Overview
When they walk, they look cool. When they ride, they drive fast. And when they hate, they fight -- brutally. One of comics' most esteemed names, Dave Gibbons (co-creator and artist of WATCHMEN and Give Me Liberty) arrives at VERTIGO to deliver an original hardcover graphic novel he's been waiting his entire life to write and draw. Lel and Bok -- two best friends -- want nothing more than to join the Originals, the top gang on the streets. Through them, they'll meet the high-speed world of hover scooters, all-night clubs, and, for Lel, the girl of his dreams. But with the fast life comes tough foes, and tribal loyalty will teach them the unforgettable meaning of unforgivable loss. Neither a science-fiction story nor set in a mundane reality, THE ORIGINALS takes place in a world both familiar and strange, where the young are angry, loyal and fight for what they believe in. And the only thing more important than who your friends are is who your friends hate.Synopsis
When they walk, they look cool. When they ride, they drive fast. And when they hate, they fight -- brutally. One of comics' most esteemed names, Dave Gibbons (co-creator and artist of WATCHMEN and Give Me Liberty) arrives at VERTIGO to deliver an original hardcover graphic novel he's been waiting his entire life to write and draw. Lel and Bok -- two best friends -- want nothing more than to join the Originals, the top gang on the streets. Through them, they'll meet the high-speed world of hover scooters, all-night clubs, and, for Lel, the girl of his dreams. But with the fast life comes tough foes, and tribal loyalty will teach them the unforgettable meaning of unforgivable loss. Neither a science-fiction story nor set in a mundane reality, THE ORIGINALS takes place in a world both familiar and strange, where the young are angry, loyal and fight for what they believe in. And the only thing more important than who your friends are is who your friends hate.
Publishers Weekly
Gibbons's masterful skills as writer and artist energize this coming-of-age story set in a slightly skewed world full of familiar frustrations and temptations. Young teen Lel doesn't see anything desirable in what mainstream society offers; he just wants flashier clothes, his own Hover to ride and membership in an elite gang. So he and his buddy Bok join the Originals, a gang with whom they engage in small-scale violence against rival gangs and bask in the acceptance of their peers. Alas, this doesn't last. Lel and Bok begin drifting apart once Lel starts spending time with a girl named Viv and selling drugs for a high-ranking Original. But when another needy gang wannabe carries the violence too far, Lel is faced with making adult decisions. Lel isn't a vicious sociopath, doomed to make selfish choices; he is, however, immature and still wrapped up in his fantasies. Although the story sounds familiar, it feels fresh. Gibbons, who's probably best known as the Watchmen artist, presents an outstanding example of art and layout with this work. The double-page spreads that put readers in the middle of a teen party or a gang rumble are particular standouts. Gibbons deftly captures Lel's world, as Lel experiences the excitement of the unknown and the emptiness that comes with violence. (Nov.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.