Feldscher: Barbara Baker of Blackfriars Road

2001-01-01T18:21:00.027+08:00

Welcome to the home of blood, serial killers and Victorian London!

Please feel free to catch a glimpse of Barbara Baker's world:
the East End in the concluding years of Queen Victoria's colorful reign, when the incoming 20th century entailed newfangled ideas that conflicted with established traditions.
For easier navigation, you can use the new site map.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

2000-12-31T20:41:00.016+08:00

I never realized until recently that I've been obsessed with Victorian London, particularly the fashion. You can easily notice in the clothes I draw--waistcoats, overcoats, neckties, ribbons, suspenders... My interest grew when I watched the Jack the Ripper episodes of Detective School Q in 2004. Afterwards, I dove into research and gave myself chills in regards to his infamous reputation. I was especially struck by the weak law enforcement and inhumane living conditions the citizens were forced to live in, recalled from my world history lessons in high school. But what made me so sure that I've been hooked on Victorian London was the Tim Burton film Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007). As I was watching the movie, this excerpt, from an article I read years ago, came back to me:

"Various theories have been advanced as to the identity of the 'Ripper'; recent research, based on confidential reports of Scotland Yard officers of the period, suggests that he was Vassily Konovalvov, alias Alexey Pedachenko, alias Andrey Luiskovo. A native of Tver, Russia, Konovalvov was born in 1857, studied surgery, and became a feldscher, or barber surgeon (which would account for the skill shown in dissection of the bodies of the victims). According to a report in the Ochrana Gazette, the official bulletin of the Russian secret police, he was wanted for the murder of a woman in Paris in 1886, 'the murder of five women in the East Quarter of London in 1888', and of a woman in St. Petersburg in 1891. He is believed to have escaped from London to Russia after the Kelly murder. After the St. Petersburg murder he was arrested (wearing women's clothing, possibly, a disguise he used during the London killings) and was confined in an asylum until his death."
Donald McCormick
1981 Collier's Encyclopedia

It really made me wonder about the unlikely connection between Sweeney Todd and Jack the Ripper. However, I hit two dead ends immediately. First, according to The Casebook, which I consider as the most reliable online source on Jack the Ripper, Konovalvov (written as "Konovavov") was said to have never existed. Second, there's no evidence to prove Sweeney Todd himself existed. Still, what if a mere, innocent-looking barber could amount to a heinous serial killer? That's how Feldscher began.
Barbara Baker is a mixture of Jack the Ripper and the legend of a barber who buries his cut-throat razor into his customers' necks. But the plot runs even deeper, peppered with retributive justice, and Barbara presented as both a cold-blooded killer and a compassionate woman. Is it right to kill another human guilty of murder? I'll let you draw your conclusions as you read the story.

WHAT IS FELDSCHER?

2000-12-29T19:19:00.011+08:00

GENERAL FACTS
Series Title: Feldscher
Subtitle: Barbara Baker of Blackfriars Road
Author: Karmi-Sempai
Illustrator: Karmi-Sempai
Genre: Crime/Mystery/Thriller/History/Drama/Transgressive
Type: Short Story
Current Number of Episodes: 1
Setting: 19th Century London/Victorian London
Theme: Retributive Justice
Copyright: 2008-2009

PLOT
Hugo Baskerville joins the Criminal Investigation Department, in his goal to rid London of serial killers such as the infamous Jack the Ripper. Just as the humble barber Quincy Quetzal was murdered, their prime suspect also turns up dead, and the cases go unsolved. Soon, the body count rises and it seems it is not only Jack who wants to play the dangerous game of cat and mouse.

FAQs (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)

2000-12-27T22:20:00.009+08:00

Feld-what?
According to MyDictionary, it's "feld-sher." Feldscher is the Russian term for "barber surgeon," which was derived from German that literally translates it to "field doctor."

So, this story is all about a surgeon?
No, a barber-surgeon, actually. In the past, barbers and surgeons had a merged profession. There were academic surgeons and barber-surgeons. However, in the 17th Century, barber-surgeons in France and England were forbidden from practicing surgery, leaving them as hairdressing barbers, as we generally know them today. A pact was made wherein they are only permitted to cut hair, while modern-day surgeons may cut any part of the body except hair. Regardless, Russia continues to train barber-surgeons at present to aid soldiers in wars.

