Jolle Jones made a splash in the comics world when she illustrated 12 Reasons Why I Love Her for Oni Press in 2006. Besides being the first book for the young artist, it was also her first collaboration with writer Jamie S. Rich, with whom shes worked on short stories, including a contribution to the prose anthology Portland Noir about their neighborhood, the book Spellcheckers and their finest collaboration, last years noir tale You Have Killed Me. Shes also illustrated two issues of Madame Xanadu written by Matt Wagner for Vertigo. She collaborated with Zack Whedon on a spin-off of Dr. Horribles Sing-Along Blog, drew the very striking cover for the recent roller derby anthology Jam! and has contributed to the anthologies Popgun, Sexy Chix, and Noir.
Her new book is Troublemaker, Book 1 written by Janet and Alex Evanovich. And yes, thats the same Janet Evanovich who happens to be one of the best selling writers in America. The result is a book thats a little more cartoony and light-hearted than many of Jones other comics, but the style is uniquely hers.
Interviewing Jolle is always a lot of fun, though we spent less time talking about gambling and drinking than we did in the last interview I did with her, but it was fun anyway. We spoke by e-mail just before and then just after she finished drawing the second Troublemaker book which is due out in November.
ALEX DUEBEN: So how did you end up drawing Troublemaker?
JOELLE JONES: I knew Sierra Hahn when we worked on Dr. Horrible together and I guess I must not have been that terrible to work with so she asked me to work with her again on this project.
AD: Were you a Janet Evanovich fan before this?
JJ: To be honest I had never heard of her before, but I realized pretty quick that maybe I was the only one who hadnt. After Sierra told me about the project I googled her name and found a ton of stuff. Even my dad has read her books.
AD: I know youre a mystery fan. Is she just not hard boiled enough to be on your radar?
JJ: You know I would like to consider myself well read but sometimes I just keep reading books in the genres I love. Romance and adventure books were never really something that interested me too much. This book really challenged me to work in a genre that I am not too familiar with.
AD: Did you go and read the two Alex Barnaby books to get a feel forthings before starting work on the comic?
JJ: I sort of tried to. I can be a bit of an airhead sometimes and when Sierra told me about the project I started in on the Stephanie Plum series and did the character sketches for them. For some reason I kept getting feedback that the feeling for the characters were all wrong. Eventually I figured out it was the completely wrong book. No big loss though. I just read a couple of extra books I wouldn't have picked up otherwise.
AD: How complicated was it getting down the main characters and their designs?
JJ: It was a struggle at first, nailing down someone elses vision that they had spent way more time with was difficult, but hopefully the fans of Evanovich wont be too disappointed with the portrayal.
AD: How has it been working with inker Andy Owens and colorist Dan Jackson on the book and how do you like the way it turned out? I know you worked with Dan before on the Dr. Horrible one-shot.
JJ: It was wonderful! I was lucky to have a great team of people to create with, Andys inks elevated the art so much, and it was so exciting to see everything Dan did. I also have to mention Ben Dewey; He came on the book a little later and did some spectacular backgrounds!
AD: Ben Dewey is the background artist as you mentioned. Why was he brought in and at what stage of the process?
JJ: Ben was brought in about halfway through the book. This was a really fast paced project and I fell behind. The script was written rather slim on descriptions and the Evanovichs were not entirely clear on their ideas for the book until after pages were done, so a lot of corrections needed to be made until things were able to go a little smoother. We eventually made it all come together, but I would probably still be working on it now if Ben was not brought in.
AD: Did the Miami setting require a lot of reference?
JJ: I actually already had a ton of reference from when I did a book from the Minx line called Token, that also takes place in Miami, and even though I have never been there, I feel like I know Miami pretty well at this point.
AD: Was it odd giving up control of the backgrounds, especially having done so much research on Miami and being familiar with the city?
JJ: I was really strange at first and I started to miss drawing the backgrounds but Ben is so great I think he made my art look really good and I can't imagine doing a better job than him.
AD: Was the comedy aspect of the book a challenge?
