Albion (comics)
Albion | |
---|---|
Publication information | |
Publisher | WildStorm (DC Comics) |
Format | Limited series |
Publication date | August 2005 – November 2006 |
No. of issues | 6 |
Creative team | |
Created by | Alan Moore (plot) |
Written by | Leah Moore & John Reppion |
Artist(s) | Dave Gibbons (covers) |
Penciller(s) | Shane Oakley |
Inker(s) | George Freeman (with Richard Friend, and Peter Guzman) |
Letterer(s) | Todd Klein |
Colorist(s) | Wildstorm FX |
Editor(s) | Scott Dunbier, |
Collected editions | |
Albion (US) | ISBN 1-4012-0994-7 |
Albion (UK) | ISBN 1845763513 |
Albion is a six-issue comic book limited series plotted by Alan Moore, written by his daughter Leah Moore and her husband John Reppion, with covers by Dave Gibbons and art by Shane Oakley and George Freeman. As a result of a deal forged by Vice-President Bob Wayne of DC Comics and Publishing Director Andrew Sumner of IPC Media,[1] it was published through DC Comics' WildStorm imprint. The series aimed to revive classic IPC-owned British comics characters such as Captain Hurricane, Robot Archie, The Steel Claw and The Spider (as well as minor characters like Fishboy and Faceache), all of whom appeared in comics published by Odhams Press and later IPC Media during the 1960s and early 1970s, such as Smash!, Valiant, and Lion.[2]
Publication history[]
Debuting with a cover date of August 2005, the first two issues were released monthly, with the third issue delayed two months (Moore & Reppion cited delays in scheduling impacting the art production[3]). Initially solicited release between October 2005 and January 2006, issues 4–6 were subsequently resolicited, and finally released throughout 2006, with cover dates between June and November. The TPB collection followed swiftly after No. 6 was released in both the US and UK, from WildStorm and Titan Books respectively.[4]
Synopsis[]
The story revolves around a modern-day Britain where comic book characters have turned out to really exist. The British public had been largely unaware of their existence throughout the 1960s and '70s, thinking them to be fictional. Kelly's Eye, for instance, is shown to be in the possession of the British Prime Minister since the time of Margaret Thatcher.
At some point the British government (with the assistance of The Spider) began rounding up both heroes and villains; when the story opens, most of the IPC heroes are now interred within an asylum located in Cursitor Doom's isolated Scottish castle. Although many residents are free to wander and socialize, some parts of the castle are more prison-like (comparisons are drawn with Camp X-Ray). The castle also contains an armory, filled with the inmates' various weapons, tools, and gadgets (including the Steel Claw's claw). The warden of the castle, Ian Eagleton (formerly known as Eagle Eye, Junior Spy) gives a tour to a visiting American, Zip Nolan, a member of Special Operations who is investigating potential problems.
Penny, the purported daughter of Eric Dolmann, one of the (former) inmates, is determined to reveal their existence to the larger public. She recruits the aid of Danny, a scruffy young collector of old British comics. After recognising Grimly Feendish and calling out his name as the master criminal is taken away by the police, he finds himself literally dragged into Penny's quest to find her father and eventually discovers how the secret of his true history is tied both to the castle and to Cursitor Doom. Penny and Danny are reluctantly joined in their quest by an incognito Charlie Peace.
Much of the story takes place within the asylum, as a number of the inmates are preparing for upheaval. The Spider is being fed information by prison trustee Faceache, while Brian's Brain, an "inmate" who has become integrated with the asylum's computer systems, predicts an upcoming disaster. These are the circumstances that have brought the American Nolan to the scene.
Using a similar narrative device to that which Alan Moore employed in Supreme and Tom Strong,[2] flashbacks are related in the style of comics of yesteryear. For example, Penny's childhood is drawn in a style similar to Dennis the Menace or The Bash Street Kids.