Since the setting is 19th Century London, your character should only be a barber. Why such a contradictory title?
Our heroine studied to become a barber-surgeon in Russia. After she returned home to London with her fiance (also a barber surgeon), they set up shop as simple hairdressing barbers to make use of their skills. Nobody else knows she has surgical knowledge, but she secretly performs minor operations in their pantry either to cede to her customer's wishes or to make more money.

Okay, what is the plot?
Feldscher is all about searching. Our antagonist, Hugo Baskerville, searches for something concrete: a serial murderer. But what can he do when there are so many serial killers on the loose all over London? Or when hoaxes about the killers are sent to the police? Or when fanatics of these killers admit to the crimes to get the glory?
In contrast, our protagonist, Barbara Baker, searches for something much more deeper than that: purpose. After several encounters with death, she concludes that her life should be spent protecting others from what makes this world evil: killers. As they say, "It takes one to know one," and she becomes The East End Slasher, a serial murderer who only targets her own. Eventually, she picks up a skein of her long-forgotten past, and she is determined to find out who she exactly is. Perhaps, Barbara Baker is not as wicked as many would say. Perhaps, everything is a vicious cycle caused by selfish ambitions.

Was this inspired by Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street?
To some degree, yes. But the movie did remind me of researches I made on Jack the Ripper around five years ago. I was particularly fascinated by one suspect named Vassily Konovalvov who sounded convincing enough to be the killer. He was a feldscher. He's what mainly served as my inspiration.

Does Sweeney Todd exist in your story?
Although my editor laughs at the possibility that he and Barbara could be neighbors; no, he doesn't. He originally came from a penny dreadful called The String of Pearls: A Romance. It was said to have been based off a bunch of murders from the Victorian Era. Could he be linked to Jack the Ripper?

What about Jack the Ripper?
Yup, it'll thicken the plot! There will also be more serial killers, both fictional and based on real-life cases.

Will he be Vassily Konovalvov? Will he be caught by the Metropolitan Police?
Nobody truly knows who The Ripper is, and I'll just leave it at that. Besides, The Casebook claims there's no proof Konovalvov even existed!

What about Sherlock Holmes?
I've no intention of writing him in. Sherlock Holmes is just a fictional character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He's not a real person as many people believe but The Ripper certainly is.

And Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?
Yes, it's official! He has just finished releasing A Study in Scarlet when we get to hear of him. Apparently, Hugo claims to have been the partial inspiration to the world's most famous detective. Though, I'm pretty sure it's the other way around.

Are there any other significant historical figures included in the story?
Ah, Sir Edward Henry, GCVO (Grand Order of the Victorian Cross). He's the man who discovered fingerprinting and who first introduced the use of police dogs in detective work. There's also Commissioner James Monro, the shortest serving commissioner, and Assistant Commissioner Robert Anderson. I'll be playing around a bit with history since this is a fictitious narration of what happened in 1888.

Why, was there anything significant that happened in 1888?
This was the year when the Jack the Ripper murders occurred. As a tribute to the famous serial killer and to present the social unrest within the Victorians, Feldscher was set in the same year.

Are Barbara's clothes really from 19th Century London?
I based it on a gown I saw in Collier's Encyclopedia and modified it to suit her better. I have to admit, though, I'm below an amateur fashion designer...

And her hat? Are those sea urchins?
Oh, that. It was just an experiment with fluffiness. It came with the gown I based Barbara's outfit on but I wasn't sure of what to make of the round things on it. The description just read as "bizarre bonnet" so I just assumed they were balls of fur.

Any recurring characters from your previous series?
Indeed! Their personalities and appearances were changed to suit the times, though but they're still basically the same. A few include Art Short, The Black Ace, and Kate Joss!

Can we expect Feldscher to be comic form?
Most probably, Feldscher will be put into writing, with a few illustrations since I have a difficult time drawing comics and lack the speed.

THE FELDSCHER CREW MEMBERS(IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

2000-12-25T13:27:00.011+08:00

The Feldscher Crew illustrated by Sora Kusanagi and colored by Karmi-Sempai

In order to thank my supporters, I formed the Feldscher Crew and included them as characters in the story.

