FCBD13 Interview: Al Ewing Describes Zombo

Al Ewing gives his take on Zombo and reveals its availability for Free Comic Book Day 2013!

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FCBD: For those who might be new to your comic book, give a quick rundown. What can we expect to see in terms of story and art? 

Al Ewing: The Zombo story this year is an EXCLUSIVE five-page story that can be read on its own, guest-starring Planetronix, the fan-fave characters from Series 3! And that's just one story. New readers picking up 2000AD for the first time can expect a plethora of awesome thrills that'll leave them hungry for the regular version - which, thanks to digital expansion, has never been easier to get!  

FCBD: What has been your favorite part of book or character to tackle?

AE: It was nice to write a comic that existed inside the Zombo universe. What does Zombo read on FCBD? The answer may surprise you!  

FCBD: Tell FCBD fans why they should pick your book first on Free Comic Book Day!

AE: It'll be unlike everything else out there - something that's still the freshest, newest, sexiest thing out there after 35 years.  

FCBD: What other titles would you associate with your FCBD book? “If a comic reader likes _______ , they should pick up my title"?

AE: The Venture Brothers, The Young Ones, easy gags about punk/situationism/Archie. And that's just MY story. For 2000AD as a whole, I'd just put 'anything'.  

FCBD: What’s your favorite part about working in comics?

AE: It's that moment when you've got something just right - or when the artist has and they show you the pages and you fall off your chair with excitement.  

FCBD: Many newcomers will pick up comics for the first time on FCBD—what was the first comic you remember reading?

AE: Probably an issue of Buster comic, an old UK gag-anthology title starring 'the son of Andy Capp', at least until Reg Smythe had a word. It was a bit more anarchic than the Beano, doing formalist experiments like Cliff Hanger, where the reader had to pick the story ending every week. That was my favourite strip. It was so clever and I didn't even realise, I thought all comics were that smart as a matter of course.  

FCBD: Where will you be for this year’s FCBD? Do you have any annual FCBD traditions?

AE: Unless I'm needed by Tharg for something, I'll pop down to my LCS in the sleepy English hamlet of York and - if I can - get at least one thing I've never even heard of before.  

FCBD: Looking to the future of the book, is there anything you can tease about what's upcoming?

AE: In Zombo? Henry Flint knocking your socks off. This is the one where he'll convince the world that he's a genius on the Steranko level.  

FCBD: Tell us why everyone should read comic books?

AE: Because you can do anything with the medium and people do. In fact, never mind just reading 'em - everyone should make comic books.