Looking For Jake.

The following post is one of my Degree projects in its entirety. Its a 15 page comic based on the short story "Looking For Jake" by author, China Mieville. The story focuses on the plight of an unnamed narrator as he looks for his best friend in an increasingly malevolent London. The story is written as a long letter, in which our main character details his search to find the missing Jake, to Jake himself.

What's really interesting about the narrative is that much is left to the readers own interpretation. It can be a tale of an apocalyptic London gone mad to some people, and yet to others (who may or may not be speaking from long and bitter experience), it can be the miscellaneous ramblings of a drug crazed man-child, who is in the middle of some very bad (or very good) acid. Either way the atmosphere of the writing is oppressive, and haunting. A feel that I've tried to maintain in my art. The painted, rough backgrounds, which are intended to reflect urban decay, and the pencil drawn and photoshop coloured characters are intended to reflect the main characters displaced attitude to his surroundings. As if he doesn't belong in the dying environment he inhabits.

At least i hope thats what you get from it.

Words and Story by China Mieville.

Art by Chris Townsend.