Over on the free Dystopia Patreon, Jackwraith looks at the creative origins of Jasper and the Morlocks, reaching all the way back to a pencil sketch from 1991, the original Dystopia “bible,” and the early Dystopia Chronicles stories.
The essay explores connections to to H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine, the X-Men comics of the late 80s and early 90s, and Jackwraith’s own approach to the underground inhabitants of Haven. In Dystopia, the name carries a history, but the people themselves are not the brutish monsters that outsiders might imagine. Jasper, in particular, becomes a thoughtful figure shaped by patience, perspective, and a willingness to understand the fear and ignorance of others.
It’s a strong companion piece to the current pages of Shadow’s Depths, where Bradson and Frazier realize how little they understand about the world beneath the Spill.
Readers interested in Jackwraith’s writing process, the history behind Jasper, and the larger worldbuilding roots of Dystopia can read the full essay on Patreon.
→ Read “On Setting History, Very Human and Not Malign” on Patreon