Characters[]
A number of characters from UK comics appear in Albion — some are prisoners, others prison guards, others are at large. They include:
hideCharacter | Originating strip | Original publication | Original publisher | Creators | Year created | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brian's Brain | Brian's Brain | Smash! | Odhams | Bert Vandeput | 1966 | |
Captain Enoch | Queen of the Seas | Smash! | Odhams | Ken Reid | 1966 | Accompanied by his first mate Bert |
Captain Hurricane | Captain Hurricane | Valiant | Fleetway | 1962 | Accompanied by his batman "Maggot" Malone | |
Charlie Peace | The Astounding Adventures of Charlie Peace | Buster | Fleetway | Eric Bradbury | 1964 | |
The Cloak | The Cloak | Pow! | Odhams | Mike Higgs | 1967 | |
Cursitor Doom | Smash! | Odhams | Geoff Campion | 1969 | ||
Danny | Danny Doom | Valiant | Fleetway | Eric Bradbury | 1974 | Appears as amnesiac adult for most of Albion |
Dr. Gogra | Valiant | Fleetway | Tom Tully | 1964 | Real name: Lazlo Gogra | |
Faceache | Faceache | Fleetway | Ken Reid | 1971 | Real name: Frederick Akeley | |
Grimly Feendish | Eagle Eye, Junior Spy | Wham! | Odhams | Leo Baxendale | 1964 | Real name: Grymleigh Gartside Fiendstien |
Eric Dolmann | The House of Dolmann | Valiant | Fleetway | Eric Bradbury | 1966 | |
Ian Eagleton | Eagle Eye, Junior Spy | Wham! | Odhams | Leo Baxendale | 1964 | |
Janus Stark | The Incredible Adventures of Janus Stark | Smash! | IPC | Tom Tully & Francisco Solano López | 1969 | |
Jason Hyde | The Astounding Jason Hyde | Valiant | Fleetway | Barrington J. Bayley & Eric Bradbury | 1965 | Real name: Jonas Clarke |
Louis Crandall | The Steel Claw | Valiant | Fleetway | Ken Bulmer & Jesús Blasco | 1962 | |
Martina | Monster Fun | Fleetway | Ken Reid | 1975 | Original name: Martha | |
Mytek the Mighty | Valiant | Fleetway | Tom Tully | 1964 | ||
Penny Dolmann | Smash! | Odhams | Leo Baxendale | 1966 | ||
Robot Archie | Robot Archie | Lion | Amalgamated Press | Ted Cowan & Ted Kearon | 1952 | |
Rubberman | It's The Rubber Man! | Smash! | Odhams | Ken Mennell & Alfredo Marculeta | 1966 | Real name: Jim Hollis |
The Spider | The Spider | Lion | Fleetway | Ted Cowan & Reg Bunn | 1965 | |
Tim Kelly | Kelly's Eye | Knockout | Fleetway | Francisco Solano López | 1962 | |
Tri-Man | Smash! | IPC | 1969 | Real name: Johnny Small | ||
Zip Nolan | Zip Nolan—Highway Patrol | Lion | Fleetway | 1963 | Strip also known as Spot the Clue with Zip Nolan |
Prison guards[]
- Captain Hurricane
A huge and muscular World War II hero who is the final line of defence in the government prison. He has an old-fashioned style about him; he uses quaint phrases ("The whole ruddy lot of us", "I could do with forty winks", etc.) and is casually racist. Captain Hurricane's origin is revealed in Albion: he is the result of hundreds of experiments to create a supersoldier through the use of drugs. His assistant 'Maggot' Malone is a medical doctor monitoring his condition and dosing the Captain's tea with sedatives, to prevent him from going into one of his terrifying psychotic "ragin' furies".
- Eagle-Eye
Ian Eagleton, as a child "Junior Spy" had many encounters with his nemesis Grimly Feendish (who terrified him). As an adult, he is the warden of the government prison that holds the heroes, villains, and other bizarre individuals from his youth.
- Jason Hyde
Jason Hyde was exposed to radiation that resulted in him developing x-ray vision and mind-reading abilities. He currently works as a security guard in the prison.
- Zip Nolan
Once an American police detective who served in both Korea and Vietnam, he is now a member of Special Operations who is investigating potential problems in the Castle.
Prisoners[]
- Brian's Brain
A computer in the shape of a human head with a skull-like face and transparent cranium who was formerly the property of a boy named Brian Kingsley, the Brain is an "inmate" in the government prison who has become integrated with the prison computer systems and has predicted an upcoming disaster.
- The Cloak
The Cloak was a mysterious noseless and bulgy-eyed black-caped secret agent who admired The Shadow and was a self-taught expert at sorcery. Despite his service to his country he was arrested and placed in the government prison along with all the others.