JJ: It kinda was, I have never really done such over the top comedy, and my sense of humor runs pretty dry. Now I am almost finished with the second book and I feel like it is only now that I am getting the hang of it. I feel like it was a good challenge for me though.
AD: The style you used for Troublemaker felt a little more cartoony than how you usually work. Was it a struggle to work in this cartoony style and tone and still make it your own?
JJ: I felt like from the beginning that this was something the Evanovichs wanted so I tried to accommodate. I dont know if the book would have worked any other way, sometimes it was a struggle though. I tend to really love angular lines, and deep blacks, and I had to be more aware of my tendencies toward them. I learned a lot, however, and I was still able to give a few touches here and there of myself.
AD: What do you think of the decision to break the book up into pieces, serializing it but not in monthly installments. How satisfying do you think it is? And is it just two parts or are there more?
JJ: I know that some people would disagree with me but I love a good cliffhanger (even though every week when I watch True Blood it infuriates me). There is always such a payoff when the next episode is on, or you are holding the next issue in your hand! As far as any more Troublemaker, I am not sure, as far as I know it is only two parts.
AD: I know youre finishing the second book now. How has the process changed or been streamlined now that youve been working together?
JJ: I am almost done, right now; I am only ten pages away! The process became much smoother this time around, I feel like I know what the Evanovichs are looking for. Mostly it is really nice to look back on all the pages and see a progression and I am looking forward to when the books are out.
AD: So if these do well are you up for another pair of books?
JJ: Probably not, I would like jump into a new project and draw different characters and try something a little darker, maybe a little more masculine.
AD: You seem to really enjoy jumping from one book and one genre to the next. Is this something youve really intentionally sought in your career or did it just work out that way?
JJ: I think maybe a little of both. I feel like my style is still developing and I would like to get a chance to draw as many things as I possible and learn from the experiences I can get out of them.
AD: Any genres or something you really have an itch to try?
JJ: I think maybe something with a super hero or science fiction, or western or really anything I haven't done yet.
AD: So what else are you working on? I know youre working a big project at Vertigo. Are you allowed to say anything?
JJ: I am not sure what I am able to talk about but it is a new genre for me and I am really getting a chance to go a little abstract and flex my creative muscles, I am loving working on it and I hope when it is finished that they joy I am getting out of it will come through in the work.
AD: Even if you arent allowed, why dont you say something about it?
JJ: I think it might be out next year. That's it, I guess.
Her new book is Troublemaker, Book 1 written by Janet and Alex Evanovich. And yes, thats the same Janet Evanovich who happens to be one of the best selling writers in America. The result is a book thats a little more cartoony and light-hearted than many of Jones other comics, but the style is uniquely hers.
Interviewing Jolle is always a lot of fun, though we spent less time talking about gambling and drinking than we did in the last interview I did with her, but it was fun anyway. We spoke by e-mail just before and then just after she finished drawing the second Troublemaker book which is due out in November.
ALEX DUEBEN: So how did you end up drawing Troublemaker?
JOELLE JONES: I knew Sierra Hahn when we worked on Dr. Horrible together and I guess I must not have been that terrible to work with so she asked me to work with her again on this project.
AD: Were you a Janet Evanovich fan before this?
JJ: To be honest I had never heard of her before, but I realized pretty quick that maybe I was the only one who hadnt. After Sierra told me about the project I googled her name and found a ton of stuff. Even my dad has read her books.
AD: I know youre a mystery fan. Is she just not hard boiled enough to be on your radar?
JJ: You know I would like to consider myself well read but sometimes I just keep reading books in the genres I love. Romance and adventure books were never really something that interested me too much. This book really challenged me to work in a genre that I am not too familiar with.
AD: Did you go and read the two Alex Barnaby books to get a feel forthings before starting work on the comic?
JJ: I sort of tried to. I can be a bit of an airhead sometimes and when Sierra told me about the project I started in on the Stephanie Plum series and did the character sketches for them. For some reason I kept getting feedback that the feeling for the characters were all wrong. Eventually I figured out it was the completely wrong book. No big loss though. I just read a couple of extra books I wouldn't have picked up otherwise.
