Di Bona dabbles in comics

'Monster' bow for comicbook

By MARC GRASER

Vin Di Bona Comics will roll out 'Urban Monsters' on Feb. 27.

Di Bona

Television producer Vin Di Bona is expanding into the comicbook biz, forming Vin Di Bona Comics and readying to launch its first title, "Urban Monsters" later this month.

The three-issue series revolves around four monster buddies on a cross-country road trip through the heartland of human-dominated America in pursuit of the Hollywood dream. Travels turn into the road trip from hell complete with werewolves and chupacabras.

Comedic concept was created by Andrew Stroscher; Will Wilson and Joanne Moore, prexy of film development and production for Vin Di Bona Prods., penned the book, and Tone Rodriguez produced the artwork.

First installment bows Feb. 27 in comicbook stores nationwide. Book's being published through Shadowline, an imprint of Image Comics.

Vin Di Bona has yet to determine which comicbook to produce next, though follow-ups will stick close to the comedy genre given the producer's focus over the years.

"For Vin, (comicbooks) were a way to expand his brand and a way to nurture new talent in a cool and interesting way," Moore said.

Last month the producer of ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" partnered with tech firm Dave Networks to launch a reality TV-centric online venture dubbed Reality.TV that could incubate new ideas for skeins.