‘I ALWAYS TRY TO KEEP SOMETHING HIDDEN IN THE STORYTELLING'
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From making history in ZOOOAD to lookin British comic creator DAVE GIBBONS ta
aye (iibbons has made comic book history at least twice during his 30 years as a graphic
artist. In the mid-70s. the then twentysomething British illustrator was part oi a gifted group of writers and artists who redelined the stagnant British comic book scene with the science fiction title. 2000.41). A decade later. (iibbons and fellow 2000A!) alumni. writer Alan Moore. co- created the iconoclastic superhero graphic novel. The llim'hnn'n. People still talk about their generation.
Graduating from 2000;”). Gibbons went to work for ['8 giant DC Comics. giy'ing its l'igureheads. Superman. Batman and the (ireen Lantern. new leases ol‘ lil‘e. (iibbons also collaborated with Frank Miller. creator of the Dark Knight Batman books. With Miller. Gibbons produced (iit'i’ .lle Liberty. a horribly prescient graphic noyel about the sorry state ol~ near-future America.
With his graphic noyel T/H’ Originals. (iibbons is making comic book history again. This time he‘s drawing on Britain’s .\lod era of the 60s. ol~ which the now 55-year-old was part. rucks with Greasers on Brighton seafront and all. Set in a retro-tuturistic London eyocatiye of the post-war. pre-swinging capital. The Originals reimagines the story of the first generation of kids who had money to spend on clothes and drugs — the kids who were all right.
Giy'en that Mod was about style — tonic suits. ltalian haircuts. Lambrettas — does it follow that Gibbons would become a graphic artist'.’ ‘The appeal ot~ being a Mod.‘ he says. ‘is there was something hidden. Behind the smart dress and haircuts. there was an
trom the co-creabor ol WATCHMEN
DAVE GIBBONS
lg back on it with The Ori inals, leading
s to Miles Fielder about is era.
attitude. and l was attracted to that. It‘s the same with comics: (‘lark Kent looks normal. but he has a secret identity as Superman. In my work. I always try to draw in a clear and accessible style. but to do something less simple than it looks.'
The ll'uli‘lnni'n is a good example. superlicially l'ormal draughtsmaninip belying the story‘s wildly renegade \‘ision. .-\nd you can extend (iibbons' analogy to the comic book medium. which many still yiew as essentially adolescent but. at its best. is stthCl'siVC. political and transgressiye.
'I‘lie ()riginu/s is. on lirst glance. more dy natnic than (iibhons' pt'eyiotis work. 'l‘raditional panel art is interspersed with text. song lyrics and graphics. all in '.\lod‘ two-tone black and white. It's a storytelling strategy that approximates what it meant to (iibbons to be a Mod. which was a certain anarchic attitude. And that‘s an attitude that has characterised (iibhons' work. from 2000A!) stories such as Rugui' 'I‘nm/u'r to the Hugo award-winning 'l'lii' llillt'lIHH’lI.
The ()rigilIu/s also marks a turning point tor (iibbons. a moye towards writing and away lrom illustration (though he has no intention ot‘ giying up the latter). He says it‘s about "haying more control oyer the essence of the thing. oyct' expressing ideas'. And about producing more work. 'lt would take me ten seconds to write about the Sioux nation coming over the horizon.. he say s. "but l'our days to draw it.‘
Looks like (iibbons hasn‘t tinished making comic book history yet.
The Originals is out now in hardback on Titan Books.
Hit >l<
THE BEST BOOKS. COMICS 8 EVENTS
=3: Paul Auster Volume one ot the Brooklyn boy's collected novels is out now, and it's a bleedin‘ corker. See review. Faber.
=I< Des Dillon The Glasgow Dragon is the latest fiery effort from the man behind the legendary Me and My Gal. This one is an intelligent look at gangsters, drugs and Violence. See review. Luth Press.
=E= Dave Gibbons The Watchman artist brings us his own semi-autobiographical graphic novel. The Originals. See preview, left. Titan Books.
=2: Irwin Chusid (ed) A spot of classic kitsch with jazz album covers. magazine work and miscellaneous illustrations from the late. great Jim Flora. See review. Fantagraphics.
:2: Mark Gatiss The League of Gentlemen chap plucks another string on his terribly creative bow with an event to promote The Vesuvius Club. his very amusrng debut novel. Arches, Glasgow. Thu 2 Dec.
Jon Hanson As seen on TV and read in a book. the wild. wacky and weirded-out gorngs- on in the US military are brought to us by the man (pictured) who tells ab0ut men who stare at goats. Borders, Glasgow. Tue 7 Dec.
Ian Rankin & Alexander McCall Smith Edinburgh's toppermost crime scribes join forces for the very first time. Wonder which one has the highest body count per page? Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh, Tue 7 Dec.
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