Madeline Brown
William Stanley's Fiancee
already calls him "her husband"

Doctor Seble Avila
Medical Doctor
is helpful but tends to be cranky when swamped with work

Mr. JV
Bartender of The Fox and Glove Pub
hits ruffians on the head with beer bottles

Cecilia Garcia
Photographer for the Metropolitan Police
tends to flash an extremely bright camera in front of your eyes

Captain Jozef Zephyr
Captain of The Barracuda
doesn't hesitate to throw you overboard

Kate Joss
Mr. A's Secretary
always makes sure she wears pants under her skirt

Rowan Bartholomew
Waitress of The Fox and Glove Pub
loves to frighten customers with a knife

Jack Arkwright Jr.
Bow Street Runner
hair turned completely white after the death of her husband

The Grey Twilight
Former Inmate from the Saint Renfield's Institute of Psychological Research
massacred employees from the asylum

Alyce Lestrade
Jozef's Ward
"... can do any man's job!"

Eros
Copycat Serial Killer
is allergic to pollen but loves to cultivate flowers

Kyle Wrayth
Wandering Bard
tries to avoid the bar fights while playing fast-paced music

THE CHARACTERS PART I(IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)

2000-12-21T18:31:00.028+08:00

BARBARA BAKER
The Feldscher of Blackfriars Road

"Sir Edmondson will eventually have them hanged at the gallows. I'm simply doing him a jolly good favor."

AGE: 25
HEIGHT: 5'9"
WEIGHT: 120 lbs.
GENDER: female
NATIONALITY: English
EYES: French ultramarine
HAIR: ash chestnut
OCCUPATION: barber

She is known and famous in all of London for being the single female barber in the city. However, under the pretty face wreathed with smiles, she hides a terrible secret. By night, she's the notorious serial killer known as The East End Slasher. Others go as far to claim she may be Jack the Ripper or the legendary Sweeney Todd because the victims' throats have been slashed open, their bodies butchered, and their valuables taken. Her targets are killers themselves--she believes she is serving society by erasing their existence, thus their spoils go to the destitute. But how can a woman who gives so much of herself to others be a robber? How can a cold-blooded killer also be a compassionate human?
The name Barbara means "foreigner" in Greek. She feels alienated from society because of the ultimate crimes she has committed, even if it is from a compelling urge to protect others from the very monsters she is becoming.

QUINCY QUETZAL
Barbara's Fiance
"IF YOU HARM HER, I'LL KILL YOU, EVEN IF I HAVE TO RISE FROM MY GRAVE!"

AGE: 25
HEIGHT: 6'
WEIGHT: 140 lbs.
GENDER: male
NATIONALITY: English
EYES: Indian red
HAIR: black
OCCUPATION: barber (barber surgeon)

All of London's citizens would only remember him as the poor chap who was found broken, on the filthy streets on a cool autumn's morning---literally. Yet, Barbara remembers much more than that. He loved her but was quite slow towards the relationship, leaving her small presents such as single irises tied with white ribbons--Barbara wears one in her hair.

After his studies to become a feldscher, he took Barbara to live with him at his two-floor flat on Blackfriars Road. The couple wasn't rich but happy. Barbara would often curl up by the fireplace while he played her favorite short pieces on the piano.

JACQUES CONRAD
Detective-Sergeant from the Metropolitan Police

"I don't understand what happened to you, Conrad. When you first joined Scotland Yard years ago, you can squeeze the crime scene dry of information just by looking at the clues, even much more than what Mr. Baskerville had just done. Does that harrowing ordeal still have its hold on you?" -James Monro

AGE: 29
HEIGHT: 6'3"
WEIGHT: 130 lbs. (approximate estimate)
GENDER: male
NATIONALITY: English
EYE: Hooker's green dark
HAIR: black
OCCUPATION: detective sergeant (Scotland Yard)

He's a well-known man among London's citizens for uncovering the corruption in Scotland Yard a couple of years ago. A handful of fellow detectives, police officers, and thieves conspired together to rob banks, pawnbrokers, and lapidaries. When he came too close, Jacques was about to be beaten to death and thrown into the Thames River. Fortunately, Quincy, a boxer, was able to help him escape but Jacques lost his right eye in the row.

he understood that London was a criminal's haven but it was only while he was recovering in hospital that his hatred for the system emerged--he was betrayed by the officers he grew to trust and admire. Ultimately, he lost his enthusiasm in solving crimes, and it explains his reserved nature and the scowl he has on his face.

