Graveyard Shift (comic story)
Graveyard Shift was an early Jenny Everywhere comic story, being the eighth in the original line-up of the 13 first Barbelith Jenny stories. It was written by Alex Hernandez and drawn by Andres Allocco. Although not containing any on-panel nudity, the story was nevertheless “NSFW”, containing adult themes as well as somewhat graphic violence (albeit committed on zombies rather than sentient beings).
Curiously, Jenny in this story does not wear her scarf. The story is also notable for an unusual format; although mostly black-and-white, splashes of blue and red are used at strategic points in the story to highlight the stark shock of specific scenes.
Contents
Plot
While investigating a mysterious graveyard full of graves all bearing the name Alec Swan, the Scottish detective of the occult Morrison Moore stumbles upon Jenny Everywhere. Though initially mistaking her for a banshee, he teams up with her, explaining that he is looking for the necromancer Alec Swan, rumoured to have recently resurrected himself. Indeed, they stumble upon the villain, who is currently romancing a reanimated cadaver. Moore attempts to arrest him, only for the sorcerer to raise his previous bodies (buried in the graves) as an undead army of bodyguards. Although the reanimated Swans kill Moore, Jenny gets the better of them and ultimately manages to shoot the living Swan.
Worldbuilding
Jenny
- This story features a Jenny Everywhere who wears a black parka with wide fur trip and has large, spiky hair.
Universes
- This story takes place all in one, gothic universe.
Other
- Morrison Moore was alerted to Alec Swan's reemergence by Chief Inspector Howie.
Continuity
- Jenny Everywhere ends this story by killing Alec Swan in cold blood. A different incarnation of Jenny had previously shown to be willing to kill her enemies in COMIC: Mrs Zirma.
Behind the scenes
Released on October 30, 2003, the story was advertised by its writer as "Jenny's first annual Halloween Special". According to Alex Hernandez, the story was initially meant to be called "The Late Shift", before the name was taken by a different Jenny comic.[2]
Read online
Graveyard Shift was once available on the original Jenny Everywhere website. As it is no longer online, we reproduce the eight pages of Graveyard Shift here.