Welcome Back! If you're reading this, then you either enjoyed Part One, or you really are that bored.
Now, I hope you don't mind, but I would like to take a few seconds to go off topic...well, in a way, it's on topic, but off topic at the same time.
Confused?....you're not the only one!
I just wanted to take this moment to say that this post was scheduled to go up on April 15th 2013. But alas, there was the tragedy at the Boston Marathon where several innocent civilians were killed and injured.
Out of respect for them, and their families & friends, I decided to leave it until today. It was heart breaking seeing it all over the news, and my condolences are with those who have been effected by this tragedy.
I won't spend this whole post going on about it, but I did feel that it needed to be mentioned, especially as America is very close to my heart, and I have several friends over there who I care about dearly.
Now, on with the show!
Last time I was explaining how I came up with the idea of Jericho, and how it has stirred up a fair bit of controversy because some of the characters swear in the book. Even though a lot of time has passed since the first encounter of people complaining about the language used in the book, I cannot help but ask myself: 'Really?....Swearing?....The violence, bloodshed, and sexual abuse that the characters experience is okay, but swearing is punishable on death'?
Now, I understand that some people find swearing offensive. That's fine. Everyone has the right to be offended. But just remember: This is my book...Not yours...I call the shots, and there is this little thing called freedom of speech. And Freedom is a two way street. If you want the freedom to complain about swearing, then you have to also give people the freedom to swear, and to use swear words in their writing if they see it to be fit.
Besides, if you don't like the book, then it takes less energy to put it down, and stop reading it, than it does to go out and moan about it knowing full well that it will not change anything.
Sorry if that sounded like a negative little moaning session there, but it needed to be said. I do my best to be positive in all aspects of life, and it has got me very far in what I do. I try my best to be a decent and selfless human being. However, I will stand up for my right to self expression through my art, regardless of if my art is writing, music, painting, drawing etc etc.
Anyway, the language in the book wasn't the only thing to cause a bit of a stir. In fact, a certain cliffhanger in Issue three caused me to be flooded with a lot of messages. So, if you haven't read the series yet, then I shall warn you now...SPOILER ALERT!!!
The Limited Edition Cover To Issue Three
Issue three was a great issue for me! I got to finish building everything up ready for the action in issue four to take place, and I got to introduce a certain character called 'The Ghost' without anyone really noticing in a little scene that is being explained by Wreckage. And what no-one seems to realize is that scene he is telling happens to be the beginning to a certain Motion Comic we've been working on called 'The 11th Hour'...And yes, I had already thought and planned the story for The 11th Hour back then, knowing full well it would get told eventually....I like to plan as far ahead as possible....I know, I'm a sneeky little bugger at times.
But this was also an issue that struck home for me, and obviously for many others as well. I got to write a cliffhanger that I had originally intended for Issue one, but left it until Issue 3 otherwise it would have come along on in Issue one, but you wouldn't have known enough about the characters to care. So I saw the chance to use it exactly how I intended...I ended Issue 3 with Carl being diagnosed with an aggressive and inoperable brain tumor, and being given only three weeks left to live.
Writing that scene gave me goosebumps, and drawing it made me recall what it was like when I first heard that my Father had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and given 6 weeks left to live. In my eyes it was a touching and moving moment in the story. Once the work had finished on the issue I looked back at that cliffhanger and thought 'This is it, Fwah...This is the best cliffhanger you've done so far...This is going to make a few readers misty eyed'.
Well, I wasn't far off. From the messages I received it turned out that a few readers got to that moment in the story, and their hearts sank. To me this was a sign of writing an emotional scene, and doing it just right.
However, I was also flooded with messages that can only be described as the perfect mix of angry, and seeking reassurance.
One message I received opened with 'YOU BASTARD'!.....Oh, so I'm not allowed to put swearing in my comic book, but you're allowed to put it in your e-mail, huh?....anyway, it continued with:
'How dare you?! How can you kill off such an innocent character! Do you have no respect for life what so ever'?
Naturally I thought that someone had just forgotten the difference between reality and fiction, and that if I acted like the lesser spotted Ostrich, then maybe they would get over it, and find someone else to harass....Oh, boy, was I wrong!
Following that message I received several messages calling me plenty of different names that I had not been called since I was at school, and it was all because they honestly believed that I had killed Carl, or that I was going to.
I decided the fate of Carl long before I even put the pen to paper to write issue one. As I said before, I like to think about things as far in advance as possible with a story like this one. So there was nothing they could do or say to change my mind, and in my defense; Carl was diagnosed, and not killed in issue three. HE appears in the other issues that followed.
