Chip Zdarsky’s Wild New Comic: Robots, Romance, and a Canada-U.S. Crisis!

Award-winning writer Chip Zdarsky, famous for his popular stint on Batman, is branching out creatively with a unique sci-fi romance comic titled White House Robot Romance. Published by DSTLRY, this new series is a collaboration between Zdarsky and artist Rachael Stott. The story revolves around two kitchen robots, Chef-9 and Service-1, who unexpectedly start a romantic relationship while unwittingly causing an international rift between America and Canada.

In the narrative, Chef-9 and Service-1’s unconventional love story unfolds when the latter is scheduled for decommissioning. The robots escape from the White House together, only to find that Service-1’s memory banks contain sensitive information that could potentially disrupt relations between the two neighboring nations.

The series, featuring vibrant colors by Tamra Bonvillain and lettering by Ariana Maher, marks a notable shift from Zdarsky’s recent superhero projects while retaining his distinctive mix of humor, emotion, and social observation.

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but express my excitement about this project. It’s got science fiction and political intrigue, sure, but what truly captivates me is the classic tale of romance at its core. Writing the love story between Service-1 and Chef-9 has been an absolute joy, and seeing their relationship unfold under Rachael and Tamra’s skillful direction has been a sheer delight. I can’t wait for everyone to fall in love with these characters just as deeply as I have!



Stott, well-known for her contributions to “Doctor Who” and “Star Trek”, enthusiastically commented that the project at hand is an exceptional challenge in a delightful manner. She shared that she’s drawing inspiration from classic sci-fi, suspenseful spy tales, and of course, timeless star-crossed love stories. Crafting these characters and making them feel genuine has been an exhilarating journey for her. DSTLRY, a burgeoning comic book publisher specializing in creator-owned comics, will showcase each issue of “White House Robot Romance” in their premium Prestige format, boasting wraparound covers with glossy spots on sturdy cover material and 48 pages of engaging content per issue.

Chip Zdarsky’s Career Shows Why You Should Be Excited About White House Robot Romance

Steve Zdarsky, who initially made a name for himself as an illustrator and humorist at Canada’s National Post under his real name Steve Murray, later created the character Chip Zdarsky for his comics work. Starting off as a somewhat melancholic cartoonist persona, he transformed into one of the industry’s most unique voices, garnering attention through both indie and mainstream projects. Given this diverse background, Zdarsky is exceptionally well-suited to take on a narrative that seamlessly combines geopolitical issues, romance, and artificial intelligence.

Through his groundbreaking partnership with writer Matt Fraction on the comic series “Sex Criminals” at Image Comics, Chip Zdarsky clinched the 2014 Eisner Award for Best New Series, demonstrating his knack for blending outrageous wit with heartfelt narrative storytelling. In the same year, he was also honored with the Harvey Award for Most Promising New Talent. Since then, Zdarsky has amassed a significant number of industry awards, including numerous additional Eisner and Harvey wins. His adaptability became evident as he moved from being predominantly recognized as an artist to emerging as one of Marvel’s and DC’s most desired writers.

As a comic book enthusiast, I’ve been captivated by Chip Zdarsky’s work at Marvel. He breathed life into the humorous charm of ‘Howard the Duck’ and infused deep emotional depth in his 36-issue run on ‘Daredevil’, which concluded in 2021, followed by the gripping event series ‘Devil’s Reign’. His limited series, ‘Spider-Man: Life Story’, reimagined Peter Parker growing up alongside American history, demonstrating Zdarsky’s knack for weaving personal character growth with broader social contexts. Lately, his stint on DC’s iconic ‘Batman’ title, wrapping up in February 2025 with issue #157, solidified his standing as one of the top superhero writers in comics today.

The “White House Robot Romance” series appears ready to capitalize on Zdarsky’s proven abilities while delving into fresh artistic domains. As a creator with dual citizenship, Zdarsky is uniquely qualified to scrutinize geopolitical tensions through a humorous perspective. DSTLRY Co-Founder and CCO Chip Mosher underscored the series’ relevance by saying it “tackles issues that resonate today: fear, conflict, and the quest for connection in a tech-driven world. It’s exciting, timely, and… unexpectedly romantic.

Although DSTLRY hasn’t specified an exact launch date for the initial issue, their presentation in the Prestige format hints at their dedication towards providing the series as a high-quality, immersive reading experience.

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2025-03-14 00:46