Q&A

Autonymus is a fantasy/"Clockpunk" comic (Renaissance-era fantastical technologies) inspired by history, folklore, and fantasy art forms. The story follows the accounts of a former Anchoress turned witch, alongside other characters from different social class backgrounds, as they uncover corruption, shifts in political power, and the rise of new technologies.

I wanted to imagine a late medieval society experiencing an industrial revolution during the Late Medieval Crisis. Taking inspiration from the Brazen Head legend, androids are created to fill the labour shortage. In history, the bourgeoisie consolidated power alongside aristocratic hegemony, but in Autonymus it rises in alliance with a reformed Church. This is because the Androids are brought to life using esoteric magic, which is reminiscent of the clandestine practices of theologians and alchemists like Roger Bacon and John Dee.

Unlike other narrative projects I've done, I wanted Autonymus to be a long-form narrative focused on characters. Autonymus is told through these characters— how faith and ideology shape their identities, how they experience moments of beauty and oppression in this brutal yet romanticised world.

To emphasise immersion, I want the viewer to feel transported into the world, as if they are there observing it firsthand. This is why the comic is designed frame by frame and intended to be experienced full-screen. Although it is a comic, I prefer to call it a sequential narrative, as the frames are meant to be viewed like a slideshow, one after another.

Autonymus is a fantasy story, but it's inspired heavily by European history from the mid-14th to the 17th century, a period marked by numerous turning points. These include massive political upheaval, a huge population decline following the Black Death, and profound changes in culture and belief systems that had been rigidly upheld for centuries. This upheaval ultimately weakened feudal holdings due to labour shortages, paving the way for the rise of early capitalism.

I’m only giving a brief overview here, as there’s far too much to explore in full, but I think the late medieval and early Renaissance are fascinating periods of history. It’s a time when the beginnings of modernity become evident, with ongoing struggles for equality and autonomy in societies dominated by entrenched power structures. My aim with Autonymus is to craft a fantasy story that touches on the complexity of historic politics, rather than focusing on legends or strictly romanticising the absolute power of kings and aristocracy.

Some notable historical events that I'm drawing inspiration from include the Peasants’ Revolt (1381) in England, the Jacquerie in France (1358), the Ciompi Revolt in Florence (1378) and Kett’s Rebellion (1549). These were examples of when common folk rebelled against their controlling elites. Moving forward in time, the Levellers and Diggers of the 17th century are interesting examples of proto-socialist and egalitarian movements.

I’m also interested in the spiritual, administrative, and political role of the Church in this era. At times, the Church rivalled the king in power, wielding its own feudal lordships and extensive economic influence. In Autonymus, I want to explore how the Church could often operate more like a company, similar to the real-world case study of Meaux Abbey, near modern-day Kingston upon Hull. Meaux Abbey attempted to build rival export towns, partly to avoid Hull’s taxation by trading wool with the Hanseatic League. I think it's interesting because it shows an example of ecclesiastical power operating outside the stereotypical image of studious monks. Ultimately, the Church's loss of power during the Reformation, particularly under Henry VIII and figures like Thomas Cromwell, is another turning point. The Protestant Reformation across Europe also demonstrates how rapid changes within a single generation could overturn centuries of doctrine and consolidate unprecedented power.

In the end, Autonymus is an exploration of power, history, and belief. It is both a creative writing and illustrative exercise that allows me to study this period while also creating a fictional take on it— a kind of MS Paint rip-off of Umberto Eco.