It's nice to see people being passionate about your work, and your stories, but it's scary to think that so many people out there do not understand the difference between fiction and reality (which I swear is normally one of the early signs of being a sociopath. But then again, I could be wrong).
But mixed in with some of these crude and rude messages were a lot of people who were not only asking if Jerry would save Carl, but they were actually pleading with me to let her save Carl....I shit you not!
Page 15 of Issue Four
Now, I will admit, I have felt very passionate about characters before. So much so that with certain events in the story telling I have either been on the edge of my seat, or I have cheered as loudly as possible, or I have even cried with them. But the whole time I have understood and respected that the creator/writer will only do what he or she believes to be best.....Oh, and I still remember that it's fictional.
But even though it caused a bit of a commotion, and it made it very hard for to get on with issue four because I was replying to so many of these messages, I really appreciated the fact that so many people were so invested in my characters. It really is a heart warming feeling when you realize that so many people are standing up for them, and cheering them, and I will always be grateful for that.
I think it's a perfect example to show that if you love and adore your characters, then so will others.
In all honesty I really appreciate and respect all the people who have given Jericho a chance, and have shown nothing more than love and support for the character and the series. It's because of all of you that Jericho got nominated for awards, and looks to have a bright future.
There is so much going on for the book right now; Including but not limited to a second story arch being published, an animated feature film, and so much more that I cannot talk about right now. But if you keep your eyes on the Reload Comics Facebook page (www.facebook.com/reloadcomics), then you will soon see for yourself that Jericho's journey has only just begun, and that it will continue to get bigger and brighter as the days pass.
Thank you all for your support, and if you haven't read Jericho, but you have an interest in doing so, then please go to www.reloadcomics.tk and grab hold of a copy of 'Jericho: Downfall'. Or if you prefer your comics in a digital format, then visit https://payhip.com/b/Nk5c
If you have followed me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/OfficialFwahStorm) or even seen my old Youtube video's, then you would have heard about Jericho. A fair few people out there have heard of Jericho even though they haven't been following me on social networks.
Jericho was my first book released through Reload Comics, and ever since then she has been gaining followers, and has been taking leaps and bounds in her progress. She has been nominated for awards, found her way into select comic book stores, gained a following from celebrity comic book fans, and has even had several offers to become a live action movie.
Based on this, some would say that Jericho has been my most successful book, and in some aspects this is true, but in others this is not so true. But regardless of that I can happily hold my head high and say that I have loved working on this book, and bringing the characters to life. So much so that I thought I would share some of the trials and tribulations that I have had to go through to get Jericho to where she is now.
The Alternative Cover to 'Issue One'
Jericho had been a concept that I came up with back in 2008. This was Eight years after my Father had been diagnosed with Cancer, and 2 years before he actually died form the horrible disease. And in a way it was his suffering that helped to form the concept. It was a case of all the pieces to the puzzle were there, but it was only when a small piece fell into my lap that I realized there was a puzzle to put together.
Now I won't take too long in explaining the details that lead to Jericho's creation for two reasons.
1. It is a very long and detailed story (in my eyes).
2. I think I already explained it best in the introduction to the first Trade paper back 'Jericho:
Downfall) which collects the first 6 issues of Jericho.
The idea came into play after a meeting I had been a part of with two fellow Comic Book fans. One of them was Tom 'Wez' Dorrington, who not so long ago illustrated the pilot issue of a book I created called 'The Asylum Of Fables'.
The other was a cheerful chap named Callum, who arrived to the meeting late, and before he had even got his whole body through the door proclaimed that he was being stalked by a word.
Naturally, my first thought at this point was 'What drugs is this man taking, and why isn't he sharing them with the rest of us'. But he went on to explain that everywhere he had been that day he noticed a particular word that appeared wherever he was.
Now, I love a good mystery. So needless to say, my curiosity had got the better of me, and I asked what that word was. He replied with 'Jericho'.
And even though there is more to explain on this situation, I think it's best to say that it wasn't long after that moment that a hero was born.
But no ordinary hero. This was a hero who was born from darkness in order to shed light on the world that had done nothing but given her a painful existence. 'Cause let's face it. The world is always in need of a hero, but we would rather read and hear an interesting story of possible failure, than a simple success story.
I wanted to work on the character the moment the idea fell into place, and for a while I did. I had my concept, my main idea for a first story arch, but something wasn't right. Something was missing and I couldn't quite place my finger on it. At the time this was hell for me because I wanted to get the story out there, but in hindsight it was truly a blessing in disguise.
At the time it was the story of a middle aged Male scientist. But two years later something happened to make me realize what I needed to do to make the story work....I began working in a charity store.
