Jack Jethands

Professor Jack Jethands was an eccentric Victorian era scientist and inventor who was trying to discover a way to contact the etheric plane and the world beyond. When a lab accident caused the loss of his arms, he constructed a flock of gas powered, flying mechanical hands that he can mentally control.

Jack also perfected the science of "spatial folding," in which a large volume of space can reside inside a small container. This enables him to store several dozen additional jet hands inside the small pouches on his belt, which can emerge as needed. He also stores various weaponry and gadgets inside the belt pouches.

Jack now investigates scientific and supernatural events around the globe.

I've been doodling a version of this character since the 1990s, but this is the first time I've even drawn a proper illustration of him. The original version was quite different-- a skinny guy whose eyes were always covered by goggles, wearing a poncho from which jet powered hands would emerge. I never quite knew what to do with that version, so I decided to dust him off and retool him into something that made a little more sense.

Drawn in Photoshop on the graphic tablet.

Here's the original rough sketch of Jack. His weaponry is quite different here; much more retro than steampunk.

Here's the final tighter digital sketch.