The Originals

The Originals 

By Dave Gibbons (Vertigo)
ISBN 1-84576-011-5

Dave Gibbons is, like me, a bit of a geezer, except better looking, more talented and, hopefully, much more understanding. Our memories stretch back further than last week’s EastEnders. Combine that with the current zeitgeist (go look it up) for introspective reminiscent drama and The Originals could have been an edgy coming-of-age tale of 1960s Mods and Rockers, delivered in the meticulous and hyper-detailed graphic style that is his trademark, which might not in and of itself be a bad thing.

What Gibbons has chosen to do, however, is to move the entire thing into the future and layer it with a mythic subtext, making it more allegory than reportage or documentary. The beautiful monochromatic art captures a feel for the past but has somehow excised the grime and the grit that you know must be there.

Has the choice of setting amplified or castrated the story? I don’t know. It is enjoyable but feels like there ought to be more to it. Perhaps I should read it again with Quadrophenia playing really loud…

© 2004 Dave Gibbons. All Rights Reserved.