The limited Edition Cover to 'Issue Eight'
It was during my time at the charity store that I went through some of my own life altering experiences, and was focused on bringing another book that I had created and felt very passionate about called 'The Fallen'. However, it wasn't long before Jericho had come back to the forefront of my mind, but still with that feeling that something wasn't quite right.
It wasn't long before the solution came to me. The problem wasn't the story. It wasn't even the character per se, but it was the characters gender.
I had started creating a story that was too predictable all due to the fact that Jerry Collins (A.k.a. Jericho) was a middle aged male scientist....that all changed when I turned Jerry into a 20 something female medical student at Bournemouth University.
BOOM!!!!...Just like that the story had become something that I couldn't stop thinking about.
Now, if you know nothing about the story of Jericho, but you have come this far in the post, then I would like to say thank you for hanging in there. I realize that I have a tendancy to waffle on, and not take into consideration that there may be some people reading who are thinking 'It would help if you told us what the premise is'!
So allow me to elaborate in the best way that I possibly can.
Jericho is the story of Jerry Collins, a young woman who has had a tragic upbringing. Being the shy and introverted (and intelligent) girl that she is, Jerry has suffered bullying at school, watched her Mother suffer the pains of Chemotherapy which lead to her Mother's passing, and was abused by her Father, Frasier Collins, shortly after her Mother's death.
But after all of this, Jerry has been determined to make her way through life, and focus on helping those who have been diagnosed with cancer, and enrolls into the medical science program at Bournemouth University.
But sometimes Jerry finds herself lost in a fantasy land. Her only two friends (Claire & Carl Campbell) are always close to Jerry, but she sees Carl in a different way. However, Jerry doesn't want to lose one of the only two friends she has because of a 'crush'
Before a very important lesson, Jerry is brought up to speed on how the media is focusing their efforts on helping bring awareness of a Serial killer who targets terminally ill patients. Even though this news has made Jerry feel quite anxious she is still determined to show off her new project. An Ultra-sound Glove that has the potential to become a safer alternative to chemotherapy.
However, after displaying the potential of the glove to her tutor, Doctor Foster, and the rest of her class, something goes wrong, and it is soon discovered that the glove has potential to be a dangerous acoustic weapon.
Of course, the disaster of the demonstration of the gloves potential leads to expulsion by Doctor Foster, who apparently isn't as good a person as we are lead to believe.
The Alternative Cover to 'Issue Two'
Doctor Foster is accused of sexually assaulting one of his students, and leads to his dismissal from the university. However, The Doctor isn't going to leave without taking a small souvenir that happens to be Jerry's confiscated glove.
So, two paths have been paved. While Doctor Foster gives in to his bitterness, and joins a dark world controlled by an underground extremist group known as 'The Enigma Operation', Jerry's friends attempt to cheer her up.
But in doing so it is soon discovered that Carl is suffering from an aggressive brain tumor, and after suffering from a severe seizure is diagnosed with 3 weeks left to live.
The clock is ticking, and Jerry has to make a choice. Let Carl Die? Become a villain? Or become the Anti-Hero known as Jericho.
Now hopefully my overly long synopsis of the story has captured your attention. I'm sure I could have kept it shorter, but to be honest with you; I enjoy explaining the story just a little too much. I can't get into explaining the story with out feeling goosebumps.
Some people would (and have) said that the story sounds like it should be a novel and not a comic book. And to be honest with you, I have at times toyed with the idea of writing a novel of Jericho. Especially as I planned four story arch's, and what I have explained to you is just the basis of the first arch alone.
It also seemed like a good idea as two other characters known as The Ghost & X-Celerate made their way into the book, and their origin stories alone are worth exploring. On top of that several of the villains have intriguing stories that lead up to the events of Jericho, and so do some of the side characters, too.
But people seem to really enjoy it as a comic book, which is how I had always envisioned it.
A select page from 'Issue Five'
It wasn't long before Jericho made her way to the world of independent comic books. The first Issue was released on July 4th 2011, and I couldn't have been prouder of my little girl....yes, I did just refer to my character as my little girl. My Daughter if you will, and yes I realize that some may see this as strange, but that is exactly what she is. My child.
Anyway, I digress. Four days after Issue one was released, Jericho had sold out! And just in case you're interested on who got hold of the last copy to make it sell out, then wonder no more...it was Clive Barker, the man responsible for Hellraiser.
How do I know this?...'Cause I was the one who handed it over to him at London Film & Comic Con in 2011. He read it in front of me, and expressed how impressed he was by it. In fact, if I remember correctly his words were 'THIS IS FUCKING INCREDIBLE'!!!
