It would be nice to say we’ve come a long way in terms of equality. Maybe some places we have. Though comics creator Carrick Esquivel places his fictional city of Themis in the 1950s, the issues he brings up could take place in a few different decades. All the better to present protagonist Jacqueline Jones as both a throwback and a step forward. She’s a good cop, fighting hard for justice. Yet “justice” fights her, as she overcomes the sexism of most of the Themis police force she serves.
Most of Jacqueline Jones #1 follows her day, with some setbacks and some triumphs. Of course some of the other officers think she got there for reasons other than skill. To herself, she admits that it’s probable she was accepted into the police academy because of her nickname “Jack.” But she’s clearly also a good cop. With the help of a smart young girl who’s stumbled across criminal activity, Jones busts a gang. That could be it, except Esquivel drops a few clues toward a larger arc. As an introductory issue, this one’s pretty solid.
The cover by Des Taylor gives off an Agent Carter vibe, which makes a fair comparison. Esquivel’s interior art (inked by Jesse Hansen and Johnny B. Gerardy) has a more playful look to it, though that doesn’t undercut the serious points being made. Whether intended or not, it’s actually a solid book for kids. Nothing objectionable, though criminal threats are made. Both Jacqueline and her young friend Tiffany look appropriately who they are — Jacqueline being a bit plus-sized. The villains have a slightly cartoonish cast, but that just adds to the Dick Tracy feeling that runs through the book.
If Esquivel’s work has weak spots, it’s in a tendency to over dialogue a bit while not being in full control of caption box layouts. Though the panels are clear in action and direction, the story takes a little work following which text to read in what order. We had a brief conversation about it, and the second issue (crowdfunding soon) will be scripted differently, to give colorist and letterer Jeromy Cox a little more leeway.
Overall, this one’s worth a look. If you run across the San Diego-based Esquivel at a convention, give Jacqueline Jones some attention. Otherwise, his Kickstarter page should still make it possible to purchase the first issue. While you’re there, you can sign up for an alert for the follow-up.
UPDATE: Carrick Esquivel let me know that the book will be available at his Etsy shop on September 12, in honor of National Policewomen Day.