- Cursitor Doom
Cursitor Doom is an intense-eyed, shaven-headed psychic investigator and seemingly immortal sorcerer cursed to remain forever within the walls of his isolated castle who has been in a coma for the past "twenty-something years", a condition which has allowed the government to convert his ancient home into a prison.
A master inventor and robotics expert who created a range of doll-like robots to fight crime. Over twenty years ago he was arrested by The Spider, an event that was witnessed by his daughter Penny. He died in prison.
Frederick Akeley has the ability to change or "scrunge" his face and body into a vast variety of different forms, many quite monstrous in appearance. He is a trustee in the prison and does impressions of Bruce Forsyth for the guards. He is dating Martha of Martha's Monster Make-Up.
Grymleigh Gartside Fiendstien began his life of crime over thirty years ago, committing crimes including theft, arson, murder, and acts of gross indecency with the help of his monstrous little "Squelchies". He is eventually arrested and imprisoned in the government prison.
- Gogra
Lazlo Gogra is an evil dwarf genius obsessed with possessing the towering robotic simian Mytek the Mighty.
- Tim Kelly
Tim Kelly rescued a South American shaman and was given a jewel called the Eye of Zoltec, also known as the Eye of Everlasting Life, which granted him invulnerability. He is currently a prisoner in the government prison, much aged after the jewel's confiscation. Kelly's Eye itself is shown to be in the possession of the British Prime Minister since the time of Margaret Thatcher.
- Louis Crandell
Better known as the Steel Claw, a prisoner and friend of Tim Kelly. Crandell has the ability to turn invisible by directing an electrical shock through his artificial right hand, causing him to vanish completely save for the metal prosthesis itself which seems to eerily float in the air. When Crandell was arrested the Claw was confiscated and locked away in the prison armoury.
- Martina
Martina has make-up that her father brought home from Anvil Studios which can transform her face into that of a monster. She is in prison and is dating Faceache.
- Mytek the Might
An incredibly powerful giant robot ape originally built to control unruly natives in colonial Africa which can be operated from a control room inside its head.
- Rubberman
James Hollis had a curse placed on him by an Indian fakir that turned his body to rubber, allowing him to stretch great distances. He attempted an escape with Tri-Man, which failed. He is being stored in a cooled cell which negates his elasticity.
The self-proclaimed "King of Crooks", this ego- and intellect-driven black-clad, pointy-eared master criminal was employed by the conservative Thatcher government to capture all super-villains and superheroes, all eccentric inventors and magicians, all bizarre freaks and weirdos, and exceptionally rebellious or gifted children who could be considered to be disruptive to the orderly running of British society. As his reward he was also imprisoned, because, as the Spider himself admits, "Nobody does treachery like the English". He loves playing mind games and is always looking for ways to escape.
- Tri-Man
Johnny Small obtained three amazing superpowers from Professor Meek's ray: super-sight, super-speed, and super-strength. He was a prisoner until The Spider encouraged him to attempt an escape with Rubberman, and he was killed during the attempt.
Others[]
- Penny Dolmann
The daughter of inventor Eric Dolmann, as a child she loved to get in trouble and play with her father's robots. She was put into foster care after her father was arrested by the government and had a very difficult time in school. She has inherited her father's inventive genius, and has been locating her father's missing "dolls" since she was 18. At the start of Albion she is looking for allies to find and rescue her father and the other heroes.
A Victorian thief who travelled forward in time to the 1970s when he stole a magical watch from Cursitor Doom. He set up a music shop in Liverpool under the alias "Charles Love" and later took over an antique store. He became aware that the government was arresting unique individuals and is very careful about revealing his identity.
- Danny
A scruffy young collector of old British comics who was apparently orphaned in a bus accident that robbed him of all memory of his previous life.
A Victorian-era hero who, born with rubber-like bones, is a brilliant escapologist who can escape from any trap and uses his amazing abilities to solve crimes and fight evil.
- Queen of the Seas
Also known as the Buoyant Queen, she is a battered and somewhat-less-than-reliable old ship whose small crew consists of the monocled, cigarette holder-smoking Captain Enoch and his portly first mate Bert.
An old-fashioned heroic mechanical man who was deactivated and served as a display in a Manchester cafe until Penny and Danny rescued and reactivated him.