That has always meant the world to me, hearing what Clive had to say about the book, and answering all of his questions about it as well. It meant the world to me because I'm a writer, and I had always looked up to Clive and considered him to be one of the best writers in the world. I'm not an artist. I'm just a writer who wanted his comic books to be released so badly that he picked up a pencil and went for it. But Clive even commented positively on my art work as well.
So as you can imagine, I was on cloud nine, and I had no intention of stopping there. I wanted to complete the first arch of Jericho, and get things moving with two other projects that I felt just as passionate about (if not more so) than Jericho.
So I did exactly that. I worked on Issue two & three, and to my great surprise, Jericho had been nominated for two awards, I had been nominated for one, and Reload had been nominated for one as well.....We didn't win any of them. And I was cool with that. In fact, I was extremely happy that we were nominated and didn't win.
Why? You may be asking...well, it's simple....The nominations are decided by the readers. The winners are decided by a board of people. The readers had let me know that they liked it, and that was all that mattered. And even though recently I won my first award (which I am very grateful for) I still stand by what I have said for the past two years....The nomination is more important to me than the award itself, but the award is a nice bonus.
After the award nomination it all seemed to be going extremely well, and I was rolling with the waves. I worked on Issue Four, and did it exactly how I wanted to do it. I changed the art style slightly, but kept the story the way I had always planned...This shocked a few people.
Issue Four was the moment in the story where I revealed how messed up things can get for certain characters, and how evil the bad guys were. I have never been into those villains that prance around with a huge monologue that goes 'I WILL DESTROY CHRISTMAS!.....by kidnapping Santa, and feeding him, and making sure that he is still alive once the police get here, because I cannot be bothered to leave my hideout, even when I know that the fuzz know exactly where I'm hiding'.
I have never considered those types of antagonists to be villains. I have always considered them to be attention seekers. Bad people in the real world don't spend 20 minutes revealing their plan before stabbing an innocent bystander. They just stab the bystander. They may feel inclined to say one short sentence that consists mostly of curse words, and then stab the bystander, but they don't make a song and dance of it.....so that's what I did with my antagonists.
A select page from Issue Six
I still stand by my decision. The villains would swear, and they would act instead of seeking attention. This was decided very early on, when I introduced Wreckage, who has become everyone's favorite bad guy in the book. He is just an all round bastard, and readers love him. Occasionally the antagonists may say something, but they would mostly dive straight into action.
But what I was unaware of was how much controversy, and disgust would be held against me by so many people because the characters in the book swore.
Bear in mind, this story has dealt with Cancer, violent sociopaths, rape, child abuse on many different levels, and in the eyes of some people that is okay, but swearing?....that's a no go area apparently.....what makes it worse is that Jericho is NOT the first comic book in the world to involve swearing, and each issue so far has clearly stated on the cover 'Suggested for mature readers'.
I knew from the word go that this book was for the adult comic book fans. Not for the children.
Yes, I do actually want to write a book for children, and yes I intend to do that one day. But I always did my best to make sure that Jericho would be in the hands of readers who were mature enough to understand it.
But alas, a day doesn't pass where someone complains about the language in the book. Yet they don't seem to understand that Jericho is my book, and I will write it how I see fit. The more people complain about the language, the less likely I am to change it.
In fact, a radio interview for BBC radio solent lead to the host spending most of the interview complaining that there was swearing in Jericho, even though he had never actually read the book. That was an uncomfortable interview for me, but I feel that I handled it well, regardless of the interviewer acting like a spoilt child.
Shortly after that interview, Issue six had been released, and the readers informed me that it was the best cliffhanger they had experienced in the book so far, and it was because Jericho had shown that she could be just as bad as the bad guys, if not worse.
Now, I won't give away too much by telling you this, but just in case, I will say SPOILER ALERT!
Issue Six ended with Jerry's first encounter with The Enigma Operation, during which Wreckage stepped up to her, and told her that she was nothing more to him than a cunt.
At this point Jerry scowled, swung her arm back with a sonic charge coming from her glove, and blasted Wreckage (who is massive compared to Jerry) into the window of a clothes shop before saying: 'It's cunts like me that make pricks like you stand to attention'.
I have never had so many people quoting a line I had written since the early days of being the front man in Bournemouth metal band 'Abuse'...Readers loved it!
But some people still didn't like the fact that my characters swore....but believe it or not, that's not where the controversy ends. So if you want to know more, then just wait for part two of this particualr blog post, and until then, let me leave you with a video of me drawing Jerry.
If you're interested in picking up Jericho, and seeing what all the fuss is about, then you can order a copy of 'Jericho: Downfall' from www.reloadcomics.co.uk or if you prefer to read your comics in a digital format, then you can by the eBook of Jericho: Downfall from https://payhip.com/b/Nk5c
