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Creating Comics: An Interview with Comics Writer and Time Bomb Comics editor, Jemma West

By downthetubes Guests on March 24, 2024

Jemma West is a comics writer whose credits include “WesterNoir: Moon Cursed” and “WesterNoir: Dead End” published in Time Bomb Comics anthology Quantum, an independent British publisher. She’s also an editor for company, and their Submission Manager, which includes reviewing, developing, and editing submissions.

After graduating from the University of Glasgow with a Joint Honours BA in English Literature and Film & Television Studies, Jemma her interest in comic book publishing, initially working as a salesperson for Accent UK Comics, quickly moving into writing and editing, the latter proving as enjoyable as writing.

When Time Bomb Comics approached Jemma with the opportunity to edit and write more titles, she moved over from Accent UK and is now an Editor, Writer, and the Submissions Manager.

Katie Cunningham caught up with Jemma to talk about the “Tales of WesterNoir” project, published by Time Bomb, stories running in Quantum…

It’s so exciting that we’re getting a wider vision of the WesterNoir universe. What’s made this story the one you want to tell?

WesterNoir, created by Gary Crutchley and Dave West, has always been a universe with the potential for telling a wide range of stories. Josiah Black, the protagonist of the main series, is such an interesting figure that focusing on him often meant that the world he lives in and the side characters would often be put on the back burner.

We, by which I mean my co-writer Dave, first created Tales of WesterNoir. It was a way to follow up with characters Josiah met on his journeys and retroactively add more depth to them. Dave found that it allowed him, and co-creator Gary, to explore what the Old West looked like for the people living there. He also hired a range of artists, one for each story, marking each tale with a unique perspective which is something we later replicated.

It is this foundation that inspired us to create WesterNoir as it exists in Quantum. We wanted something that could be episodic while revolving around a few key characters. It allows us to dig into the setting and characters, giving room for growth, while allowing us to create entertaining scenarios that push our ideas as far as they can go.

Are there challenges to setting it in the pre-existing world?

Oh, absolutely!

Perhaps the biggest challenge is making sure that everything relates to the established story in a way that makes sense. For us, that meant sticking to a timeline and making sure that we don’t accidentally retcon something without realising it. Thankfully, having Dave as a co-writer/editor helps prevent this and Gary Crutchley, the co-writer and artist for mainline WesterNoir has also been more than willing to make sure that we aren’t overstepping our boundaries.

There are, of course, also positives that come alongside this. Characters who we have met in WesterNoir will be returning, with more depth being added to them as well as them getting more story prominence.

Luther, for example, was a character that we knew was going to reappear in WesterNoir: Dead End. He will be playing a far more prominent role in the following stories that we are looking to tell. There will also be a couple of other familiar faces making a return, although that is something for far later down the line.

What’s it like collaborating with Dave?

So, eagle-eyed readers will have noticed that Dave and I share the same surname, or may already know that we are a parent-child writing team. This comes with a unique set of strengths and challenges.

Despite being quite similar, both of us enjoy writing, and we have similar tastes in comedy, there is a notable difference in how we approach writing stories.

Dave approaches his work with an artist’s temperament, something that can be felt in the more moody scripts that capture the tone of WesterNoir. He knows when to leave scenes up to the artist, acting as much of a guiding hand as a writer. It’s one of the reasons why his scripts are so distinctive.

I, on the other hand, approach work with a more editorial leaning. I tend to prefer being more precise, making note of every little detail and ensuring that things are as close to perfect as possible. Usually, this means that I end up with a near-complete script, but a crippling sense that something isn’t quite right.

Thankfully, this allows us both to help each other and improve our work. Dave pulls me along when I start to fall into self-doubt, and I help him refine his ideas into something more tangible. It’s also fairly easy to overcome differences in opinion… it just depends on where the nearest coffee shop is and how expensive their chai lattes are.

Last year you co-wrote “Moon Cursed”, another WesterNoir spin-off. What was that like, is it different to be running things by yourself?

There are some noticeable differences when Dave takes up the purely editing role, something that I used to do for him before working on WesterNoir. There is a reassurance that comes with having someone look over your work with a critical and impartial eye, ensuring that each story reaches its full potential.

Of course, there is also a newfound freedom that allows me to spread my wings in exciting new ways that I couldn’t before. The pacing of WesterNoir: Dead End is far more reflective of the way I write, and also the elements that I like to focus on.

But some difficulties come along with the change. In the planning stages, I would often lose focus on the story and want to explore characters and settings that aren’t central to the plot. It’s something that I’m having to challenge myself with, although it will hopefully make me a better writer by the end.

Gareth Sleightholme’s been a long-time presence at Time Bomb, what’s it like working with him?

At first, I was quite nervous working with Gareth. His work on Flintlock, as well as his work for the Hull Maritime Project, is so impressive that the idea of working with him was very intimidating.

Thankfully, working with Gareth has been absolutely amazing. Gareth understands the story, knowing how to emphasise the atmosphere and enhance the pacing more than I could have ever hoped for. He also manages to pick out the really important elements of the story, coming back with questions and suggestions that help to add depth to both the characters and the setting.

He has such a distinctive style, brilliantly contrasting the fantastic work of Joseph Parangue who worked on Moon Cursed. It reinforces how each story is its own unique experience and keeps readers on their toes as to where WesterNoir will go next.

• Quantum, an anthology title, is on sale on newsstands in multiple stores (including WHSmith and Barnes & Noble), and from Time Bomb Comics online store

• Time Bomb Comics Submissions Guide is her