BAZOOKA JULES - THERE AND BACK AGAIN FOR LeSEAN THOMAS

[MattBrady]

by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean

Guess who’s back to draw Com.X’s Bazooka Jules? The Neil Googe-creation has been on hiatus for the most part of last year and questions are being raised as to whether or not there would be an ending in sight for the buxom babe. Googe drew the first three issues as well as the short story that appeared in Com.X #0. Apart from trying to finish writing the misadventures of Jules in addition to the rigors of managing the day-to-day operations of the UK-based publisher, Googe decided to hand over the art chores to rising star artist LeSean Thomas. However, it was revealed in an end-of-the-year update that Googe would be drawing the remaining issues due to commitments on Thomas’ part. Things took another creative turn with the announcement that Dreamwave’s TMNT would be ending, thus freeing Thomas from his commitments on that title. So, here we are… Thomas is now back on board to complete Bazooka Jules.

We caught up with Googe and Thomas for more.

Newsarama: Time to play devil's advocate. The million dollar question now is, when exactly will the next issue of Bazooka Jules come out? At least the next issue of Cla$$war and the last issue of Puncture are coming out in March. Have you guys firmed up the release of issue #4?

Neil Googe: OK. We're looking for a release to coincide with the San Diego Con, so July. LeSean, Loriann and I are working out the final schedule as we speak. But I think a July release is ideal for all of us. If we can't make that, Jules will be ship no later than August.

And who is Loriann? She is now our editor-in-chief. Loriann was taken on to help with Com.X's parent company, Department.X, but with her work background and what she does best, she was the obvious choice to keep us Com.X louts in check. She worked with Dez Skinn over at Comics International for years and then went over to the Official Star Trek Magazine. So she knows what she's doing. She will definitely help us keep things in order this time... plus she's a lot better looking than Joe Q!

NRAMA: Uh…okay. First, it was reported that LeSean's taking over the art chores on Jules but was later announced that Neil's had his baby back. And now, LeSean's back in the creative picture. So, what happened?

NG: Right. Let me start at the beginning. We decided to get things done properly at Com.X. Cla$$war, Puncture and Jules needed finishing. With the additional work and responsibility involved in running the company it would have taken me forever to finish Jules, so we needed someone else to do it. Then I could slowly work on something else.

We found LeSean – one of my top three dream artists for Jules – and put him on it. But we soon figured that it would take too long, working to the schedule we'd arranged to incorporate his work on TMNT. And if it was to take that long anyway I may as well finish it, and we would put LeSean on something else.

So... Now LeSean is done on TMNT, and he really wants to finish Jules for us, rather than start on something new. In my eyes there's nothing more important than someone being passionate about the book they work on; you always get the best from them that way. How could I refuse when I got an e-mail from LeSean Thomas asking me if he could finish Jules?

So he is. Jules will get done just as quickly... probably quicker if the truth be known, than if I finished it.

Now, I know some people believe that the person who started the story should finish it, or they want to see me do it. Personally, I want what's best for the book, and trust me with what I've seen from LeSean, he is what's best for this book. Obviously, I am still writing it, and I will be doing a back-up for the book. I'm also planning a special. But I really think this is the best thing for the remainder of Jules.

I, on the other hand, will be free to work on a new project of my own, and am also writing an additional title, for which I'll hopefully be signing an artist for in the next few weeks.

LeSean Thomas: Right - if you recall, it was announced that I was on the project while still doing TMNT. Because TMNT was on a monthly schedule and BJ was originally on a tri-monthly schedule - which was how I planned it, it allowed me to take my time and really invest some hotness into Jules. But scheduling reasons led Com.X to pull me off the book, because I couldn’t commit to Jules the way I would a monthly or bi-monthly schedule.

On the other hand it was still decided that I at least provide the alternate cover for Jules, so I continued on that. But then the bomb dropped that Dreamwave canceled TMNT ‘till further notice. This of course freed me up to commit more time to it so by the time I was done with the cover, we negotiated me working on it again now that I’m free on a bi-monthly schedule.

NG: Yeah, as I outlined above, LeSean has much more time now that TMNT is done, and so can fit Jules into the original schedule we wanted. Things have just come full circle. LeSean's happy, Com.X is happy and I'm sure when people see the books they'll be happy too.

NRAMA: So, what makes LeSean stand out from the rest of the pack?

NG: LeSean's work is energetic, fresh and clean. The first time I saw Arkanium, I knew he was the man for me. Never thought in a million years we'd get him but that was who I wanted; straight in at the top of the list. The others on the list were Jason Pearson and Dave Johnson, two others I never thought would do it.

