Desolation Jones

Desolation Jones is a bimonthly comic book series written by Warren Ellis. Art for the first six-issue storyline was provided by J.H. Williams III and José Villarrubia. The second storyline will be illustrated by Danijel Zezelj and Villarrubia. The story follows the former MI6 agent Jones. The series is published by the Wildstorm imprint of DC Comics; it was launched in July 2005.

Characters

Michael (Desolation) Jones The story’s protagonist and title character is Michael Jones, a former agent of MI6, who earns a long record of drunkenness and misconduct within the organization. This is possibly due to a breakup with a woman only mentioned as “Jessica.” In lieu of being discharged for his behavior, he was chosen to participate in a secret government project called the "Desolation Test." Jones believes he would be taking part in an innocuous research study, but instead becomes an unwilling human test subject. Part of the test was being strapped to a hospital bed for a full year without being allowed to sleep. Jones is the only known survivor of this program. To mark him as a potential biological threat, the British government brands a biohazard symbol on the underside of his left forearm and a "Desolation 01" (i.e. test subject #01) brand on his right forearm. The Desolation Test caused numerous physical changes. He has become a scarred and frail figure with grey skin and chalk white hair, who must avoid direct sunlight, although the exact effects it would have upon him are not revealed. Mentally, Jones exhibits no fear, remorse, or any other emotion, and is numb to killing people, many times with his bare hands. He has no known powers and, in fact, heals poorly when wounded. Even in the best of times, he has hallucinations of half-naked, sometimes bloody angels. The character also wears a trademark orange trench coat, an oxygen mask, and a pair of goggles, presumably to avoid exposure to sunlight. He resides in Los Angeles, which is secretly maintained by the US Government as a veritable prison for ex-agents of numerous intelligence organizations. The ex-agents are legally invisible within the city, but are not allowed to leave without being hunted for going rogue. Jones makes a living as a private investigator, only doing jobs for other members of/within the intelligence community.

Story arc #1: Made in England

The initial story arc (Made in England) involves Jones aiding an affluent, elderly collector named Colonel Nigh in retrieving stolen property. Namely the lost pornographic films of Adolf Hitler (a plot point borrowed from Don DeLillo's novel Running Dog). Jones is assisted by an assortment of bizarre companions and ex-intelligence agents. There is Robina, a woman skilled in creating robotic miniature explosives, and Emily, who as the result of CIA experiments, emits constant pheromones that cause almost animalistic fear and revulsion in people around her (save Jones). He also receives assistance from an ex-agent/doctor who helps him with his wounds and even with a firefight. Jones must unravel the schemes of Nigh's three daughters, work his way through the seedy underbelly of the pornographic industry, survive secrets of his own past and deal with his agent, who likes to eat cows.

Collections

• Desolation Jones Vol. 1: Made in England (ISBN 140121150X) Collects Desolation Jones #1-6

External links

• The Warren Ellis Interview by Mike Sizemore on Londonist.com. Ellis discusses primarily Desolation Jones.
• Warren Ellis on the second Desolation Jones story arc
• Warren Ellis author's commentary on the first issue on his official website.