Jennifer Wilde

Here’s the cover of my latest comic book project, Jennifer Wilde.

Like with Róisín Dubh, Rob Curley of Atomic Diner Comics approached me with a story concept, which I developed further with Rob and from that I wrote the comic book scripts. It will also be a three-issue comic book series.

Our artist is Stephen Downey, and he’s not only doing all the interior art but the covers and the lettering too. The above art is the cover for the first issue. Stephen has been motoring his way through the script of the first issue but with no drop in quality. It’s been a joy to watch the evolution of the art through the pencils and the inks he’s submitted so far.

So, what is Jennifer Wilde about? Here’s the blurb up on its Facebook Fan page (please ‘like’ the project if you want to keep up to date with its progress).

At the start of the Jazz Age in Paris in 1921, young French artist Jennifer Chevalier becomes embroiled in death, espionage and revolution which takes her across the three nations of France, England and Ireland – ably assisted by the ghost of Oscar Wilde.

Jennifer Wilde is set in the detective tradition, with a supernatural element, which is a popular combination.

The story required much research, and writing Oscar Wilde has been an intimidating prospect. He was a complex character. Like many brilliant, confident, ambitious men sometimes the needs of other people were inconsequential to him. Yet, he had a tremendous capacity for empathy for the dispossessed and outcast. I have huge admiration for him and his work, while also recognising his flaws. He was also a real person, so I have to treat him with respect.

The 1920s period had been an inspiration. I would consider it the first truly modern age. It was an era of change: technology, social mores, art, music and politics were shifting rapidly. It’s an exciting background over which to imagine new stories. Jennifer is a passionate artist enamoured of everything new. Her teenaged years were dominated by World War I, and to her generation the 1920s signalled liberation and a fresh start.

The story has been challenging to write, but it’s been a pleasure to collaborate with Rob and Stephen.

It’s likely that the first issue of Jennifer Wilde will be available in the summer, and I’ll be posting information about its progress over the coming months.