DF Interview: Zach Howard wants to “keister you with a fistful of endless fun” in ‘Moonshine Bigfoot’

By Byron Brewer

Buzzard County, 1981: Moonshine Bigfoot spends his days making a living while outwitting clueless cops, reckless rivals, and buffoonish Bigfoot hunters. All is hunky-dory until he draws the attention of an Illuminati-esque cabal. With his partner in life and crime, Amethyst, our hairy hero is about to learn that some problems can't be handled just by jumping them in a souped-up Mach 1.

From Syzygy Publishing and Image Comics, creators Zach Howard (Wild Blue Yonder) and Steven Ellis (High Moon) along with writer Mike Marlow team up with colorist Nelson Daniel for the upcoming four-issue action-comedy miniseries, Moonshine Bigfoot. The aura of fun of this book literally drew me in, so I sat down with co-writer and inker Zach Howard to see what it’s all about!

Byron Brewer: Zach, Moonshine Bigfoot sounds like a lot of fun to create and to read, kind of reflective of 1981 (your book’s time period) when you could still have fun and laugh! How was this title conceived?

Zach Howard: Our goal was absolutely to make a fun comic where the reader just gets to enjoy every aspect of this wonderful medium. We missed comic books that entertain and are enjoyable to make so we just invented our own.

Mike Marlow and I conceived Moonshine Bigfoot on a road trip driving through the mountains at 2 am, trying to keep ourselves awake. Both of us were mocking modern comics and movie making and how they seem to be just industries of just cowardly retreading a tire. “Wow, Batman has three new lines on his comic, and this time he endangers fewer children! Or more! F*ck you! Who cares and give us your money!  Or better yet, let’s make another Dukes of Hazzard, but this time we’re going to do the same things as the last seven remakes, but this time we’ll use prettier actors!”

Crap like that sucks the marrow from my bones. However, while I was mocking the Dukes of Hazzard 7, I suggested that Hollywood at least try something new and fun, like have Bigfoot driving the damn car this time! That idea just wouldn’t stop taking residence in my noggin, and that usually means something. I bugged Mike a few months later and he felt the same way so we decided to see if we could make a story out of it. Next thing we knew, we were making a loving satire of 1981 Americana.

Byron: Before we hit the comics deep dive, explain the collaboration of you, co-writer Mike Marlow, and artist Steven Ellis (with you doing the inks!) and how this apparently well-oiled machine operated in producing this action-comedy comic.

Zach Howard: It’s a little more convoluted than the normal factory-floor comic book production. We want this book to look exceptional, and tell a story that feels new, yet comfortable. That takes a bit of elbow grease, but we feel it was worth it.

Basically Mike and I talk out the story for each issue, and break it down into scenes with page counts. Then Mike does the trench-work for writing the script, then I jump in and do a heavy edit pass to get the script ready for Steve to pencil.  After Steve pencils, I do what is traditionally known as “Finishes” in the comics medium. That is, I take the pencils, use them as detailed breakdowns, then reframe, polish, and ink the pages.

After that they are sent off to Nelson Daniel for the best colors in the industry. Once those masterpieces get back to us, I do a final dialogue pass with Clara Meath to punch up and ratify the final dialogue for Thompson Knox lettering.

Byron: Introduce readers to Moonshine Bigfoot. Who is he: one of the mythic beasts? A mutant moonshiner? A remnant of Dukes of Hazzard? What is his story?

Zach Howard: The Moonshiner, the myth, the legend.  One cool and clever cryptid.  Shockingly rational for a legendary creature, and a relentless skeptic at heart.  Moonshine Bigfoot has been outwitting a variety of Buzzard County buffoons for years; however, he is about to learn that not every problem can be solved with a totally awesome car jump.

Byron: What can you tell us about his relationship with Amethyst, and what is Amethyst’s story?

Zach Howard: You know the saying: Behind every great cryptozoological outlaw is an even greater circus hippie!  Amethyst is more than just Bigfoot’s partner in life, and crime – she is her own force of nature. Chatty and unconventional but nobody’s fool,  Amethyst’s eccentric logic may take a few leaps, but she always lands on her feet, and her tarot cards are never wrong.

Byron: Without spoilers, what can you tell readers – if anything – about the big-bad Illuminati-esque cabal?

Zach Howard: Ah, Big Level is the name, and hunting Bigfoot is their game - or at least it is now! A vast and mysterious organization that secretly rules the world with an endless array of resources and loyal goons.  Now an inexperienced heir must deal with the first actual threat to their vast power, and there isn’t anything in the ancient texts covering what to do about a Moonshine Bigfoot.

Byron: This crazy coming-of-age story seems like it has no shelf life. If practical, might we see more Moonshine Bigfoot adventures in the future?

Zach Howard: Every book I make, my efforts are 100% directed towards making a full, original story that has a human thrust as its gooey center. If one can accomplish that, then there is never a shelf-life like most contemporary media. Moonshine’s genesis and execution were forged with that in mind; however, in this case I feel that we made something that not only is evergreen but uniquely fun and beautiful.

Byron: Talk about the pulse-pounding pencils of artist Steven Ellis! And where’d you get that incredible inker?? (smiles)

Zach Howard: Well, I’m the inker, so I just had to convince myself. It wasn’t easy, and I’m super difficult, but darn it if I didn’t persuade me!

Steve was brought in fairly early to help bring the IP to life, and his cartooning really takes my inking in directions that I haven’t covered in my career. The ultimate result of our combination is fresh, rather fun, and stands alone on the shelves.

Byron: Zach, what can you tell readers about any projects upcoming for you?

Zach Howard: I am in the process of building an Animal Sanctuary in the Spanish Peaks. This is something that I’m beyond excited for, and will be the majority of my life upon completion. As for Moonshine Bigfoot, we absolutely have a sequel already in the works, and plan on continuing the adventure with these colorful characters and world. Along with that we’re working on a final animation pitch to make this into a six-episode show. Very excited to see where that leads, as well!

No other projects for me on the horizon except for a movie I’m working on with one of my more famous IPs. Sadly, I can’t mention more than that, but it’s already in production and the official PR announcement should happen later this year.

Dynamic Forces would like to thank Zach Howard for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions. Moonshine Bigfoot #1 from Syzygy Publishing and Image Comics is slated to be in stores April 16!

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