Scarlet Traces

Notes by Eamonn Clarke

This is a set of annotations to the graphic novel Scarlet Traces by Ian Edginton and D'Israeli. Links to the other books in the series can be found on the home page.

The Title. Mikal Dyas notes a possible link with the title of Iain Sinclair's 1987 book White Chappell, Scarlet Tracings which deals with, amongst other things, the Jack the Ripper legends. Sinclair is an interesting writer concerned with the psychogeography of London. He has been cited by Alan Moore as one of the influences for From Hell particularly for the geographical landmarks, notably the Hawksmoor churches.

Page 6, panel 1. Note the Martian manipulators constructing a tower building which presumably account for the much altered and elevated London skyline here.

I've also just noticed the whale shaped airships which may be a reference I don't recognise. Interestingly there is revived interest in airships at the moment and in early 2008 a french architect called Jean-Marie Massaud unveiled his plan for a whale shaped floating hotel he has named Leviathan which happens to be the title of another Edginton/D'Israeli book! They should sue.