Today, we have the pleasure of interviewing the writer behind the Negaduck and the upcoming highly anticipated Zootopia comic series from Dynamite…Jeff Parker.

DuckTalks: How did you get into the comic industry?

Jeff Parker: I started as an artist, which is not easy but it’s even harder to get editors to read your scripts than it is to show them visual storytelling. So I went to conventions for years, showing my new pages every time- and I do mean that I had new pages every show, I didn’t keep showing old work- and met experienced artists who helped me work on my art, environments, figures, everything.  Then for a few years i drew other writers’ scripts until I came out with my graphic novel The Interman. That was well-received and companies started asking me to write. At some point everyone forgot I drew! But you may have noticed I drew the action figure variant for one of the Negaduck issues.

DuckTalks: The action figure variant covers were my favorites. That Negaduck cover would have been a must own figure.

DuckTalks: Your Dynamite Comics Negaduck run was a lot of evil fun. Do you have more Negaduck stories in your head to tell?

Jeff Parker: I’m not sure how many more they want to do but if they DO ask for another Negaduck story, I feel it would be time to force our villain and Darkwing into a weird situation where they have to work together. 

DuckTalks: Who do you think should be the next Darkwing Duck villain to headline his or her own comic series?

Jeff Parker: Not really a villain, maybe she counts as a Rogue, but I think Morgana could carry a miniseries. The Agatha All Along of ducks.

DuckTalks: How many issues is the first Zootopia story arc for this ongoing series?

Jeff Parker: Six! 

DuckTalks: Where do your stories fall on the Zootopia timeline?

Jeff Parker: Almost immediately after that last scene in the movie. Nick is a new officer and duty-partner to Judy. 

DuckTalks: Will each issue be a new case for Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde to solve?

Jeff Parker: Yes, but as you’ll see most of the stories connect. You’ll be able to hand any issue to a friend and they won’t be lost. 

DuckTalks: What challenges have you found with writing that has a sequel releasing soon?

Jeff Parker: Since I know nothing about the sequel, it doesn’t really interfere in anyway. I’m not going to try to second guess what the filmmakers are doing, though I can’t wait to see it.

DuckTalks: Were you told that anything in the Zootopia franchise was off limits Or did you have free rein to Try Everything?

Jeff Parker: I couldn’t make up regions that hadn’t been established by the movie, and I generally have to stick to the kind of mammals you see there. But when you pay attention to the background characters you realize that still gives a lot of options for characters. 

DuckTalks: Which Zootopia character is your favorite?

Jeff Parker: It changes all the time. Lately I’ve been fond of Chief Bogo and Mayor Lionheart. They’re both so entertaining, and of course are voiced by Idris Elba and J.K. Simmons, both of whom I’ll watch in anything. 

DuckTalks: As a writer for a comic series that has such iconic actor voices, do you ever have to stare in the mirror and do impressions of the voice actor saying the dialogue to envision if it sounds natural for the character?

Jeff Parker: I do imagine the voices- I don’t have to act in the mirror (Allesandro might though, many artists do) but I do often say their lines out loud. It helps me tell if it’s convincingly “them.” I have thought of asking editor Nate Cosby to say some of Nick’s lines, he sounds a lot like Jason Bateman. 

DuckTalks: What is your favorite district of Zootpia?

Jeff Parker: I think The Rainforest District is incredibly cool.

DuckTalks: Which animal would you like to add to Zootopia that we have not seen before?

Jeff Parker: A Capybara. 

DuckTalks: In your Dynamite Comics Negaduck series, you added quite a few original villains for Negaduck’s league of villains? Are there any new characters in your Zootopia series that we should be excited to meet?

Jeff Parker:  Oh sure, mostly of the criminal element. I still have time to change names if I want so I’m not going to describe any of them. But some pretty funny hoods have come up.

DuckTalks: Do you ever listen to the Zootopia Soundtrack for inspiration?

Jeff Parker: No, but that’s a good idea.

DuckTalks: Have you watched the Zootopia+ series on Disney+?

Jeff Parker: I haven’t. Do you like it?

DuckTalks: Zootopia+ is a good six episodes of ten minutes length that was a good appetizer for Zootopia fans to flesh out more of the background characters of the movie that didn’t get enough screen time. Now fans will have even more stories featuring these characters with your comics.

DuckTalks: Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. We look forward to picking up Zootopia in January.

Jeff Parker: Thanks for the great questions Steven!

The debut issue of the Dynamite Comics Zootopia series will be available at your local comic book shop in January/February, 2025. Make sure to preorder your Zootopia comics at your local comic book shop and ask for the title to be added to your pull list.