Broken Frontier

Though it no longer updates, Return of the Exile is one of my favorite introductions to the fantasy genre in webcomics. While most fantasy webcomics open their characters with recognizable arche(stereo)types, Steve Jones and Barb Jacobs’ Return does the unthinkable – transplanting a brash young soldier from the Middle East to a strangely familiar magical world.

Return of the Exile is admittedly only part of Jacobs and Jones’ epic Talismen series, and though short, it is extremely visible in the eyes of fantasy fans. Jacobs’ colorful and earthy artistic styling is further complemented by veteran writer Jones’ quick and pointed dialogue, and though the result may be far too short in some fan’s eyes, it remains indefinitely sweet.

This webcomic closed its doors back in 2007 but both Jones and Jacobs have been far from slacking. What have they been doing since Talismen ended and what lies in the future for both the creators and their world? Read on to find out!

Broken Frontier: Why did you choose webcomics, and ultimately, why did you decide to leave?

Barb Jacobs: I began creating Talismen: Return of the Exile on my own initially as an experiment. Steve had written the Talismen novella, The  Knightmare Knife, which I had created illustrations for, and he was submitting it to publishers. I was interested in taking the Talismen characters in a different direction as adult characters, mostly because of the interest my concept illustrations of the mature characters were garnering on international sites such as Deviant Art, Elfwood, and Epilogue.

Steve did not have time at that time to concept or write such a story, so I wrote and illustrated a twelve page story called "Return to Donnelly'  which a small black and white magazine, Girly, had expressed interest in. I began posting pages of this on my Elfwood site, where someone introduced me to Drunk Duck, and in that, the world of webcomics. Once on Drunk Duck, interest and readership of Donnelly began to grow quickly. At the same time, I sent out submissions to three small, independent print comic publishers. Within one hour, Atlantis had responded and offered a print deal.

At that point, I asked Steve if he would be interested in scripting and re-scripting dialogue for the story of Return of the Exile Volume I, which he agreed to. Eventually, Talismen: Return of the Exile was accepted by Keenspot, and continued to climb in readership until I decided to retire from it. You could say that I fell into webcomics. I didn't even know that they existed until someone told me about Drunk Duck.

From the time I was a teenager, print comics had been nothing but disappointment from me. Dozens of rejections, flaky people, and dropped promises had really soured me on the world of print comics. Webcomics allow more creative freedom, and provide better communication with your audience, which I enjoy.

I certainly haven't left webcomics! Currently, I am writing and illustrating another high fantasy series Xyliatales, which is also presented by Keenspot, and is steadily gaining readership.

Steve Jones: It sort of found me. After Barb and I really got into creating Talismen: The Knightmare Knife, it was Barb who assembled the first Talismen website, which led to her posting Talismen art on Elfwood, which eventually led to her creating Talismen: The Return of the Exile webcomic. 

Barb was well into that when she asked me to help with the script, and I was honored to do so. (I've got all that right, don't I, Barb?) That is how I offically entered webcomics. The only exception I can think of is some comic book material Paul Edmund Norman featured at Gateway Monthly, and one of those subs included a five-page Talismen teaser story. Those weren't really webcomics, though, but comic book stories that ended up being posted on the web.

I left when it became impossible for Barb to continue Return of the Exile without financial support. It is incredible that she completed an 88-page story and followed that up with 22 more pages purely on talent and dedication. She is incredible. Since the only webcomic I was working on was Return of the Exile, when that ended, my webcomic career ended, too.

BF: Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently during your run on the webcomic?

BJ: I will definitely be wary of other people. I'm still learning through Xylia. Marketing and finding ways to make money with webcomics are always challenging. I have recently asked a friend to be a marketing/sales director for the series. I also have a webmistress on the 'payroll' and hope to add colorists as well.

SJ: No, not really. I was working with the most talented artist on the web and we gave it every effort we had, especially Barb. You can't complain when you give any effort your best shot.

BF: How long has it been since you stopped writing/drawing webcomics, and are their any webcomics you still read? If so, what ones?

BJ: As mentioned, I haven't stopped creating!  I read a few when I have time. The Phoenix Requiem, The Dreamer, Roza and the Horse Prince, Fantasy Realms, Zap!, Broken (Things), and Lackadaisy, are some that I read. They all feature yummy artwork and great characters and storytelling. There are MANY others I try to keep up with, but  those are some of my favorites.

SJ: A couple of years, I guess. Time passes by more quickly than I realize sometimes. But I love reading Barb's Xylia.  I don't have much time to read much else these days, but I do love reading Withershins and Forgotten Realms when I get the opportunity.

BF: What did you take away from webcomics? Did the process of updating regularly help further develop techniques or habits that you still use today?

BJ: I stopped working on Talismen for a number of reasons, some of which I have made public, some I never will.  It was just time for me to start a new project. Updating regularly is part of my life as a freelance artist and has been my whole creative life. The Deadline. I don't even think about it.

SJ: I've been writing comics on and off since the late 1980s, so I was already very familiar with the comics writing process and keeping deadlines. I was excited to discover the variety of wonderful comics available on the web, though.

BF: What kind of advice would you give webcomic creators about the future and about life after webcomics? What kind of advice would you give aspiring creators who have yet to step onto the field?

BJ: Just do it. You learn by doing. The coolest thing about webcomicking is that you get almost instant feedback from your audience, so you know if you are on the right track or not. You don't have to wait for print, or for letters from readers. Readers often comment minutes after I post a page.

SJ: Don't expect to make any money and life goes on.

BF: Do you any of you have any future plans to return to the world of Talismen any time soon?

BJ: I get asked this question AT LEAST once a week. I don't know. I got hurt really bad on that project. Some people act like I quit working on it as a personal affront to them. One guy even goes about the internet telling folks not to look at my new projects because I'm 'a quitter'. Whatever. I just equate Talismen with a lot of painful things right now. If I get over that, I may go back to it. I don't know.

I have considered releasing my written synopsis story of the next chapter of Return of the Exile with a few concept sketches I had done. But I don't have the time to devote to it right now.

SJ: The Talismen: Knightmare Knife paperback is supposed to come out this year. Finally. It's a young adult book with illustrations by Barb, and it's coming out from Mundania Press. If it is successful, I plan to write more books. Those are the only definite plans right now.

BF: Are there any future projects unrelated to Talismen that you'd like fans to know about?

BJ: Just Xyliatales. A lot of Tali fans already know about it, but if they don't, I think that they will enjoy it.

SJ: TransFuzion Publishing is reissuing my Lovecraft adaptations into two trade graphic novels this year, and  they will be republishing my Sherlock Holmes stories in the future. I  wrote an adaptation of Edgar Rice Burrough's People That Time Forgot that will  be coming out later this year or early next year from a new publisher. 

I have also started to write radio scripts and the first was produced and broadcast near the end of February by Jim French Productions. I continue to write a critical review book on Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt books whenever I get the chance. That's a long-term labor of love, although a publisher is interested in it, so hopefully I'll finish it in time to get it in print.