Plainer Jane: Discover The Challenge Of A Freelance Assassin

Plainer Jane is an indie comic series I have interest in. From Manchester UK’s Broken Face Comics comes a surprisingly relatable depiction of freelancing; I’m speaking from a bit of personal experience. Thankfully I wasn’t an assassin like the titular Jane. While readers will know that Jane is a psychopath, she comes across as any other teenager. It’s this paradoxical outlook that serves as the series’ charm. Now you can get this in color.

My Life As A Teenage Dexter

As the title of this series suggests, Jane comes across as so average no one expects anything from her. While she does have a best friend in Kat and a good relationship with her parents, Jane doesn’t seem to have many interests. She almost comes across as that one friend who always has something to say to make the day easier. But that belies the fact that just about every conversation Jane starts is in reaction to someone else. This allows the reader to feel the sense of control Jane has over people as well as the narrative.

That sense of control she takes from others is what leads to Jane’s career as a freelance hitman. Plainer Jane makes a special point that Jane is a natural psychopath, no trauma, bad parenting, or difficulties to blame. For Jane, killing is like an art, hence why she grades herself on a sloppy first professional kill. Personally speaking I can relate to this, as I tried to get as much attention for my first freelancing job too. Including the frustrations that came with how that job wasn’t sustainable enough without a big portfolio. So seeing Jane deal with a safety net job in nursing comes across as genuine. Which makes it shocking to readers when they find they relate to a girl who since early childhood kills people without hesitation.

How Freelancing Makes A Difference

In Plainer Jane issues 4 & 5, readers get a special change in perspective by focusing on a policeman investigating Jane’s killings. Lieutenant Tyler Lewey appears to be the Cops Need The Vigilante trope, mainly because he hired Jane to off gangsters. But what really makes this a surprise is that this character actually appeared before in issue 3. I certainly didn’t recognize him with the change in art. It goes to show how tight the story is with these developments.

Not only is the structure good, but I feel like this instance captures how much freelancing can impact someone. In my first freelancing job, there was a lot of back and forth miscommunications until the job was done right. There’s a strong sense of actually connecting with someone for emotionally professional service. People share stories about their lives in these moments. Because with one part of their lives done, someone can move on to the next stage.

Plainer Jane On Killer Directions

Now let’s talk about an overarching villain in Plainer Jane and why he seems like such a good antagonist. Torald Tougard is a deadly gangster leading a criminal network and works to keep it in shape. As a foil to Jane, he represents a professional killer, treating it more like a corporate business rather than an art. Unlike Jane who controls people with theatrical deflection, Tougard controls them through dominance.

Tim West probably shows this best in the opening page of issue 6’s lettering. In a meeting, Tougard speaks with word balloons in a circular fashion. He opens with grandiose speeches about achievements and contingencies, only for everything to circle back to him. It’s in those last word balloons where readers feel how overbearing he can be. They’re aware that Tougard is trying to control them as well as the other gangsters. Unlike Jane whose bouncy personality is annoying yet charming, Tougard tries to make a bad situation sound good.

Plainer Jane: Red Brings Life

The artwork by Wayne Lowden adds to the sense of mundanity in Plainer Jane. With the monochrome and simpler designs in perspective, it makes the emotions people display feel raw. Depending on the panel and scenes comes the amount of detail and sense of connection to characters. In just about any crowd, seeing characters with easier to read facial features but enough unique detail displays the flow of a page. Plus the closeups build on the follow emotions and expressions made by characters. They allow the characters to look as lively as possible.

By issue 4 onwards, the series get a new artist in Samir Simao. Simao’s art has much more detail with each character having distinct characteristics. Also as a bonus it makes Jane easier to identify as she can no longer blend in with the crowd as easily. As is the case when Lt. Lewey recognizes Jane from the CCTV camera footage. Not to mention how a major gangster character Tougard’s scarred face design sticks with readers as he rises to power.

Something has to be said when color comes in with a little more detail… it feels too real. The red colors by Ralf Singh gives the impression of life leaving a heavily detailed living thing. That’s not the only instance either, a red header bar or Christmas ornament suggests some kind of warning. Which to the reader suggests that only someone like Jane could have tolerance for.

Transfusion In Process

As for the changes in the trade with only Simao’s art and entirely in color by Linda Scott Campbell. They give a little more character to existing scenarios. Let’s look at a picture:

The muted colors at the top of the page show that Jane sees killing as mundane as a family holiday. As for the background turning red and the matching caption, that gives the impression that Jane stabbed the reader in their state of shock around that notion.

A Backup For Character

Issue 3 of Plainer Jane probably has arguably one of the best backups because it can serve as a prologue. The change from the usual artwork in the main story allows readers to separate this from the main timeline. Plus it changes the point of view to Jane’s friend, Kat. It displays an almost childlike innocence Kat has in comparison to the rougher Jane. Maybe any other child would’ve been scared of how Jane fought off bullies, but Kat sees her hero. Besides the way the narrations are written in haiku form allows a simpler if highly evocative immersion.

New Perspective

In the final issue, we get a reversal of these colorful backups. In two pages we see Jane and Tougard’s perspectives in realistic water color. Compared to Kat who focuses on romanticism, Jane’s realist view on assassination disconnects her from the narrative weight. Which is why Tougard challenges Jane’s view with a philosophical short story. The juxtaposition to the surreal art in the middle of said story tells the reader what Tougard tells Jane. How perspectives can easily be fooled with bias. Putting the backups together with these pages creates a tragedy of Jane’s making.

Need More Plainer Jane?

Plainer Jane has a very genuine look at the freelancer lifestyle. The way Jane interacts with others is a good way to display her character. The art can reflect this on several points with detail and what few coloring presents itself. Not to mention the perspectives that add over time. This series gets 8.8/10. As for the color update… 9/10.

To find these issues go to Broken Smile Comics’ website for purchase, maybe pick up some store merch. As always thanks for coming and remember to look between the panels.