Frank Zanca began working in local television at the age of 22 when he became a Promotional Producer for Channel 9, the Orlando ABC affiliate. During this time he wrote and produced thirty-second spots for the newscast and syndicated shows such as Geraldo and Sally Jesse Raphael. Later he worked as a Production Assistant on NBC’s Gonzo Games and Dick Clark’s Sea World Summer Spectacular. Frank created and wrote his first comic book, which was distributed internationally under the name of Shadow Raven.
First Comics News: Who is Dante Cainella?
Frank Zanca: Dante is the head of the Cainella crime family. He’s the level-headed one of the two, who harbors a strategic mind. He takes what he wants and doesn’t care what other people think. He’s suave and debonaire. He has a fling with Marilyn Monroe and he bites Lena but doesn’t turn her. He has been a vampire since the dawn of time, though it is not widely known. Dante and Vincent are brothers.
1st: Who is Vincent Abellino?
Frank: The hothead of the pair. He rules mostly by emotion, which is why Helena is so instrumental in his affairs. Vincent works a great deal in munitions and small arms deals. After six decades, he still holds a torch for Lena.
1st: Who is Lena Morgan?
Frank: Lena is a lounge singer who believes in the Hollywood dream. Her mother is Chinese, and her father is American. Her mother migrated to the US after WWI. Lena has an amazing singing voice. Her exotic looks immediately caught the Dons’ eyes, but her heart belonged to Ricky Donovan, a WW II vet, who worked for both Dons at one time or another. She and Donovan were married and had a child.
1st: What is the relationship between the Dons and Lena?
Frank: To Dante she was nothing more than a trophy to be won, but to Vincent, he truly loved her, In his own warped, controlling way.
1st: Who are Gianna & Rosaria Demetra?
Frank: They are twin sisters who own the Club Silk. They were turned by Emil Vorigan, the Lord of Vegas. He was a rich real estate tycoon, and they were peasant girls whose family was killed during a Navajo raid in 1831. They’ve always run Vorigan’s taverns as long as they can remember. They hire Lena to sing, which kicks off all the events that transpire. Gianna falls in love with Lena’s grandson, who goes to work for Vincent.
1st: Who is Jack Dragna?
Frank: The Dragna family name is synonymous with crime. They were forced out of LA by Cainella and Abellino. Lena offered Jack a deal to have him relocated back to California and she would help him take over the market. Little did she know that his ambition would push him to betray her. Of course, his underestimation of her would be his undoing.
1st: Who is Dominic Lucci?
Frank: Dominic is Dante’s right-hand man. He may not be the smartest of Dante’s lackeys, but he is the most loyal. His boyish charm and finesse along with his sense of humor make others underestimate him. His frame is thin and wiry, but when others pick a fight with him, watch out. He served in WWII in the infantry, but he’s no stranger to war.
1st: When does the story take place?
Frank: The story takes back simultaneously between 1952 and 2016.
1st: What is Lena’s relationship with her son?
Frank: Lena has no relationship with her son. When she sees him again, he is an old man with a family of his own. She tries to reconnect with her grandson since she is closer to his age than her own son. When she stops by the house as nothing more than a stranger, her son sees the resemblance to his mother, and Lena leaves abruptly.
1st: In the first volume, the pages set in the 1950s had a tan background, while the pages that take place in 2006 had a blue background is that still true in this issue?
Frank: To some degree, but the panels take up most of the page in this one, so there’s very little background, but when there is, I do put the colors in.
1st: What does the backer have to know about issue 1 before reading issue 2?
Frank: I will have a synopsis on the inside page, but you need to know that in 1952 Lena was hypnotized and bitten by Dante, but he did not turn her. Dante and Vincent are at odds over everything but share a city and even sit across the room from each other at the Silk. In the first issue, Lena is introduced to Ricky Donovan, an enforcer for the Abellino family, but Dante wants to poach him. In the present day, Lena gets her grandson out of a jam with plans of becoming friends with him and getting introduced to the rest of the family. Using Dragna’s men, she destroys Vincent’s enforcers and steals his gun shipment. Dragna is not used to taking orders and wants out of their deal. Back in 1952 Gianna and Ro are tortured by Emil Vorigan, the Lord of Vegas, who is visiting. Both Vincent and Dante are not fans.
1st: Marilyn Monroe shows up in issue 1, any famous guest stars in issue 2?
Frank: Marilyn Monroe makes a bigger appearance in this issue and so does Barbara Stanwyck. Dante visits their set of “Clash by Night,” which is a real movie.
1st: If backers missed the first issue, will it be available as an add-on?
Frank: Yes, and they will have their choice of several covers. Several others were retired after the last campaign.
1st: What is the minimum pledge for a digital copy?
Frank: $6.00 for early bird.
1st: What is the minimum pledge for a print copy?
Frank: $11.00 for early bird and $15 for the naughty cover.
1st: What is the URL of the Kickstarter?
Frank: Kickstarter.com
1st: What makes Lords of LA so cool no true comic fan should miss it?
Frank: Lords of LA marries several genres together. It’s the Sopranos meets True Blood. Not only is there plenty of action, gore, and nudity, but there’s also heart, as we discover Lena’s tragic history and her longing to be part of the family she was forced to abandon. Then there’s also the mystery – who turned her and why? All these elements make for a good story that will keep you turning the pages.
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