THE CHARACTERS PART II(IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)

2000-12-19T19:31:00.011+08:00

Doctor Seble Avila/The Devil Doctor
A Medical Doctor

"In this world, there are two kinds of doctors: doctors of the heart and doctors of money." -Imelda Avila

Height: 5'10"
Gender: male
Nationality: Spanish
Eye Color: black
Hair Color: black
Occupation: doctor

Seble Avila, born and raised in Spain, immigrated to London as a young child. He always wanted to get attention, whether it was from complete strangers or the people he knew. His love for medicine and helping others lead to his becoming of a doctor. As one, though, let's just say it's a different story. He worked at a hospital with a friend but would never give his one-hundred percent until an traumatic accident in 1879 when he lost his first patient. A deep depression befell him until he decided that he would have to work harder and put that behind him.
He never liked to work with others as he always thought they held him back. Yet he never liked to admit he needed the help either. He opened up a small clinic in 1883 and was the only doctor there. At first, it didn't do so well but soon afterwards, he became one of the best known doctors in London. Some call him the Devil Doctor due to his baffling skills that seem to have come from supernatural abilities.

Arthur "Art" Short
Barbara's Chimney Sweep

"But Ms. Baker," he protested, "if it wasn't for you, I would've lost my leg. No one else would help a tramp hit with a stray bullet." -Art Short

Age: 10
Height: 4'10"
Weight: 70 lbs. (approximate estimate)
Gender: male
Nationality: English
Eye Color: sap green
Hair Color: white (black and white illustrations)/dirty blond (colored illustrations)
Occupation: child laborer (mainly a chimney sweep)

Aside from being a chimney sweep, he also delivers newspapers and parcels all over the East End. This ten year-old vagabond isn't new to such a difficult life; he often went hungry. He never knew his parents either because his entire early life was spent in a textile factory operating a spinning jenny.

"There were 900 spindles that twisted cotton into thread. Whenever the thread snapped, we had to tie it, and we had to replace the spools that have gotten full. I attended night school but I was so exhausted from standing all day at the factory, I couldn't stay awake or learn anything. If I fell asleep in the factory, they would beat me with old floorboards. If I did in school, the teacher would make me kneel in the corner and box my ears. It was awfully scorching hot during summer but in winter, our fingers and toes nearly froze because we couldn't wear shoes. We had to climb the machines to do our work or we would slip. That's why our hair had to be short; it just keeps in spinning. The jenny can easily break your fingers off easily. One of the girls beside me died due to blood loss when her hair got pulled out. I got so scared I ran away."

As he wandered through London's streets, he got caught up in a row between two drunkards shooting at each other and was hit in the leg. Injured, he stumbled into Quincy's barber shop where Barbara took pity on him and offered to help him. She brought Art to the back room and sutured his wounds with the skills she learned as a feldscher. After Quincy's death, he became rather protective of her and started checking up on her by request of Mr. A.

Mr. A
A Shady Surgeon

"... a man dressed in nothing but black. He claims to be a doctor but he can never really heal his patients. He's just after their money. He charges such ludicrous amounts of money, even Her Majesty would faint! Others go as far to say [he's] Jack the Ripper!" -Art Short

Real Name: Alexy "Al" Pedachenko
Age: 21
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 140 lbs. (approximate estimate)
Gender: female
Nationality: Russian
Eye Color: deep green (short story description)/Pthalo green (colored illustrations)
Hair Color: black and white
Occupation: doctor
Residence: 5 Baker Street

The alias Mr. A is quite a misnomer since the surgeon is actually a woman in disguise. She grew up in Russia during the reign of Alexander II, the czar who dared to change traditional Russian autocracy. However, her parents died as casualties in 1881 while they stood close by Alexander's carriage as terrorists from The Will of the People threw a bomb at it. She served in the army when she was fourteen , and after gradual exposure to violence, she became desensitized to killing others. During an attack, however, she was fatally injured but was rescued by a feldscher. While recovering in hospital, she decided to become a surgeon to help the destitute. This was shown when she tended to Barbara's wounds when she was hit by a stray bullet aboard The Barracuda after a row broke out.
Despite the cold, uncaring exterior, she's actually a kindhearted person against the hypocritical government. She owns a fairly big home in 5 Baker Street.

THE CHARACTERS PART III(IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)

2000-12-17T11:39:00.003+08:00

Kate Joss
Mr. A's Secretary

"A lady in gray is always following him. They say she's his secretary. Others say she's a mad midwife or an abortionist!" -Art Short

Height: 5'3"
Gender: female
Nationality: German
Eye Color: violet alizarin
Hair Color: white (black and white illustrations)/light brown (colored illustrations)
Occupation: doctor (unlicensed)

She's Mr. A's closest friend and partner-in-crime who poses as a secretary but is actually a surgeon as well. She was born in Germany and came to Russia to study medicine. However, she discontinued her studies shortly afterwards. Along with Mr. A, she is also against the social hypocrisy and continues her practice in the shadows.

