The Beat spoke with Parker ahead of the show’s premiere.
DEANNA DESTITO: What attracted you to working on Zootopia?
Jeff Parker: Frankly, this is one of the funniest Disney movies in at least the last 30 years. Underneath all the clever humor and irony there are many great ideas about society and community.
DESTITO: Where in the timeline does this story take place?
Parker: Shortly after the events of the film, Judy and Nick become working partners, accepting any mission Chief Bogo sends them, and of course more if they can get away with it. You’ll see Nick trying to adjust to his new role as Public Protector.
DESTITO: How does it feel to add your voice to this universe?
Parker: I think the reader has to make a judgment call. I tried to make this feel as close to an extension of the film as possible without drawing attention to my writing.
DESTITO: What was it like working with this creative team?
Parker: The best! Alessandro absolutely nails these characters. You can hear Bogo’s booming voice, you can feel Judy’s overzealous passion for her work, and Nick’s wry humor, it’s all there. You can’t do that without an artist who can create the character the way he does. I’m working with major talent again Dilsara Kelly About color and Jeff Eckerberry Regarding the lettering; this is a dream team for me. I’m biased, but I think we’re making it feel like the world of the movie.
DESTITO: What will fans of the film be aware of and what’s new?
Parker: Clawhauser is back! I know this is what you want, right? This time around we’ll see Hopps and Wilde fighting crime together, with a host of new characters joining the cast. I wanted to revisit former Mayor Lionheart, but there was no room for that in the first storyline. He is my favorite character every time I watch a movie. We made some observations about other parts of the city that I think readers will find interesting. Oh wait, Yax makes a brief appearance too!
Stay tuned for Zootopia #1 in January 2025.
