Shift is very proud to talk to Tripwire Joel Meadows about his efforts to bring his interpretation of Sherlock Holmes to us all. It is a refreshing twist on a familiar character.
Also in the spirit of full disclosure, I, Paul Neal actively write for Tripwire. This interview however has been conducted impartially and it is only intended to be informative and hopefully enjoyable.
I asked Joel a few questions about the book and his plans for the future or his take on Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic character?
Paul: Joel, you are a successful editor of a widely loved publication. Tripwire has been a huge part of your life. Why did you decide to write Sherlock Holmes stories?
Joel: I have always been a huge fan of Holmes ever since I was a kid. Watching things like The Private Life Of Sherlock Holmes by Billy Wilder and the ITV show with Jeremy Brett, I have always been struck by the iconic and adaptable nature of the character. Also, films like Young Sherlock Holmes by Barry Levinson, the two Robert Downey Jr movies and more recent films like Mr Holmes with Ian McKellen have also shown just how flexible the world that Doyle created is and how rich it is for writers. Holmes stories for me do have to have some sort of investigative elements to them although I admit that our story is less of a detective tale and more of an adventure story. We originally created Holmes back in 2000 but no publisher went for it so we put it aside until 2018 when our writer Scott Braden asked me if I had any comic series to talk about which never happened.
Paul: Did you enjoy the BBC series Sherlock or the American TV series Elementary?
Paul: Did you enjoy the BBC series Sherlock or the American TV series Elementary?
Joel: I never watched Sherlock I admit, but Elementary had its moments although I did not watch it to its conclusion.
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Paul: Part of creating any comic book story is finding the correct writer and artist combination. Can you say was Andy Bennett your first choice as artist? Did he tick all the boxes you required? Did you consider any other artists to work with?
Joel: There was another artist originally planned to draw this series around 2001 but that didn’t work out. So I was introduced to him by another friend and from the beginning he has been the perfect choice. What is interesting is that he is American but he has very British sensibilities so we collaborate really well together. He has an amazing visual eye and he is a wonderful storyteller. He can also translate my scripts into something far more elegant and sophisticated. He is an old-school comic illustrator who also brings something cinematic to the mix. I am very lucky that he is my creative partner here.
Paul: The first volume of The Gene Genie has been published by SHIFT, and of course by Tripwire. What can readers expect from the conclusion?
Paul: The first volume of The Gene Genie has been published by SHIFT, and of course by Tripwire. What can readers expect from the conclusion?
Joel: Oh, we left the story in a dramatic cliffhanger with the first volume, so the action picks up where we left off. Holmes is forced to team up with Miller and Six to bring down Mosley and return England to its status quo. I have already scripted 30 pages of what will be a 96 page or so second instalment and the action has been ramped up here. I have also seen quite a few pages from Andy already too and he is doing stellar work as ever. It has been fun to go back to the world of Holmes again so we believe that this will engage with readers even more than the first volume.
Paul: Do you have plans for more Holmes adventures in the future?
Paul: Do you have plans for more Holmes adventures in the future?
Joel: I do indeed. I have already started thinking about a third book, a self-contained 48 page or so one shot pitting Holmes against one of his deadliest classic foes. But people will have to wait a little bit longer to find out just who that is.
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Paul: Gene Genie Volume One had some excellent covers. Can you tell me a little bit about the covers for Volume Two?
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Joel: We were very lucky with our covers for Volume One with two incredible exclusive pieces from Walt Simonson and Mark Chiarello and we have been lucky again to get two brand new covers from current hot artist Dan Panosian (Conan, Nightwing) and 2000AD and Batman artist Frazer Irving. We have also secured new pin ups from George Pratt, Tomm Coker and will be getting pin-ups from John K Snyder III and Barry Kitson again. The current campaign offers the chance to grab the first volume again with a second hardcover printing and also a brand new paperback edition in case people missed it the first time around.
Paul: To end can I briefly ask please? Who would your absolute dream cover artist be for either Tripwire or your Sherlock Holmes books?
Paul: To end can I briefly ask please? Who would your absolute dream cover artist be for either Tripwire or your Sherlock Holmes books?
Joel: I would love to get Bill Sienkiewicz or Frank Quitely to create a cover for Holmes in the future. But we are incredibly chuffed that we have two exceptional pieces from Panosian and Irving for volume two though. We shall have to start thinking about volume three at some point but that is a little way off.
Paul: Thank you Joel. It is a pleasure to include a link to your Kickstarter for your new book.
Sherlock Holmes And The Empire Builders The Gene Genie by Joel Meadows — Kickstarter
Paul: Thank you Joel. It is a pleasure to include a link to your Kickstarter for your new book.
Sherlock Holmes And The Empire Builders The Gene Genie by Joel Meadows — Kickstarter