Image Collects Desolate Jones As ‘Desolation Jones: The Biohazard Edition’

Well, it would seem that Warren Ellis (The Authority, Netflix’s Castlevania) has been rehabilitated after a few years in the wilderness with the announcement that he and artist J.H. Williams III (Echolands, The Sandman: Overture) with colourist José Villarrubia and letterer Todd Klein, will be collecting their Desolation Jones issues #1-6 into hardback as Desolation Jones: The Biohazard Edition. This new edition will also include an extensive gallery showcasing select, raw artwork by Williams III, with some of the original art and lettering placements featuring minor retouches throughout by Williams III.

Here’s the plot overview for any newcomers considering picking up a copy:

“Desolation Jones follows one Michael Jones, a former agent for British intelligence before a procedure to make him a better operative left him mentally and physically shattered. Now he survives in Los Angeles as a private investigator, eking out a living within the city’s ghost community of damaged spooks. If he had any better future to look forward to, he probably wouldn’t be embarking on his newest job: locating the lost pornographic home movies of… Adolf Hitler.”

Speaking about the new edition, Williams III said:

“Desolation Jones visuals are a unique beast. The goal was to create a visceral seedy world of an ex-spy who has suffered from horrible experiments, but now lives as a detective trapped in L.A. His interpretation of reality is sometimes skewed. I played with the idea of old newspaper strip style layouts in key scenes. There are scenes that push an acidic surreal perspective, while others manipulate a sense of time, and a pumped up color aspect that is unusual for a noir. Jones toys with quite a few visual influences and tropes put through a sharp blender, mixing into something potent and hopefully memorable.”

Well, at least they had the foresight not to include a statement by Ellis. Although, I would imagine if you’re a fan, regardless of any past misdemeanours he has been accused of, and sought help with to give him some credit, you’ll be picking up a copy. This really is a good example of comic book fans being able to disconnect the artists from the art.

Desolation Jones: The Biohazard Edition will be available at local comic book shops on Wednesday, November 27th and bookstores on Tuesday, December 10th from Image Comics.