Pray For Death

 Zuda Comics was one of the most insane things that ever happened to me. DC Comics does not accept open submissions from creators. Zuda was a way to get your foot in that door and the indie comics community was eager for the opportunity. When DC announced the Zuda contest format of 10 8-page comics fighting for reader votes for a month, I decided that I would win the very first contest. They later surprised us all by saying that the first contest would actually all be solicited pitches and the open submissions would begin with the second contest. Minor Details.

I wish I could remember exact dates, but it has been 18 years. Regardless, PRAY FOR DEATH launched in the December 2007 contest. I remember having a weirdly calm and confident attitude about the contest. I did everything I could to get the word out and get people to vote. I sent emails to anyone and everyone, posted on message boards and even helped people find the website, then teach them how to use it. When the first rankings came out, I was number one. It was unbelievable.

This actually caused a bit of outrage from the burgeoning Zuda community. It seemed like the second place comic, THE CROOKED MAN, was the actual favorite. I took a lot of criticism, but stayed on top in the rankings. Dani's art was compared to a baby's diaper wiped across a computer screen. I'd been accused of being married to a Disney CEO that forced all of her employees to vote for me and a troll from one of the message boards that I posted on, followed me over to Zuda where he posted some messages that had to be removed by the moderators.

 A couple of days before the contest was set to end, PRAY FOR DEATH moved to second place. We stayed in second place until the morning that the results were announced. Somehow, that aforementioned calm confidence remained intact. "We'll be back in #1 before the end." I'd say. And I was right. I still wonder if the moderators changed it up just to create tension, but the end result was still sweet.

I won a contract with DC comics to complete a 60 page graphic novel. It was a dream come true. And it was bound to get more interesting. Check back soon to hear about how much things changed between our 8 page contest entry, and the first pages published with the Zuda Comics editorial team.

And don't forget, PRAY FOR DEATH is available in print for the first time ever, on Kickstarter! Support it now! brokenoarcomics.com

Nick