The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log

Hemlock Issues 1 & 2

By Josceline  Fenton

I’d seen Josceline Fenton’s Hemlock comic at various conventions, but never seemed to get round to picking up a copy. Stupid, stupid me. So I eventually first saw her work in the latest issue of Paper Science where her strip really, really impressed:

“Fenton’s single pager is just gorgeous. ….. her art looks great, very similar in style I thought to Posy Simmonds – her people have the same look, and that’s no bad thing at all.”

So that made me finally get hold of Hemlock. And I am so very, very glad I did. Fresh, dynamic, lots of fun, great storytelling in a webcomic with a genuinely interesting story. Really, read the review later, click on the cover pictures and just buy it now. Trust me.

First of all, a word about her art, as I made such a big deal of it in the Paper Science review. The work here is more angular than the Paper Science strip, more manga influenced (big, big eyes, small pointed noses etc etc), and there’s less of that Posy Simmonds look, but it’s still very attractive work, really appealing, very easy on the eye and her storytelling is spot on.

As for the story, Hemlock is “a fairy tale set in the forests of 19th Century Scandinavia” and we’re into high fantasy stuff here…. witches, Baba Yaga, familiars, dark princes, snail houses, and lots of magic.

(Meet Lumi the witch, from Hemlock by Josceline Fenton)

The main character Lumi is a witch, although not a particularly proficient one, whom we meet first as she’s busy eating her crow familiar Suul.

But don’t worry, after a little sleep (little in 800 year plus witch terms) she realises it ‘s time to get a new familiar for Suul’s soul.

And following a clue from Suul she heads off to go frog hunting. But like so many other things in Lumi’s long life, it doesn’t go to plan, there’s a funny case of mistaken identity and instead of a new “frogs-body” for Suul’s soul, she manages to get a frog with the soul of young peasant boy.

And as bad as that is for Lumi, just imagine how poor Tristan feels – thrown from his horse, soul sucked into a frog, and then he finds it’s his job to spend his new (after) life as Lumi’s familiar. It’s all a bit of a shock to say the least:

(Lumi and Tristan. No, I’m not going to explain the three eyes)

Now, the reason Lumi needs a familiar is so she can make her paralysis soup spell work (which is where the Hemlock comes in by the way). It’s for her husband, a nasty piece of work, as shown by Lumi’s wedding ring, magically locked tight on her ankle that hubby uses to squeeze her leg painfully tight when he needs her to do something. Not nice at all. In fact, a lot of people Lumi has to listen to say he’s the wrong side of evil. But you’ll find all about that in issue 2.

And by the end of that issue we have a better idea of who Lumi is, just how bad her predicament is (it’s bad, trust me), and exactly what she has to do next. We’re fully introduced to the main cast of characters; Lumi, Tristan, Richmond and are beginning to get a good idea of the sort of world they’re living in.

Oh yes, Richmond – I forgot to mention Richmond ….. Richmond is a giant snail, and Lumi lives in a rather unique mobile home – four storeys of house inside Richmond’s shell. Cute, interesting and a rather brilliantly weird touch.

(And Richmond. Wonderful Richmond, with his customised snail language, designed by Fenton)

Of course, there are still plenty of questions to be answered; why does Tristan have a third eye? What does Lumi’s husband have planned? What about Lumi’s extended family? And just why are there so many witches in the castle anyhow?

But most importantly, by the end of issue 2 we’ve had a damn fine time, with Fenton rather expertly weaving a tale that’s part witchy adventure and part gentle sitcom, with the crackling dialogue between Lumi and Tristan a particular delight.

It’s a quick read, and I have to admit I don’t think I could read this as a webcomic,  even with Fenton updating five pages a week.

But I did read on, as she’s made a start on chapter/issue 3, and to be honest I enjoyed it so much I had to read on (always the best sign for me – I’m just not one for continuing webcomics after all). However, even the 29 pages of issue 3 done so far were merely a tantalising glimpse. I want more, I want to read it as it’s meant to be, a complete chapter, in her beautiful 100+ page comics, a continuing tale but with a defined beginning, middle and end within the issue that leads onto more adventures next time. That way it’s a perfect little tale within her longer story, that way it’s hugely satisfying.

Like I said right at the start, her art is superb, and her storytelling, so important here with her economical dialogue, rarely falters. It’s hugely impressive, especially when you compare it to her earlier work, which is far more showy, but overly so, and this current work, with it’s stripped down lines, minimalist backgrounds and highly stylised imagery is so much better.

I had a great time reading Fenton’s Hemlock. It really is that most rare of things; smart, funny and like I mentioned before rather brilliantly weird.

Josceline has a website and tumblr, and you can get updates of Hemlock at the Hemlock webcomic site, updates on Fridays. Issue 3 of Hemlock should be released at the next MCM London Expo (28-30th October), and you can get print versions of issue 1 & 2 from Josceline at conventions and shows and from her Lulu webstore.