Through a bizarre set of circumstances, LeSean heard I would like him to finish Jules and we were put in contact. And here we are. I would like to say here that LeSean has done a huge amount of favours for both Jules and Com.X. He has put me in touch with a lot of people and has really pulled out all the stops to work on Jules. I am deeply grateful for what he has done for me and would just like to say thank you to him.

NRAMA: At what stage is the development of the next issue?

NG: Issue #4 is fully written and LeSean is drawing as we speak. I’m tidying up the scripts on issues #5 and #6 now, so LeSean will have those over the coming weeks. It’s all moving along already.

As I said before, we are looking toward a summer release, hopefully in time for San Diego. We are working out the schedules now and so will release a definite release plan by the end of January.

LT: Well I just finished page 2 and am full speed ahead. Issue #4 will hit shelves this July definitely.

NRAMA: It's been some months since the last issue came out. How about a quick recap of the first three issues?

NG: Hmmmm... Jules is a regular teenager, bored with her mundane existence and looking for some adventure. This is delivered when Eddie Daytona, having just robbed White Sheep Technologies, the planet’s leading research company, crashes into Jules on her way to school and stashes his prize in her school bag.

Jules accidentally activates Eddie’s swag – which turns out to be a secret military symbiote that becomes fused to her nervous system – unknowingly setting the symbiote with a bizarre set of functioning parameters, every time Jules is in apparent danger she becomes Bazooka Jules; super-enhanced, and with the ability to create weapons and equipment seemingly from nowhere, she finds herself trapped in a situation she desperately wants out of.

Suddenly her mundane existence seems a lot more appealing.

She seeks advice from her school science teacher, Mr. Scruples, who has a lot more up his sleeve than anyone would have thought. Using his hidden laboratory, they set about the task of figuring out exactly what has happened to Jules.

Meanwhile, White Sheep Technologies wants its artifact returned, and will go to any lengths to get it. After one failed attempt to recover the item they realize more potent methods are required. They reinitialize the prototypes of Jules's object, originally deemed too dangerous to remain active, they are brought back on line with one clear order: retrieve the symbiote.

Jules and her teacher have begun to understand the object’s workings. But they’d only scratched the surface when Jules is attacked by The Family – the prototypes – while shopping with friends...

Which leads us nicely into issue #4.

NRAMA: What can readers expect to see in the upcoming issues?

LT: The madness… I think Jules will be the comeback sleeper this year!

NG: OK, this is the pay-off; issues #4, #5 and #6 make up one big action fest. Don't worry, there is a story, but it is interlaced into the fight between Jules and The Family. Eddie turns up to help out, as does C.H.U.M. (Captain Hyper Ultra Man, Calibre Bay’s number one super hero). Jules's friends get into a mess of trouble of their own. White Sheep technologies sets up a few contingency plans in case this doesn't work, and its head of security starts to show what he's really made of... All that and a whole bunch more.

For a taste of LeSean Thomas’ art, check out his website at: http://leseanthomas.com/

[Edunikki]

Congratulations to Loriann!
As someone who has been lucky enough to deal with her I have to say she has the patience of a saint. Watch all the old CI boys deluge her now .

[jasinmartin]

Originally posted by MattBrady
NG: LeSean's work is energetic, fresh and clean. The first time I saw Arkanium, I knew he was the man for me. Never thought in a million years we'd get him but that was who I wanted; straight in at the top of the list. The others on the list were Jason Pearson and Dave Johnson, two others I never thought would do it.

Ah, such a nice list...
Glad to hear LeSean is back on the project, hope things roll on this time.
Looking forward to it!

[stlfan79]

LeSean kicks ass, what a great addition to an already cool title.

[FIG]

Well, I'll be looking out for this book. These sketches are awesome, LeSean should try drawing the whole book with some added shading, like the way he did with the blue sketch (line art and shading).

[sythspawn]

Consider me one of those that thinks a creator should see his/her project through to the end. No disrespect to LeSean at all. I completely agree with Neil's assessment of his abilities. His art is very energetic and fun to look at and I will be buying the rest of the series anyway. Hopefully a TPB will become available because I missed out on #3.

What i don't understand is, why Neil doesn't finish Jules and have LeSean work on one of those other projects Neil is developing/writing.

Like I said above, it ultimately doesn't matter because I plan on buying the rest of the series regardless. I have the bumper edition (which I believe collects #1 and 2) and the book is a lot of fun.

[Redmond]

LeSean Thomas is great, so that's great news.

[Earth-2 Mike]

Yay! Some new art! It's about time.