Thomas Lansbury
A Wealthy Tenor

Gender: male
Nationality: English
Eye Color: indigo
Hair Color: black
Occupation: singer (tenor)
Residence: 59 Kings Road

He's a single, wealthy singer whose residence is on Kings Road, and he performs in Kensington Gardens. Mr. A attended to him when he contracted scarlet fever and suggested him to visit Barbara for a shave. Impressed, he recommended her to his associates, and customers came flocking in like beggars to a penny.

Captain Jozef Zephyr
The Captain of the Barracuda

Age: 25
Height: 5'1"
Weight: 85 lbs. (approximate estimate)
Gender: female
Eye Color: Payne's gray
Hair Color: black
Occupation: nautical captain

This excerpt from ACT I provides enough information:

"As far an anybody knew, [she] was formerly the genius captain of a fleet of ships for Queen Victoria's royal navy. During one expedition, however, The Barracuda, along with Captain Zephyr and 60 men, was ferociously attacked by pirates. After a fruitless search spearheaded by Her Majesty, reports have stated that The Barracuda has vanished or has sunk beneath the ocean. However, five years later, the phantom ship docked London's ports carrying a large supply of imported goods such as smooth silk from China, a variety of spices from the Philippine Islands and rare ivory from Siam. Captain Zephyr returned with a small crew of ten, and today, they sail the seas secretly transporting passengers to different countries. It was [she] who brought Barbara and Quincy back to London from Russia as well as Mr. A and Kate from America. Aboard [her] ship, regulations were tight and strict; no smoking, no drinking, no littering, no spitting, no gambling, no noise-making, no inappropriate public display of affection, no form of violence or aggression, no drawing of weapons, no verbal arguments, no swaggering, no stealing, no complaining and absolutely no "lolly-gagging". The eccentric captain also promoted dressing appropriately, listening to music and wholesome manners. Should anybody disobey [her] orders, [she] immediately, and literally, has them thrown overboard with their belongings into the chilly waters."

THE CHARACTERS PART IV(IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)

2000-12-15T14:06:00.009+08:00

Hugo Baskerville
The Newest Detective of Scotland Yard

"That's his little peculiarity. He seems to know more about others than they do about themselves." -Jozef Zephyr

Age: 22
Height: 5'8"
Gender: male
Nationality: English
Eye Color: yellow or orange (short story description)/cadmium orange (colored illustrations)
Hair Color: black
Occupation: detective constable (Scotland Yard)

At first glance, he may strike you as quite an unusual fellow; his foreign handshake, his "improper manner" of sitting and his little cries to himself while he "untangles every day's little trifles". Hugo is interested in a little about everything in the world, and these strange habits are actually a jumble of miscellaneous information he absorbs himself in.
He was born in London but spent his youth traveling around the world from the deserts of Egypt to the tropics of Afghanistan. In 1888, he returned to his home in the West End aboard The Barracuda, determined to become a successful detective to serve Her Majesty. Compared to the most beloved detective of all time, Sherlock Holmes, Hugo has all the facts but he lacks confidence in his skills and focus in his work; he never steeples his fingers with the line "Elementary" on his lips. However, he rebounds with his persistence and daring valiance to satisfy his curiosity. Despite his lean frame, he's actually an excellent marksman to be reckoned with whenever he has a pistol in his hand.

Commissioner James Monro, CB
[NON-FICTIONAL CHARACTER]
The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis

Gender: male
Occupation: Commissioner

Historically, in 1887, when he was still Assistant Commissioner, he and Robert Anderson foiled an attempted bombing of Westminster Abbey during Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee celebrations. Despite the fact that he was served the shortest term for the position of Commissioner in history, he was extremely popular within the force. He complained that his mens' pay and pensions were too low, and that their uniforms were of poor quality. Eventually, a bill was passed.
In Feldscher, he was the official who assigned Jacques to be Hugo's partner.

Constable Daniels
A Constable

Real Name: Daniel Wegener
Age: 20
Gender: male
Nationality: English
Eye Color: sap green
Hair Color: white (black and white illustrations)/Payne's gray (colored illustrations)
Occupation: constable

He's the youngest member of the force with the strong English accent. He enjoys asking many questions, and seems to know most of the happenings and rumors hanging around London. He's also reliable and fearless. Jacques normally has him stationed at various areas to keep watch over certain people.

