Yo yeggs,
Years ago, in the beforetimes (pre-pandemic), I wrote the words “Satterwhite” and “Fosgrove” in a blank Word doc.
The seed of an idea is a wondrous thing of mystery and mayhem. I knew I wanted to do a buddy cop thing, but who they were, what they were chasing, the world they inhabited – those were basically TBD. Every once in a while, I’d come back to the Word doc and add a bit or a piece, ideas orbiting around a hazy core. Then, BAM – one idea latched on, and then BAM – another grafted.
As the synapsis fired, so did my “story bible”, that all-important background document that keeps a writer’s messy musings in somewhat discernible order. Quickly, I had a full-fledged idea. Then the hard labor started.
“Satterwhite & Fosgrove” is likely the most ambitious story I’ve written, a piece that borrows from the genres of noir, pulp, adventure and coming-of-age tales. It concerns itself with core principles of the Old West: opportunity, identity and reinvention, but also deep dives into the intrigue that any good detective story offers.
A comic’s art is eternally important, hell it’s probably more important than the writing, so I was pretty particular in what I was looking for in a partner for “S&F”. Mauro Bueno is nothing short of a gift from the heavens above.
From action to acting, his linework represents the script impeccably. Each scene, whether it be gun battles to quiet convos, hits all the beats it needs to. His additions to the work are hard to articulate, he simply makes my messy musings work and I am deeply grateful for his contribution and brilliance.
I’ve gushed over Nikki Power’s letters before, too. She was my preferred choice for this project. This comic switches gears a good bit, a regular back and forth between art and text, and requires a talented letterer to navigate the wordier sequences. Nikki achieved that with gusto.
As the ambition for this story grew, I knew I needed another pair of eyes on the script. Editor Claire Napier has provided much valued structure and impetus to the process. Her savviness has improved the story by ensuring clarity of vision between my other collaborators and with the audience. Whether it’s character, theme or grammar corrections, Claire is a fantastic navigator of fiction.
“Satterwhite & Fosgrove” represents everything great about indy comics, from crafting to distribution, and we’re eager for you to read it. We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it. And if you do…stay tuned 🤠
Once again, thank you, and please follow us on Instagram, Bluesky, Xitter and Facebook for updates.
Westward!
~ Jamil