You can’t keep a good man down: Leonard Hendricks is back in Hendricks issue 2!

Deputy Hendricks is a character you can’t help but gravitate towards. His everyman qualities shine through, and I always wanted to see him succeed. When I was a kid I loved making up stories and it seems some things never change. We had the same 20 or 30 VHS tapes rattling around which were watched on repeat. In my imagination I would often insert Hendricks into other popular movies. He’d turn up as a 5th Ghostbuster or as a side kick to Indiana Jones (yes, I know the timeline doesn’t work!).

In 2018 I decided to get some of these ideas out of my head and with Rhys Wootton’s help we created Hendricks issue 1. Our story followed Leonard Hendricks as he left Amity Island and began a road trip from hell. Heading for a fresh start in a town called ‘Perfection’, he believes he will be safe and certainly under no threat from sharks but soon learns that no town is perfect.

I love the idea of Hendricks going from fictional film town to fictional film town - we may know what to expect but he doesn’t. For us the fun will be seeing how he deals with whatever danger he finds himself in and discovering where he’s off to next. I wasn’t sure if people would embrace this concept, but they did!

Creating the first book led to moments I could never have imagined. For example, meeting Hendricks himself, Jeffrey Kramer.

The most recent development has seen us get permission from Benchley IP LLC to continue telling these stories (in a non-official capacity). I am extremely grateful to be given the opportunity to continue the legend of Leonard Hendricks.

The 2nd book was a big challenge, but I am proud of what we have created. Rhys has outdone himself and I hope the Jaws community will enjoy this latest instalment. I have no clue where this crazy journey will take us next, but I am excited to find out. Thank you for reading and thank you for all your support.

You can order your copy of Hendricks issue 2 through The Daily Jaws Product Zone and issue 1 is also available through our website www.whatifstories.co.uk/hendricks/

If you use the code THEDAILYJAWS at checkout, you’ll get 20% off your order

Written by Matt Stapleton @what_if_stories

Artwork by Rhys Wootton @rhyswootton