Breaking into comics can be full of challenges, roadblocks, and no guarantee of success—much like a heist story.
In his new graphic novel “Bridge Planet Nine,” Richmond writer and artist Jared Throne tells the story of four desperate thieves in a dystopian future who touch down on an abandoned colony planet to steal from an automated freighter.
“It’s supposed to be a really simple score, but of course, that’s not what happens and all hell breaks loose,” Throne says. “I would call this a smaller sci-fi story rather than a sprawling space epic. It’s self-contained to these four criminals who each have their own reasons for being on this planet.”
Out this fall, “Bridge Planet Nine” is Throne’s debut graphic novel under Top Shelf Productions, an imprint of IDW Publishing whose roster of comic creators boasts works from big names in the industry such as Jeff Lemire, Matt Kindt, and many others Throne considers favorites.
Throne says that he felt doing something futuristic with the heist theme felt more appealing than a tale set in the modern era, as there were many more interesting topics to explore.
“The futuristic setting makes it more vibrant and exciting to draw, but the themes of the story are common. I want the reader to see why the characters are doing these things and what’s pushing them into these circumstances,” he explains, noting that some of them have really bad motives and others have a good reason for the heist. “I wanted to explore that situation of when is it okay to do things that are normally considered unacceptable?”
Throne, who works by day as a graphic designer and art director at Capital One, along with performing in the pop-punk band Holdover, always wanted to work in comics and is regularly sketching superheroes, but he was often intimidated about breaking into the field.
“Comics are a medium with a very wide variety of illustrative styles and, especially if you like superhero comics, some of them are just feel untouchable in terms of a level of talent needed,” he says. “But I developed my skills over the years through my digital and illustration work and really wanted to get my stuff out there, so I just did it.”
In 2022, Throne self-published his first full-length graphic novel “Heavy Kill,” a horror story about a young girl defending her small village from unknown terrors. During that time, he connected with Top Shelf’s editor-in-chief Chris Staros, who offered regular guidance while Throne pitched new story ideas for another book.
“I saw potential in him straight away and someone to keep an eye on,” Staros says, adding that the publisher normally receives more than a thousand submissions from creators every year. “[When he] showed me the early pages for ‘Bridge Planet Nine,’ I really dug the concept and offered some editorial advice along the way. And then once I could tell that it was turning into something amazing, Jared and I decided to bring it to Top Shelf.”
“The process took a while,” Throne laughs. “Working with a publisher and editor was a change of pace for me. My first book felt like a demo I had recorded in my basement, and this one feels like I went to a studio,” he says. “Having that guidance, I think my art has gotten a lot better and I feel like I’ve explored how to craft my writing style before settling on the direction I wanted the narrative to go, and I think it benefits the overall story.”
Already working on new material and regularly drawing superheroes in his spare time, Throne is ready to continue his comics career attending comic expos and conventions through the rest of the year to promote “Bridge Planet Nine” and make more industry connections. He’s excited to see what new opportunities await him.
“I would love to work on something for Marvel Comics someday, particularly on Spider-Man or X-Men,” he adds, “but I really like the medium of self-contained graphic novels where you can have more creative control.”
“Bridge Planet Nine” is available for pre-order at Top Shelf Productions. Jared Throne’s work can be found at jaredthrone.com.
