Under editor Shelly Bond’s watch, assistant editor Greg Lockard grills J. Bone in the days before he begins working on iZOMBIE issue #21 (on sale 1/4). cover #21 by Mike Allred GL: What was your first thought when you heard you'd be guest-jamming with Roberson and Allred on iZOMBIE? JB: “Awesome!” I've been a fan of Allred's since getting a Madman ashcan in an issue of Heroes magazine. I'm always looking for excuses to work with Mike, having drawn the Mr. Gum one-shot with him and inking him on X-Statix years ago. I like the way Chris and Mike have updated the movie monster clichés in iZOMBIE. And I use the word "clichés" with all the love in the world. As a Universal Movie Monster fan I like seeing the mummy, vampires, wolf-man (in the form of a were-terrier), and the quick glimpse of the Creature from the Black Lagoon (the first mini-story in the second trade). So awesome to be working with Chris and Mike. GL: What was the first comic you worked on? JB: That would be Solar Stella. I did everything on that one - wrote it, drew it, lettered it. There's only the one issue, and I left it on a cliffhanger. That was twelve years ago. It was my first published work and also the only time I've ever been nominated for an Eisner (Talent Deserving Wider Recognition). I didn't win. GL: You will next time! What was the first comic you read? JB: When I was a kid my sister had a subscription to Humpty Dumpty magazine which printed Tintin in black and white. I remember reading those (and then discovering Tintin albums at the library years later). I also remember my dad having a stack of superhero comics and distinctly remember an issue of Batman with Man-Bat flying over a car on the cover. GL: What do you do when you're not scribbling? Hobbies? Crafts? Reading? JB: I love reading. At any one time I've got a few books on the go. Inevitably one book becomes my focus and I dive into it when I take a break (or ride the subway or before bed). Right now I'm reading Arthur & George by Julian Barnes. My friend Cliff recommended A Sense of an Ending by the same author, and I loved his writing so much I sought out his other books. I also crochet. I learned how to crochet and knit (there is a difference) a few years ago so that I could make my own superhero dolls. I made a Doop (can we mention Doop? :)) doll for Mike which he mentioned in an interview for Wizard magazine -- who then featured my crocheted menagerie in a sidebar interview. Very cool. GL: I love Doop, too! I’m not sure we can mention him, but the risk feels sexy. GL: Soundtrack to your iZOMBIE issue? Music you listen to while you draw? Or do you have the TV on? JB: I actually mostly listen to soundtracks and classical music. I love Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer's Pirates of the Caribbean soundtracks and pretty much listen to any or all of those every day. That's what I've been listening to as I get started work on the issue of iZOMBIE. Otherwise I've just got the local classical station on in the background or CBC radio's talk radio channel.