THE CHARACTERS PART V(IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)

2000-12-13T18:27:00.002+08:00

Ms. Batterwick
John's Sister

"She was apprehensive. Her ankles were locked because she was restraining herself. But for what reason? And she wrung her hands; she also felt she was being suspected. From the bruises I've seen on her arms, some old, some fresh, she may be a victim of some shape of domestic violence but I can't be certain of that." -Hugo Baskerville

Gender: female
Nationality: English
Eye Color: gray
Hair Color: black and white (short story description)
Residence: 68 Old Bailey

She's a soft-spoken woman who invited Jacques and Hugo to tea during their inquiries at the East End. Hugo suspects her to be a victim of domestic violence due to her prematurely haggard face and bruised body.

John Batterwick
Barbara's Old Friend from College
A few years before Quincy met Barbara, John was her close companion when they were in Russia. He actually fell in love with her but kept it secret to maintain their friendship.

"He was always a gentleman, the first to befriend her in Russia. They had tea together, sat beside each other during their classes and walked together wherever they went, especially at night. He and Quincy were as tight as brothers, and it was he who helped him pick out Barbara's engagement ring."

Age: 25
Gender: male
Nationality: English
Eye Color: cadmium yellow
Hair Color: black (short story description)
Occupation: fish gutter
Residence: 68 Old Bailey

Seeing how happy she was with Quincy, he gave them his blessing--but not wholeheartedly. After they left Russia, he stayed behind for a few months and fell into a deep depression. He hopped from pub to pub, finding comfort in drinking and entertaining prostitutes. Ultimately, he returned to London after contracting syphilis and entered a forced marriage with his wife because she was pregnant. He earned the occupation of a fish gutter with regrets that he may have met a kinder fate if he chose to pursue the only woman he truly loved. Coincidentally, a few days after Quincy was murdered, he was found stabbed in the chest and slashed in the throat in the same filthy street.

Jack the Ripper
[NON-FICTIONAL CHARACTER]
The Famous Serial Killer
Though most people agree he murdered only five women, he continues to haunt and fascinate millions even after 120 years. Why? As truTV said, he represented the classic whodunit. Feldscher, true to historical fact, states the nickname Jack the Ripper was actually first used when the Central News Agency received this taunting letter (including the spelling and grammatical errors):

Dear Boss,
I keep on hearing the police have caught me but they wont fix me just yet. I have laughed when they look so clever and talk about being on the right track. That joke about Leather Apron gave me real fits. I am down on whores and I shant quit ripping them till I do get buckled. Grand work the last job was. I gave the lady no time to squeal. How can they catch me now. I love my work and want to start again. You will soon hear of me with my funny little games. I saved some of the proper red stuff in a ginger beer bottle over the last job to write with but it went thick like glue and I cant use it. Red ink is fit enough I hope ha. ha. The next job I do I shall clip the ladys ears off and send to the police officers just for jolly wouldn't you. Keep this letter back till I do a bit more work, then give it out straight. My knife's so nice and sharp I want to get to work right away if I get a chance. Good Luck.

Yours truly
Jack the Ripper

Dont mind me giving the trade name

PS Wasnt good enough to post this before I got all the red ink off my hands curse it No luck yet. They say I'm a doctor now. ha ha

It was first thought to be a hoax but soon, a woman named Catherine Eddowes was found dead with her ears clipped. From there, the murders of Mary Anne "Polly" Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride and Mary Jane Kelly were attributed to him due to the similar modus operandi. Some even raise the figure even higher. Several suspects have been named from Prince Albert Victor even to Lewis Carroll! Nobody has ever been positively confirmed to be Jack the Ripper, and it continues to puzzle even the present day FBI. Who knows? He may even have been a man whose name has been lost to history.

MAILBOX PART I

2000-12-11T16:39:00.025+08:00

Since Act II isn't written out yet to introduce any other characters, let's take a break by looking through some questions you may have for me. This'll go in tens to reduce the lack of merriment from long posts. I'll also include fan art and comments from readers.

