Michael Zulli's career in the comics industry began in October 1986 with The Puma Blues,[1] on which he collaborated with writer Stephen Murphy.

Zulli illustrated the characters, wildlife and natural landscapes in the polluted post-industrial environment of the story's not-too-distant future.

"[5] He drew a never-published issue of DC Comics' Swamp Thing in which the title character meets Jesus Christ.

[6][7] In the 1990s another unfinished and unpublished story, Sweeney Todd, written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Zulli for Stephen R. Bissette's publication Taboo was stopped when the anthology itself was discontinued.

He also began illustrating for several newer Vertigo imprint titles including Winter's Edge, Witchcraft: La Terreur and Sandman Presents: Love Street.