Zack Lynch – Xperience Monthly – an Interview by Liam Sweeny

Zack Lynch Interview.

I grew up on comics. X-men. Wolverine in particularly. Something about claws that could rip through anything on the arms of a rough, beer drinking, cigar smoking Canuck was comforting alongside Metallica and Megadeth. As I got older, I got into the process and realized I had no artistic superpowers.

Zack Lynch is the founder of Blue Shack Comic Company, whose inaugural title, Vampwyre, explore some very weird, yet very prescient themes.

I reached out to Zack Lynch and discussed the comic world.

RRX: You created a comic book company called Blue Shack, and its first offering, Vampwyre is on its second issue. Vampwyre is pretty out there, and in a great, poignant way. From what I read, it’s about an AI phone that resurrected its owner so as to continue in its purpose. Did I get all of that right?

ZL: Yes. It is much more complicated than that, but that is indeed the basic idea for the mechanism of creation. The story follows the offspring Tyrus 2.0, aka Vampwyre, from creation to full awareness.

RRX: So Vampwyre touches on AI. We have strong feelings about real AI as artists and writers. ChatGPT might as well be Skynet to me. Do you think it’s easier or harder to produce something that has themes like AI, that is changing daily in our society?

ZL: It couldn’t be any easier finding fresh source material. AI is quickly evolving these days. When I first had the dream of Vampwyre in 1994 it was pretty farfetched. Now it’s nearly reality. So love or hate AI it’s pretty easy to find an angle of discussion.

RRX: A Kickstarter is out there for Vampwyre, and there was a good amount of interest, judging by the pledges. Is it pledges? Or donors? It’s obvious that Kickstarter is the toolbelt of an indie project, but many sit there. How did you get so much interest in your project?

ZL: The interest on Kickstarter comes from face-to-face conversations and social interactions. A lot of phone calls, telling the story to anyone who will listen as well as the social media. Typically, once someone has heard the story they are interested. Whether or not they get to Kickstarter is another issue. Getting people interested in the story is all that matters.

RRX: There are a lot of fantastic writers and illustrators in the comic. And everyone, I imagine, has to work hand-in-glove. So let’s lay it down. You’re prepping a blank fille. What program? And who lays what down when?

ZL: To get from Concept to finished product takes multiple rounds of applying “pen to paper.” First I have to get my basic concept in the hands of an artist who can translate a few story ideas along with some “bad doodles” into a visual concept. Next those concepts go to a penciller who illustrates the pages. Inks are applied by the Inker to finalize/finish the B&W artwork. Colors are then applied either by computer or watercolor in the old days. The words are last, they go on top of everything and are done by a “letterer”. Now you have the artwork and it’s off to the Layout dept. to get ready for the Printer. Having a professional at every stage is the key to a good production.

RRX: Blue Shack comics, as said before, has Vampwyre as its main offering. But I’m guessing there will be more offerings, or else maybe you would’ve named the company Vampwyre. Do you have any titles in the works, or a direction you want Blue Shack to go, a kind of ‘Mission Statement?

ZL: Vampwyre is just the beginning of the Blue Shack Earth. Tyrus 2.0 is the catalyst that creates all the other titles and characters. He is the “Prime Mover” and essentially creates all of the other heroes and villains merely by existing. I don’t want to spoil surprises but readers can look forward to adventures through time, cultures and geography on a fantastic Blue Shack Earth.

RRX: Now to run a comic book company isn’t just about vision and talent; it’s a business. You have to get the comics printed and distributed. And that’s a huge thing. But it’s one thing. The number of details can add up to hours of work a day. We know a lot of artists starting out with dreams, capes, and cowls. What one thing should they know?

ZL: Anyone who wants to start an indie comic company: don’t do it! Not unless you are working with other folks with experience. It is a huge undertaking and costly. Comics are fun, making them isn’t unless you know what you are doing. It can be heartbreaking. My advice is to find professionals, take classes, attempt small projects first. Getting smashed your first venture out can dissuade an artist right out of the field.

RRX: If there’s anything we missed, now’s your shot to add it. Also, we’re a big network. Who do you think we should have in our contacts, locally, regionally, maybe even nationally?

ZL: I can’t forget to thank the Artists!! Along with myself the original concept art was improved greatly by Kim Vincent Harris. The Penciller is Jason Baroody. The Inker is also the Team Captain, Mark McKenna, who brought the other book artists along with him… Ross Campbell adds the colors to the pages, then Dezi Sienty letters and lays out the pages to wrap it up. Yes, I created and wrote the book but without these guys there wouldn’t be a “book”. Thanks guys!!