AD: How complicated was it getting down the main characters and their designs?
JJ: It was a struggle at first, nailing down someone elses vision that they had spent way more time with was difficult, but hopefully the fans of Evanovich wont be too disappointed with the portrayal.
AD: How has it been working with inker Andy Owens and colorist Dan Jackson on the book and how do you like the way it turned out? I know you worked with Dan before on the Dr. Horrible one-shot.
JJ: It was wonderful! I was lucky to have a great team of people to create with, Andys inks elevated the art so much, and it was so exciting to see everything Dan did. I also have to mention Ben Dewey; He came on the book a little later and did some spectacular backgrounds!
AD: Ben Dewey is the background artist as you mentioned. Why was he brought in and at what stage of the process?
JJ: Ben was brought in about halfway through the book. This was a really fast paced project and I fell behind. The script was written rather slim on descriptions and the Evanovichs were not entirely clear on their ideas for the book until after pages were done, so a lot of corrections needed to be made until things were able to go a little smoother. We eventually made it all come together, but I would probably still be working on it now if Ben was not brought in.
AD: Did the Miami setting require a lot of reference?
JJ: I actually already had a ton of reference from when I did a book from the Minx line called Token, that also takes place in Miami, and even though I have never been there, I feel like I know Miami pretty well at this point.
AD: Was it odd giving up control of the backgrounds, especially having done so much research on Miami and being familiar with the city?
JJ: I was really strange at first and I started to miss drawing the backgrounds but Ben is so great I think he made my art look really good and I can't imagine doing a better job than him.
AD: Was the comedy aspect of the book a challenge?
JJ: It kinda was, I have never really done such over the top comedy, and my sense of humor runs pretty dry. Now I am almost finished with the second book and I feel like it is only now that I am getting the hang of it. I feel like it was a good challenge for me though.
AD: The style you used for Troublemaker felt a little more cartoony than how you usually work. Was it a struggle to work in this cartoony style and tone and still make it your own?
JJ: I felt like from the beginning that this was something the Evanovichs wanted so I tried to accommodate. I dont know if the book would have worked any other way, sometimes it was a struggle though. I tend to really love angular lines, and deep blacks, and I had to be more aware of my tendencies toward them. I learned a lot, however, and I was still able to give a few touches here and there of myself.
AD: What do you think of the decision to break the book up into pieces, serializing it but not in monthly installments. How satisfying do you think it is? And is it just two parts or are there more?
JJ: I know that some people would disagree with me but I love a good cliffhanger (even though every week when I watch True Blood it infuriates me). There is always such a payoff when the next episode is on, or you are holding the next issue in your hand! As far as any more Troublemaker, I am not sure, as far as I know it is only two parts.
AD: I know youre finishing the second book now. How has the process changed or been streamlined now that youve been working together?
JJ: I am almost done, right now; I am only ten pages away! The process became much smoother this time around, I feel like I know what the Evanovichs are looking for. Mostly it is really nice to look back on all the pages and see a progression and I am looking forward to when the books are out.
AD: So if these do well are you up for another pair of books?
JJ: Probably not, I would like jump into a new project and draw different characters and try something a little darker, maybe a little more masculine.
AD: You seem to really enjoy jumping from one book and one genre to the next. Is this something youve really intentionally sought in your career or did it just work out that way?
JJ: I think maybe a little of both. I feel like my style is still developing and I would like to get a chance to draw as many things as I possible and learn from the experiences I can get out of them.
AD: Any genres or something you really have an itch to try?
JJ: I think maybe something with a super hero or science fiction, or western or really anything I haven't done yet.
AD: So what else are you working on? I know youre working a big project at Vertigo. Are you allowed to say anything?
JJ: I am not sure what I am able to talk about but it is a new genre for me and I am really getting a chance to go a little abstract and flex my creative muscles, I am loving working on it and I hope when it is finished that they joy I am getting out of it will come through in the work.
AD: Even if you arent allowed, why dont you say something about it?
JJ: I think it might be out next year. That's it, I guess.