_____WRITER'S BLOCK
1) Why're your artist comments so long?
If you've met me in real life or at least talked to me, you'll find me to be a very talkative person. I guess even while I'm writing, I do the same thing. Plus, I prefer to provide all the facts so people would understand what I'm trying to say. I'm just so annoyed when people don't even bother to read them and ask questions I've already answered.Meanwhile, says it's a natural habit for a writer.

2) If you're really a writer, why do you use contractions, even ones that don't exist such as "dunno", in formal writing?It's actually a matter of style. Even if I'm writing a formal paper, it's still my opinion and I prefer to give my two cents in my own personal manner. Thus, the contractions. That's why I enjoyed writing for Carljoe Javier when I was still his student; he allowed liberal expression of ideas.

3) When did you begin to write?
I was actually inspired by my friends when they began drawing their own comics. I knew I wasn't any good at that so I decided to write the stories instead. I officially began in 2004, the same year Mika and Karmi's Comics was established, in composition notebooks. I didn't think they were any good, though. My friends enjoyed reading them but I wasn't too happy in my work. What really made me love writing was working on a fan series, At the Turn of a Card. I just hope they'll like Feldscher just as much.

4) Do you get annoyed when people say you and sound alike?
Not really. But I don't really understand how. I mean, I've a very strange accent.

5) Is it true you only use a cheap pen in inking your art?
Yeah, it's a pen worth around 50 cents. I can't control an artist's inking pen properly so I just settle with a Pilot BP-S Fine ballpoint pen. I like how easy it is to use and the effect it gives to hair when I make it shiny. The only problem is it's not very smooth in making lines.

6) Are you considering writing as a professional career?
Unfortunately, no. I take writing as more of a hobby or side career. In fact, it's my third choice after Animation and Multi-Media Arts. However, if I ever finish and get enough money, I'll gladly pursue it.

7) You seem to enjoy dressing up and acting. Have you ever been on stage?
Well, for starters, when we were in preschool, we'd have an annual school play where everyone would be assigned a role by the teachers, buy the costume and act in front of their parents. In these productions, I only had minor roles such as a crocodile and a bird.
My big break came in a Repertory Philippines summer workshop when we had a Sleeping Beauty production. I was originally an extra, a fairy, but I later received the role of the bad witch, Trollerina, for Act I of the play. The original witch was absent for the practices for Act I so they picked me to take the role up since they liked my Trollerina imitations. Other than that, I didn't get any bigger roles. I wanted to return to the workshop but they already moved away to another city.
My other roles were in small group plays in English classes. I was awarded the best "Pablo" in Wanted a Chaperon, and I played the lead character Dr. Stockmann in An Enemy of the People.

8) Have you ever made any public appearances?
If you consider performing in front of the actors' parents in a public venue, then yeah. Otherwise, I've made two other public appearances when I modeled flower girl bridal gowns for the fashion designer Delby Bragais in EDSA Shangri-La and another hotel--I forgot the name.

9) Have you cosplayed any of your characters?
Kami Takahashi from Crime Files Declassified and The White Baron from At the Turn of a Card, the latter made for me by Delby Bragais. I've only worn these costumes for high school fairs and Halloween events since I'm not allowed to join anime conventions. However, there was this time I wore The White Baron costume in public--while attneding Christmas Mass. People weren't sure if I was a guy or a girl anymore...

10) Have you ever visualized your stories in print?
Yeah, many times. I can actually have a book published by CentralBooks for around $175, including ten fully-colored promotional posters, 50 copies of the book to be sold in their branches, copyrighting and illustrations. I'm just not sure if anybody would actually bother to buy the book.

_____WORDS FROM THE READERS

"[The] Black Ace reminds me of Kino from Kino's Journey in a good way. She's one of my favorite char[acter]s ever, and I definitely recommend the series.

"P.S. Feldscher is awesome, [The] Black Ace is awesome, expect fan art some time."

_____FAN ART

Feldscher by Mur4s4me

One of the reasons why I personally asked him to draw this picture for me is that he does such a great job in depicting my characters in his own style. Plus, he also read a bit of my stories, too. After seeing this, I better appreciate my characters as well. This work was actually drawn with a mechanical pencil. If the illustration tricked you into thinking otherwise, that proves how much of a master Mur4s4me is, and that's why I idolize him. And who can blame you? The lines are so fine and crisp; so clean! Is this still a free sketch at all!? It looks like a book cover!
He truly captured Barbara's mischievous grin and Hugo's cool expression despite the position he's in. He also added more detail than in my original illustrations and added more depth through his penciling and shadow effects. I'm so honored to have this momentous scene drawn for me, Mur4s4me. I hope you keep doing a great job. I'm certain the other crew members would agree with me on this.

