Shooting The Breeze With ‘Captain Ginger’ And ‘Bronze Age Boogie’ Co-Creator And Writer Stuart Moore

We roundoff another week of interviews with AHOY Comics alumni, Stuart Moore, who’s writing career has include stints on such DC Comics’ titles as Firestorm, Legion of Super-Heroes as well as Marvel titles including New Avengers and Wolverine Noir, to name but a few. In recent years he’s made AHOY Comics his home with Captain Ginger and Bronze Age Boogie. So, let’s get this thing started and kick off the weekend, shall we?
Olly MacNamee: Now, for many creators a life of isolation is nothing new, but these are, I think we can all agree, unprecedented times. As such, have you noticed any changes yet to your regular daily routines, for better or for worse?
Stuart Moore: I’ve been going for walks in the early morning — not every day, but maybe every third or fourth. That’s always been a quiet time, even here in Brooklyn, but now the sheer lack of cars is bloody weird. I’ve always done my best plotting and brainstorming while walking around.
The strangest thing is our cats, who’ve always been endlessly hungry for our attention. Now I think they’re a little sick of us. “Uh, should you guys, maybe, go to a movie or something?”

OM: Like so many others, have you pledged to take up any new hobbies or interests during this downtime? I imagine after one week that resolution—like New Year’s Eve resolutions—may have ebbed for some? So, do you ebb or flow? And that’s not euphemism!
SM: This was already the plan, but I’ve thrown myself into a novel that needs a lot of revision. I don’t really do resolutions, but I’m trying to read more. Currently juggling Borges, Bukowski, and Eleanor Cameron. I’ve also been enjoying the YA space-opera books of Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff.
OM: This could very well go on for a few months, listening to the experts rather than the politicians. We’re all going to soon be clambering the walls, if we’re not distracted. What comic book gems will you have the time to go back, dig out and re-read and suggest to our readers to go order from their local comic book store to help support their business?
I should really go through my massive collection of ‘80s-‘90s indie titles and see what’s worth keeping. But so far I’m digging out old issues of World’s Finest instead. 

OM: Any newer titles out there you’ve discovered or been recommended and enjoyed reading?
SM: I’ve been catching up with Tom King’s Batman — the way he built the Bruce/Selina relationship is impressively moving. Anything by Mark Russell, including the hilarious, hyperkinetic Wonder Twins. I just downloaded Jan Duursema and John Ostrander’s Hexer Dusk — congrats to them for making that work as a Kickstarter! It’s gorgeous.
OM: And, what will be playing on your turntable over the coming weeks? What albums could you not live without?
SM: My go-to is Prince. I’m still finding gems in his catalog from the years when I wasn’t paying attention—type “Chelsea Rodgers Was a Model” into YouTube. Yesterday I found myself obsessively listening to Guns’n’Roses, which may be cause for concern.
OM: Any box sets you’ll be going back to rewatching? Or any new films and TV you may now have the time to invest in?
SM: I’ve found myself rewatching Star Trek Discovery, which is so much fun even when it makes no sense, which is very much of the time. Great characters and really thrilling action scenes. Currently really enjoying High Fidelity with Zoe Kravitz, on Hulu.
OM: I must admit, getting back to comics, it’s been really pleasing to read, see and hear the comic book communities coming together at a time like this. What have been some of the positive stories coming out of the comic book industry that have caught your eye over the past week or so?
SM: Creators4Comics is a really worthy effort. On a more personal level, it’s been great the way people offer help and reach out to each other. The weird thing is that we all seem to have LESS time than we used to, which isn’t the way it should work. I particularly feel for people who have small kids at home with them.

OM: It would have been the start of another busy comic con season on both sides of the pond, but alas no more. Will you miss these chances to socialise and meet up with fellow colleagues and friends? 
SM: Terribly. Emerald City is always a getaway for me, partly to see people and partly just to spend extra time in Seattle, which is one of the best cities for writing. I’ve been to every San Diego since 19[mumble], so I’ll miss that a lot too. I really get a charge out of the energy at these things — especially the way all the subcultures come together.
OM: What hopes do you harbour for the comic book industry once these stormy clouds have passed?
SM: I don’t tend to think that far ahead, but obviously things are going to change. We may wind up with fewer, more stable stores, or this may accelerate a switch to digital. Or both.
OM: Finally, and to leave a smile on our readers’ faces, have you heard any good/bad jokes recently? 
SM: I really liked one that Paul Constant told recently, but I think he told it here, so I better avoid plagiarizing him in public. Go read Paul’s Q&A!
OM: Many thanks, and all the best. A phrase with even more weight to it than usual.
SM: And to you too — from me and from the cast of CAPTAIN GINGER. (Art by June Brigman, Roy Richardson, and Veronica Gandini; from Season Two issue #3, to be published by AHOY Comics as soon as possible!)
You can catch up on all previous Shooting the Breeze interviews here.We’re building up quite the collection.