Recently, one of our Guest Comic Writers: Little Mel was able to chat with Terrance Zdunich.  He was the Graverobber in REPO! The Genetic Opera and is now the author and illustrator of the new comic series: The Molting.  Enjoy!

Writer/Artist

You are both an artist and a writer. Do you prefer one over the other and why?
I do not see much of a difference in them. I believes all art is story telling and I approach it that way. It’s about the story you’re telling, not how it’s being told.

How long does it take you to complete an issue of “The Molting”? What is the process of creating an issue?
I am still sort of new to the comic book creating process and am still figuring out the time line. If I work diligently an issue takes me about two months. This also includes printing, formatting files and the like. As far as the process goes, it starts with a story. The next step is to take the story and divide it into 12 chapters in comic form. I begin with thumbnail sketches, then inks and tighting up lines. The inked drawings are colored by a colorist in Photoshop, and finally a letterist adds his portion and the issue is conformed to printer specs.

Which artist and writers are your biggest inspirations?
Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman.

What was the first thing you ever wrote/drew?
This may not be the first thing I drew, but I remember it being the first drawing that I received positive encouragement from, and that was Mickey Mouse. My Mom asked if I traced it and when I told her no she said, “good job, son”. Disneyland is referenced in The Molting, so things, in a way, have come full circle.

Have you ever considered putting REPO! in comic book form or even continuing the story of REPO! in a comic book (ala Joss Whedon with Buffy)?
I get this question a lot. Of course, I’d love to see REPO! continue in a lot of different forms. I personally would not be interested in creating a REPO! comic for a few different reasons. First, I feel I have successfully told the biggest version of REPO! I can tell: the film. Now I want to tell new stories. The second reason is that I don’t own REPO! anymore. Lastly, I think it would be nice to see another artist take up the reigns on the project. Someone had an idea of doing an illustrated version of REPO!’s original script. Doing this would give people a chance to see the original version of the story before it was made into a film.

What book should everyone read?
1984-George Orwell or the Dictionary.

Music/Performing

Can you play any instruments? If not, which one would you most like to learn?
I can play guitar as well as piano somewhat. At one time performing music was more important to me, but I rarely pick up any instruments these days. If I had the choice, I would have liked to put more time into perfecting the piano.

Musically, who are you inspirations? Have people told you, that you sound like any particular singer(s)?
The musicians who really wow me or affected me emotionally are; Tom Waits and Mo-town (which is a whole plethora of singers). Vocally, I’ve been compared to Danny Elfman, but I’d like to think I’m unique.

What is your favorite song in REPO?
I like the tracks that are transitional numbers more than the big songs. The writer in me likes the technical chops on display. Songs such as, “Everyone’s a composer” and “Happiness in Not a Warm Scalpel”. There are unusual musical changeups and dynamic meters in these tracks that a popular song like “Zydrate Anatomy” doesn’t have. Songs such as Zydrate need to be “head-bobbable” so they can’t be too weird.

Tell us about Orpheus: A Season in Hell and Chain of Souls.
There are things that existed deep, deep in my past. Orpheus is a rock opera and Chain of Souls is a movie I was an extra in. I like that people are taking an interest in things I have done, but those projects are not indicative of who I am as an artist today and if people go into them looking for GraveRobber, they will disappointed.

What CDs people should listen to?
Tom Waits-Alice and Marilyn Manson-Antichrist Superstar.

Miscellaneous

Does the admiration and attention from females ever get annoying or tiresome?
The attention is new and I probably won’t ever get used to it. However, it doesn’t get tiring it’s flattering. The attention comes more from what people write on the internet than literally coming on to me personally. It doesn’t happen as much as people assume it does, but when it does it’s awesome and who doesn’t want to be loved?

Is this where you saw your life going when you were younger? Did you envision one day you would have all this attention as an artist?
Just because I made REPO! and it has cult success with the film does not mean I have everything. I am still trying to make ends meet, I want to find happiness and have not settled into a life of comfort. However, I did not see things going this way and am happy with the way that things are going.

What would the biography of your life be titled?
I hope I have many years left before a bio is written of my life, but I hope my epitaph would have the words artist and influential in it.

Rachel of Northampton wants to know, what is your favorite way to prepare potatoes?
I haven’t ever prepared potatoes, but my favorite kind is French fries. I don’t really give it a lot of thought and neither should Rachel.

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