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Zero Killer: Reference for an Ass-Kicking

Zero Killer, a comic of mine that finally came out in collection last July, is set in an alternate-present where the United States never dropped atom bombs on Japan to end World War II. So things are ever-so-slightly different: there was a global nuclear war in 1973.

Zero, the main character, practices a martial art born in the cell blocks of Riker's Island. Apparently this martial art actually exists, but I don't know very much about it. No one does, except for the guys who practice it, and they're not too keen on sharing.

You fight barefoot, like Zero, using your toes to jump up and grab the rim of toilet bowls, shower rails, whatever, to get a height advantage on your attacker, and then you use quick strikes to vulnerable areas like the eyes and throat (nice!). Or so I'm told. I believe it's different from "52 Blocks", an American-born martial art that's been getting some of attention lately.

That's the extent of my knowledge, so I used Kempo, a martial art I'm more familiar with, to choreograph the fight scenes. Later on, when Zero gets his knives, he uses Arnis, a Filipino style similar to Escrima.

The actions scenes in Zero Killer would not have turned out as well as they did without the help of my friend and professional fight choreographer, Kenny Burgin. One day we climbed onto the roof of our apartment building in Queens – in 100º heat and 90% humidity! – to take reference pictures for Matt, the artist. There's a big difference between knowing how to fight and making a fight look good. Kenny really schooled me, and I'm in his debt.

Click away for larger images and descriptions of the simulated brutality!

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