The Originals

by Dave Gibbons

I only saw Quadrophenia once, years ago, and so can't remember to what degree Dave Gibbons's graphic novel The Originals matches the story note for note, but the homage does run pretty deep.

Lel and Bok, two British teens, dream of becoming Originals. They already dress the part, with jackets that go down to their ankles, but they haven't been able to get together enough money for hovers, the Originals version of the scooters the Mods rode.  After meeting some Originals, and helping them in a fight with some Dirt, the boys get invited in to the gang.

The story moves along pretty predictable lines.  The presence of a girl strains the boys' friendship, and conflicts with the Dirt escalate after Warren, a wannabe, takes things too far one day.

Still, as much as I knew how this would end before I'd read five pages, I enjoyed the way that Gibbons drew and told the story.  The gleaming and very complicated hovers were the only real futuristic element to this book - everything else looked much as it would have back in the late 60s and early 70s, aside from the clothing, where Gibbons really let himself go nuts.

Gibbons has always been a wonderful character artist, and that continues to be the case here.  This is an entertaining book.