Spin-offs[]
Albion Origins[]
A tie-in volume entitled Albion Origins was released by Titan Books in November 2007 in hardback, with a cover by Brian Bolland. This volume was designed to showcase the characters featured in Albion as they originally appeared in various IPC, Fleetway and other British comics. It featured reprints of several Cursitor Doom, Tim Kelly, Janus Stark and Dolmann stories, as well as newly written articles exploring the history of these characters' comics.[5]
Thunderbolt Jaxon[]
Thunderbolt Jaxon, a "spin-off" of Albion – written by Dave Gibbons and drawn by John Higgins, with covers by Gibbons – was launched as a five issue mini-series in 2006. A trade paperback was released in 2007, ISBN 1-4012-1257-3, which contained some additional info on the original character.
Battler Britton[]
Battler Britton, a five-part series (starting in July 2006) based on IPC's classic World War II air ace, Wing Commander Robert "Battler" Britton. Britton was the star of such comics as Sun, Knockout and the long-running digest titles Air Ace Picture Library and Battle Picture Library. The script is by well-known comics author (and World War II expert) Garth Ennis, with art by New Zealand's Colin Wilson. Covers are by Garry Leach. A trade paperback was released in 2007, ISBN 1-4012-1378-2, which contained some additional info on the original character.
Collected editions[]
A trade paperback collection of the six-issue miniseries was released in the US on 13 December 2006 by WildStorm (ISBN 1-4012-0994-7). Titan Books published the UK edition a month later, on 26 January (ISBN 1-84576-351-3).
Reception[]
Albion was nominated for "Favourite New Comicbook" in the 2006 Eagle Awards.[6]
Miles Fielder, writing in The Scotsman, said of Albion:
Albion's pages are peppered with references, some obvious, others oblique, to what's already an obscure milieu. Those with some knowledge of the AP/IPC comics' characters will delight in spotting them; newcomers will marvel at the surprisingly fertile creativity of the period (especially given America's domination of the comics marketplace with superhero titles such as The Amazing Spider-Man and Uncanny X-Men). Albion, however, is not purely a nostalgia trip. What Moore does here is nothing less noble than reviving these characters for our modern times.... [Moore] is arguably at his creative peak and busiest period, ... whatever the case, the co-writers are well served by artists with an eye for detail, Shane Oakley and George Freeman.[7]
Notes[]
- ^ Brady, Matt. "Inside the DC-IPC Deal", Newsarama, 2 August 2004.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Contino, Jennifer M. "Andrew Sumner & Albion," Comicon.com (Feb. 22, 2005).
- ^ Moore & Reppion writing at Th3rdworld.com, January 22, 2006 Archived 16 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 4 May 2008
- ^ ComicBookDb: Albion. Accessed 4 May 2008
- ^ "Albion Origins". Archived from the original on 8 July 2007. Retrieved 4 July 2007.
- ^ Previous Winners: 2006 at the official Eagle Awards website, archived at the Wayback Machine. (Retrieved 16 January 2020.)
- ^ *"Superheroes in graphic detail", The Scotsman (11 February 2007). Archived at the Wayback Machine.
References[]
- Albion at the Grand Comics Database
- Albion at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
External links[]
This article's use of external links may not follow Wikipedia's policies or guidelines. (October 2013) |
- International Hero – A website devoted to British comics heroes.
- More detail about the IPC comics universe and the history of Albion from Andrew Sumner
- In The Fifty-Pee Box: An ALBION Website
- ALBION Annotations
Interviews[]
- "Comics: Return of 'The Claw' (Andrew Sumner interview)". The Independent. 22 November 2004. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
- Talking to Leah Moore and John Reppion, Newsarama, 16 February 2006
- John Reppion, 23 February 2006
- Leah Moore and John Reppion talk Albion, Forbidden Planet, 20 July 2006
- Leah Moore Brings Back the Brits Publishers Weekly, 16 January 2007
- Forever Albion, John Freeman interviews Moore & Reppion, 7 February 2007
- Albion Man, John Freeman interviews Andrew Sumner, 12 February 2007
- Shane Oakley: Albion Artist, John Freeman interviews Shane Oakley, 23 February 2007
- Panel Borders: The work of Leah Moore and John Reppion part 1, 12 October 2007
- Leah Moore & John Reppion, 2 May 2008
Reviews[]
- Albion #4 and #5, Comics Bulletin
- WildStorm limited series
- 2005 comics debuts
- Comics by Alan Moore
- Superhero comics
- Satirical comics
- Parody superheroes