In the melody of her mind, her name's a fading flame

 

Although it's common practice today, in 1983, it wasn't usual to create a comic with the intention of having it bought by Hollywood studios for adaptation into a film. Bruce Jones was a seasoned writer who had worked with Warren and Marvel and was now excelling in various titles from independent publishers that emerged in the '80s, such as Pacific and the prominent Eclypse. In Somerset Holmes, co-written with Amy Campbell and illustrated by Brent Anderson, Jones crafted a true comic milestone – a complex crime story where a woman, unknowingly and without any intention, finds herself confronting a slew of assassins while uncovering her own forgotten past. She must traverse half the country incognito, using a false name borrowed from a billboard: Summerset Homes.

The comic had a fast-paced rhythm reminiscent of Hitchcock's thrilling North by Northwest. While the artwork might not have been exceptionally beautiful, the strokes were incredibly effective in conveying cinematic sensations rarely found in a comic book. The fugitive Somerset exhibited an unusual level of psychological depth, and the characters surrounding her were far from obvious. The story's dialogues were sharp and direct, not sparing gritty details that made the narrative all the more believable. Some producers showed interest in adapting the comic into a film. There was talk of Annie Lennox as the lead actress (perfect for conveying the character's sexual ambiguity), and Jamie Lee Curtis was also suggested. However, the movie never materialized. Nevertheless, years later, "The Long Kiss Goodnight" was released, starring Geena Davis and Samuel Jackson, with a suspiciously similar plot to Bruce Jones' great comic. Jones, a writer who deserves not to be forgotten for this little masterpiece and the wonderful short comics he wrote for Warren and later for Eclypse and Pacific.

Read it, if you can.