ACT IBright Red Dawn

2000-12-07T18:07:00.035+08:00

After 152 days and three sleepless nights, I'm finally finished! I'm just one day short in taking exactly six months to get the editing done! Boy, does time fly! In fact, I finished two days ahead of plan!

SUMMARY
The tonsorial parlor along Blackfriars Road is said to be haunted ever since the murder of Quincy Quetzal. Only one person remains at the ramshackle home: his fiancee, Barbara Baker. The Criminal Investigation Department, already in a sea of unsolved cases, investigates with no success. The only suspect they have is John Batterwick, a poor fish gutter who is away from London, on a trip. Soon afterward, John, Barbara's old friend from college, comes to visit.

PREVIEW SCENE 01: The Telegram
Read Preview @ slapaStory [COMING SOON]
View the Graphic Novel Version (Prototype)

ACT I: Bright Red Dawn
Once again, I apologize for the extremely long delays but this one is finally for real. Editing has finally finished, too! Please download this file using FileFactory's Basic Service.
Download ACT I: Bright Red Dawn (PDF) [COMING SOON]

For any questions, comments or suggestions, please contact me so I can serve up better stories. You can also give me feedback by joining in the polls! Thanks for all the support! I couldn't have done it without you all!

FICTION

2000-12-05T21:39:00.005+08:00

Choose among the following titles, download and begin reading! I hope that you'll enjoy my stories as much as I've enjoyed writing them!

_____ACT I: Bright Red Dawn
The tonsorial parlor along Blackfriars Road is said to be haunted ever since the murder of the barber Quincy Quetzal...

______ACT II: Vampires of London [IN THE WORKS]
During a farewell celebration for Jozef at The Fox and Glove, a fire erupts and Barbara is trapped, but fortunately...

ACT IIVampires of London

2000-12-03T20:26:00.003+08:00

Here's a little update to show that I haven't forgotten to write the continuation. This is much, much longer than ACT I: Bright Red Dawn, but I hope that you guys will enjoy it just the same.

SUMMARY
During a farewell celebration for Jozef at The Fox and Glove, a fire erupts. Barbara is trapped; but fortunately, Rowan rescues her. The next day, an incident of the grotesque occurs: a family plays grave robber in the name of salvaging London from "vampires". Meanwhile, Rowan begins showing symptoms of vampirism and is admitted to a tiny infirmary. Both Barbara and Hugo investigate the true cause of the vampire scare.

PREVIEW SCENE 01: Through the Fog
Read Preview @ slapaStory

For any questions, comments or suggestions, please contact me so I can serve up better stories. You can also give me feedback by joining in the polls! Thanks for all the support! I couldn't have done it without you all!

KARMI-SEMPAI

2000-12-01T20:04:00.007+08:00

As an aspiring artist, she often kills her brain cells by inhaling fumes from the huge, black pentel pen she always uses. As an aspiring author, she takes pleasure in torturing and killing off her characters.

NAME: Karmi Panaguiton
PEN NAME: Karmi-Sempai
BIRTH DATE: June 19
ZODIAC SIGN: Gemini
LOCATION: Asia

CONTACT ME!

2000-11-30T11:14:00.000+08:00

Feel free to contact me for your questions, comments and suggestions! I'll always be glad to accept criticism and insights.

karmi_sempai@yahoo.com
karmi-sempai.deviantart.com

SHOUT OUT!

2000-11-28T11:27:00.003+08:00

Feel free to write a shout out! Let us know that you dropped by, and what you think of Feldscher.

ABOUT FELDSCHER

2000-11-26T13:11:00.005+08:00

Learn the basics, history, and overall plot of the series! You'll also get to know what sets Feldscher apart from other short stories, and what gives its appeal to old and new readers alike.

~ How It All Began
~ What is Feldscher?
~ Feldscher Trailer
~ FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

MEET THE CHARACTERS

2000-11-24T13:15:00.007+08:00

Get to know some of Karmi-Sempai's most memorable and beloved characters! Included are their character profiles, concept sketches, and fashion design sheets!

READ THE STORIES

2000-11-22T13:18:00.005+08:00

Encounter the serial killer whose path of destruction challenged the very notions of the modern criminal!
~ ACT I: Bright Red Dawn
~ ACT II: Vampires of London