The Continentals
crisscrosses the literary genres of murder/mystery, action/adventure, historical drama, horror, science fiction, and steampunk, "The Continentals" by writer/creator Darryl Hughes and artist Monique MacNaughton, — both nominated for the "Rising Star" category for the Glyph Comic Awards and creators of the upcoming relaunch of the furry fantasy adventure CHEVALIER — is a modern re-imagining of the classic 19th century Sherlock Holmes "who done it" murder mystery created for the 21st century comic fan.
The story begins in 1889. Barely a year after the mysterious Jack the Ripper's murderous rampage and equally mysterious disappearance, the city of Mansfordshire, England is shaken by a series of brutal "mangling" murders that plunge the city into an abyss of fear.
Investigating the case, Continental Operatives Jeffrey Tiffen Smythe and his partner the gender bending adventuress, Lady Fiona Fiziwigg, uncover the threads that bind the murderer, his victims, the highest echelons of society, it's lowest dregs, and even the police officers investigating the case in a tangled web of mystery, adventure, intrigue, and murder.
The Continentals provides examples of:
- Bedlam House: Like a dark castle built on the sins of man, Timbre Dark Manor, asylum for the criminally insane, stands as a manmade monument to madness.
- Cross Dresser: The adventress Lady Fiona Fiziwigg cross dresses and lives her life like a man.
- Domestic Abuse: After the final rejection by his family, Reggie goes out, gets drunk — and takes it out on his wife.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: Continental Operative Jeffrey Tiffen Smythe is a cultured, sophisticated, elegant gentleman and his gender bending partner the adventuress Lady Fiona Fiziwigg is a hot tempered, foul mouthed, do and say as I damned well please malcontent.
- Separate Scene Storytelling: Dame Victoria recounts the Abbeline family tragedy for her party guests. Never let a perfectly juicy scandal go to waste!
- Urban Segregation: The divide between the haves on the Westend of the city of Mansfordshire and the have nots on it's rundown Eastend.
