The following is an interview with Stuart Moore regarding the release of the collected Captain Ginger: Dogwood trade paperback from AHOY Comics. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Moore about the shared development and production process for the series, the extra features that will be included in the collected trade, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of the collected Captain Ginger: Dogworld trade paperback! As with all of AHOY Comics’ releases, this trade is sure to be packed with incredible bonus features. What will readers have in store with the upcoming collection?
Stuart Moore: Thank you! Let’s see… Captain Ginger, which stars a crew of talking cats in space, has always been as much June Brigman’s book as mine. We’re co-creators, and I can’t conceive of how the book could have worked without her exquisite, character-centered artwork. In this second volume, I leaned on her even more, because while we’re both cat fans, she knows dogs a lot better than I do. In fact, she’s done illustrations of them professionally.
So, for the extra features this time, you’ll see some of June’s animal artwork, along with some shots of her “researching” (playing with) the various breeds. There’s even a photo of little June Brigman with her childhood dog—who’s the model for one of the characters in the story.
BD: In looking back at the development and production of the series, what can you share with us about your creative process in working with artist June Brigman, inker Roy Richardson, and colorist Veronica Gandini?
SM: June and I pretty much trust each other. Again, she had a little more to do with the creation of the dogs this time; I asked her advice on breeds to use for various personality types. Otherwise, I pretty much write the book and she draws it.
Roy and June are married, so they work very smoothly together. Roy’s also good at catching coloring mistakes. Veronica is just brilliant, and she’s great at dealing with our little nitpicks. It’s not the speediest creative team I’ve ever worked with, but it’s one of the best.
BD: At Fanbase Press this year, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that Captain Ginger’s story has connected with and impacted readers, especially in light of the incredible critical and fan response to the series?
SM: That’s an interesting question. We’ve gotten great feedback on Ginger, but I don’t know quite how to answer that. I will say that this second volume features some slightly more intense emotional twists than the first one. It deals a bit with grief and loss, and how people (and cats, and dogs) deal with those emotions.
BD: Are there any other upcoming projects on which you are working that you are able to share with our readers?
SM: I have a sword-and-sorcery story in the anthology Thrilling Adventure Yarns 2021, on Kickstarter through 11/14—go here to pledge or here for an excerpt from my story. And I just scripted a series called Vi Empire that’s available on ComiXology.
I am currently buried in writing a novel that I am forbidden to discuss it (yet). But it will involve many world-famous characters, and it will be exciting. I promise!
BD: Lastly, what would you like to tell fans who want to learn more about the Captain Ginger: Dogworld series?
SM: It’s a book born out of June’s and my love of (a) outer space and (b) cats. If you like those things too, please give it a try. Volume One, Survival Instinct, kicks things off and introduces our cats; this new book ratchets up the tension and forces them to confront their “cousins,” the dogs. Plus, again, bonus childhood pets.
