercely dedicated community on and off the comment threads and message boards who aren’t afraid to tell you what they think of the comic and even if they won’t vote for you why they like it. Sure, it gets a bit heated, but it’s the internet, right? I’m sure if my comic wasn’t up against their friend’s comic, they wouldn’t have a problem sitting down to see where Action,
MP: Is there anything else you’d like to mention?
NK: Just that Action,