Speaking With Abigail Jill Harding About The Real Locales And Elements In ComiXology’s ‘Parliament Of Rooks’

I caught up with  Parliament of Rooks creator, Abigail Jill Harding, to look at and discuss the real-life locales used in the series, which ends with its fifth and final issue next Tuesday 30th April on ComiXology. A gothic love story, with lettering by Richard Starkings (Comicraft).

Olly MacNamee: Tell us about the town of Eborvik. 

Abigail Jill Harding: My main inspiration for Eborvik is York, but bigger. Like, really really big. York is a tiny city, but I wanted to have crooked houses stacked on top of each other like modern apartment blocks and sky scrapers.  

MacNamee: Tell us about the name of the town Eborvik.

Harding: The name I chose derives from both its Roman and Viking names Eboracum and Jorvik, respectfully. It has a rich and ever-changing history and I really wanted to reflect that in the case with Eborvik too.

MacNamee: Tell us about the architecture of the city. Any specific buildings or areas / easter eggs you’re proud of that you’ve included?

Harding: The town of Eborvik is the gothic walled city showcasing a mix of Medieval, Georgian, Victorian and elements of 1960/70s industrial architecture. Some of the buildings in Rooks are decorated with animal-like fascia and similar motifs inspired by the Viking routes of York. I really wanted to implement that into Eborvik’s overall look too, suggesting culture and history within the city. Symbols of the Sun, Moon and Cresent Moon are everywhere in the city representing the royal families influence and power.

I drew much from elements of the original gothic era architecture of York Minster. This isn’t the first time I’ve drawn the Minster in comics as the building is featured in the climax of Ask For Mercy Season 3.

I however wanted to portray a fast paced change in the city too. Make shift pipes crawling up and round the much older buildings with an industrial presence weaved into the architecture like chimneys and steam towers. I was inspired by photographs I found via The York Press of the post-war industrial boom in York around the 1960s. 

The Shambles inspired much of the streets. I have a friend who I’ve named a little book shop in the comic after called ‘Burgess Books’. Chesterfield’s St Mary’s Church has a little appearance. The church is famous for have a crooked spire and there is some really quirky folklore around it. Like the devil sneezing on it caused it to twist. I also drew a little reference during the May Day parade scene in #2 Summer to the Wicker Man (my favourite horror movie). Among the crowd you can see the ‘Salmon of Knowledge’ costume, an Elephant-man, a little nod to Richard Starkings’ comic book character Ebony, the traveler women from #1 Spring holding her arms up not unlike that rather famous photo of Chrisptoher Lee in front of the wicker man. Old Ned from the May Horns festival in Penzance heavily influenced that sequence too.

MacNamee: Tell us about the design and your inspiration for the castle.

Harding: The palace, or citadel perhaps. I wanted this to be the biggest structure inside Eborvik, emphasize the reoccurring phrase ‘The sun sees all’ referring to King Sitric and his strong rule over the city and observance. Inside the living quarters I featured a lot of ‘cage’ like interiors. I needed the place to feel very different to Darius’s home, a bit colder and less welcoming. This is for Seraphina’s character more than anything and how Darius perceives the building itself.

MacNamee: Tell us about the Four Vales. Can you elaborate on each section?

Harding: The Four Vales are inspired by the four sub counties that make up Yorkshire. I really wanted to establish a world that could be as large and diverse as that. Something that could even be explored. It’s nice to have a world building aspect in comics, it gives one a chance to have the characters engage with the environment around them. It feels rich.

MacNamee: Tell us about the woods. Do you go walking in the forest for inspiration?

Harding: I do! I also love walking in general, there is some amazing walking routes around the Yorkshire Wolds and Moors. It’s quiet and all you hear are the birds. You can think more clearly and feel you have the head room and it’s good to get a change of scenery, helps you think from a different perspective. 

MacNamee: Describe your inspiration for the creature Darius Ravenscar becomes. The rook.

Harding: Rooks, Corvids and birds in general are excellent in building nests, so I felt this detail was important in what Darius’s job was too. Something that was a shared thing between both his human and demon forms, a bridging connection.

His beak I deliberately made to look more in resemblance to that of a drafting compass, mirroring his job as an architect and draftsman, as with Malphas whose beak and horns resemble that of spring calipers, also used in measuring in building and construction. It’s an important characteristic that contributes to their overall personalities.

Parliament of Rooks #5 is out Tuesday 30th April on ComiXology.