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What If Kim Possible Was The Rocketeer?

Published Sat, 11 Nov 2017 08:00:41 -0600

Jason Inman writes,

Following the death of her father, 16-year-old Jacqueline "Jacky" Johnson inherits a jetpack with a mysterious power source. Together with her brother, Chuck, and their cat she must protect her home from a threat that may – or may not – be from this Earth!

That's the solicit for JUPITER JET, my upcoming adventure series co-written by Ashley Victoria Robinson with artist Ben Matsuya, which is in Previews from Action Lab Entertainment (OCT171040). Our concept is basically "Kim Possible meets The Rocketeer" starring a high-flying dieselpunk teenager who stumbles into a weird science fiction world when she steals from the wrong people.

My name is Jason Inman and I co-wrote this coming of age hero story for your enjoyment. It was important for us to tell a story that you could give to any reader of any age, but also a story that was packed to the brim with excitement and fun.

Here's an exclusive look at our issue 2 variant cover by Jenn St-Onge of Jem and the Misfits (NOV171105). For me, imagery like this propels me as a writer and reader. Who is this girl? What does she want? And, how is it compelling to comic fans? These were answers that we had to figure out as we worked out the details of our first comic book mini-series.

In the sky, Jacqueline "Jacky" Johnson is the ultimate hero! She can foil any foe, ride the wind and invade any plane or blimp with ease. But, how does that make her a dramatic character? Jacky is so sure of herself and confident that we automatically had to design ways to make her afraid. Hence, her fear of the ocean. (Something that we dive deeper into in issue two – no pun intended.) Our brave heroes become bolder when they seem more like us. People that struggle with real fears and foibles.

After an incredibly adventurous heist on a zeppelin, Jacky snags the biggest haul ever and at the bottom of the bag is a green power device that looks exactly like the blue energy powering her jetpack. Whatever could this mysterious green power device be? This is the inciting incident of our book. This is definitely an object that should not belong in that world. But, this element of our story helped to solidify our plot. The readers may simply think this is a forgotten adventure that we have never heard of before, however, the mystery of this device opens up Jupiter Jet's world. What else is wrong in her world if this thing exists? This revelation blew our story wide open, not only for us but for our characters. Suddenly, robots and ray guns were possible. It was the best lesson we learned while writing this comic. If you and your character think you know your world, shake it up. What single thing can completely alter the way your character views their world?

Just like Jupiter Jet, I'm stepping into a whole new world. After years of covering comics and creators on DC All Access, I've decided to join them. I wanted to read a story of full out heroics. A daring hero with guts that would push back against the norm. Lately, heroes have become full of self-doubt and introspection and I needed to read a hero that was literally ready to jump off any cliff.

So, I combined that need with the perfect name invented by my co-writer, Ashley Victoria Robinson. This was set to be an adventure like the dime serials of old. Perfect for any child, but compelling and rich enough for any elder. After seeing the aerial techniques of Ben Matsuya, we knew that we had found the perfect artist to bring the flying femme to life.

If you have a heart, I think you'll love our story. Jupiter Jet flies in a deep and compelling world. While she soars above the city, there is a complex world of intrigue, mysteries and science fiction robots that will completely change her world view. It contains the fun of a Saturday morning cartoon with the the serialized mysteries of a show like Westworld. It's a line that we walked very carefully, but I think is evident from the very first page.

In the end, Jupiter Jet is a story that we all go through in our lives. Everyone thinks they understand everything about their world. But, they don't, and neither does Jupiter Jet. She may be looking for answers in the sky, but she needs to focus on the ground and her family for real answers. We're all the flying girl in our own stories.

Don't fly too high, Jupiter Jet! The sky is hollow!

CREDITS

Jason Inmans's first comic book series with co-writer Ashley Victoria Robinson and artist Ben Matsuya, JUPITER JET, is available for pre-order now, and will be available in comic shops and digital devices December 2017 from Action Lab Entertainment.