An Interview With ‘Helen Of Wyndhorn’ Artist Bilquis Evely

It’s usually not a good sign when someone starts asking about a job you did eons ago. In writer Tom King and artist Bilquis Evely‘s new series, Helen of Wyndhorn, Ms. Appleton hasn’t been Helen’s governess for years yet for some reason the past is getting brought up again. With colors by Matheus Lopes and letters by Clayton Cowles, find out why (or at least why you should be picking this series up) in the following interview with Evely:

Rachel Bellwoar: How quickly after wrapping on Supergirl: World of Tomorrow did Tom and you know you wanted to work together again, and was it always on this project?

Bilquis Evely: I believe we were still working on Supergirl when we decided to continue working together. Tom asked me if I wanted to, and obviously, I said yes because I’m really into his work. We had a great time working on Supergirl; it was so imaginative, and I was curious about what we could create more. There were so many possibilities. Since I had never worked on an owned-book project before, I suggested this direction to Tom. Usually, I never know what I want to do next, except for some images and scenes that come into my mind. I started researching a bunch of references and art styles, a kind of mood board, to explain what I had in mind. Most of this was old illustrations for literature. Then Tom returned my email with a brilliant idea, better than anything I could imagine or ask. And now we have Helen!

Bellwoar: While the series is called Helen of Wyndhorn, it’s actually Ms. Appleton, Helen’s governess, who acts as narrator in the first issue. Will this continue to be the case in future issues or is she not the only one who’s about to be interviewed about her time at Wyndhorn House?

Evely: In short, yes, Lillith is the main narrator for the whole series. There’s a reason why.

Bellwoar: Given that this is Ms. Appleton’s version of events, should we be weary of trusting how things appear? For instance, she refers to Wyndhorn House as “dear Wyndhorn House.” Is that an accurate description?

Evely: That’s the brilliance of Tom’s script. Should we really trust her? I tend to say yes. I believe her descriptions are accurate, as much as I believe the narrator of Wuthering Heights or any book of the Brontë sisters.

Bellwoar: Gothic houses and governesses immediately makes me think of one my favorite films, The Innocents. Were you inspired by any horror stories or films when coming up the aesthetic for this series?

Evely: For my part, I always try to get into the mood I think is suitable for the scenes. Before planning the pages, there’s a lot of thinking and research. Sometimes, movies, books, or art styles help me understand how to settle a good mood in the panels. It goes from old gothic romances and old book illustrations to creepy 1930s movies like Gösta Berling‘s Saga and even old Disney animation pantomimes. The Innocents would have been a great reference!

Bellwoar: The first thing that made me want to check this series out was your cover, Bilquis. Did you always want to incorporate so much texture?

Evely: It’s nice you say that. Yes, the first thing I imagined for the art style was hatching and textures. All the projects in my head have distinct approaches to drawing. Supergirl is different from Helen, for example. Since the beginning, I felt Helen demanded a kind of romantic and dedicated lines. It makes sense for the series.

Bellwoar: Ms. Appleton isn’t someone whose face always gives away what she’s thinking. What was it like getting to play with how much to let her expressions match her narration?

Evely: What you mentioned is exactly the reason I love drawing her so much. One of my favorite things about making comics is the chance to play with expressions and feelings. One look can imply many things at the same time. And one thing I wanted to make sure about Lilith is that the reader feels empathy for her for being empathetic with Helen. Sometimes, she looks angry or annoyed, but you can always feel a hint of concern and compassion.

Bellwoar: In regards to the series’ monster, Ms. Appleton says she “will not attempt its description” but was there a description in the script or were you given free reign?

Evely: Tom described it as a sort of minotaur. Regarding the visual, Tom tends to leave it open so I can have fun. Oh, there’s a lot of fun in this book. You’ll see!

Bellwoar: I can’t wait! Thanks for agreeing to this interview, Bilquis!

The first two issues of Helen of Wyndhorn are available now from Dark Horse Comics.