Albion (comics)

Supercbbox
title=Albion


imagesize=240
caption=Cover to "Albion" issue 1, by Dave Gibbons.
schedule=
format=
limited=y
publisher=WildStorm
date=August, 2005 - November, 2006
issues=6
main_char_team=
writers=Leah Moore & John Reppion
artists=Dave Gibbons (covers)
pencillers=Shane Oakley
inkers=George Freeman
(with Richard Friend, Sandra Hope and Peter Guzman)
letterers=Todd Klein
colorists=Wildstorm FX
editors=Scott Dunbier Kristy Quinn
creative_team_month=
creative_team_year=
creators=Alan Moore (plot)
TPB=Albion
ISBN=1401209947 (US)
TPB1=Albion
ISBN1=1845763513 (UK)
nonUS=
subcat=Wildstorm Comics
sort=Albion

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, 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 "Valiant" and "Lion".

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 [ [http://www.th3rdworld.com/forum/viewtopic.php?=&p=2618 Moore & Reppion writing at "Th3rdworld.com", January 22, 2006] . Accessed May 4, 2008] ). 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 #6 was released in both the US and UK, from WildStorm and Titan Books respectively. [ [http://www.comicbookdb.com/title.php?ID=29 ComicBookDb: "Albion"] . Accessed May 4, 2008]

The logo is similar to the one used by Scottish car manufacturer Albion Motors, renowned for their superior engineering and slogan "Sure as the Sunrise".

Fictional setting

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 '60s and '70s, thinking them to be fictional.

Most of the IPC heroes are now interned within an asylum (comparisons are drawn with Camp X-Ray), and the daughter of one of the inmates - who calls herself Penny is determined to reveal their existence to the larger public. Using a similar narrative device to that which Alan Moore employed in "Supreme" and "Tom Strong", flashbacks are related in the style of comics of yesteryear. Therefore, Penny Dreadful'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 include;

Prison guards

Captain Hurricane

A World War II hero who is the final line of defense 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 experiments to create a supersoldier through the use of drugs. His assistant 'Maggot' Malone is a medical doctor monitoring his condition.

Eagle-Eye

Ian Eagleton, as a child he had many encounters with Grimly Feendish who terrified him. When he grew up, he became the Warden of the government prison the held all the heroes.

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 a police detective, who served in both Korea and Vietnam, is now a member of Special Operations, who is investigating problems in the Castle.

Prisoners

Brian's Brain

A computer in the shape of a human head, Brian's 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 secret agent who admired "The Shadow" and was arrested and placed in the government prison.

Cursitor Doom

Cursitor Doom is a psychic investigator who has been in a coma for the past “twenty-something years”. His castle is being used as a prison by the government.

The House of Dolmann

Eric Dolmann is a master inventor and robotics expert, he has created a range of robots to fight crime. Over twenty years ago he was arrested by "The Spider", an event that is witnessed by his daughter Penny. He passed away in prison.

The Dwarf

In prison.

Faceache

Faceache, Frederick Akeley (Ricky Rubberneck) has the ability to change his features. He is a trustee in the prison, and does impressions of Bruce Forsythe for the guards. He is dating Martha of the Monster Make-Up.

Grimly Feendish

Grimly Feendish (aka Grymleigh Gartside Fiendstien) began his life of crime over thirty years ago, committing crimes including theft, arson, murder and acts of gross indecency. He is eventually arrested and imprisoned in the government prison.

Kelly's Eye

Tim Kelly discovered a jewel, the Eye of Everlasting Life, which granted him invulnerability. He is currently a prisoner in the government prison, much aged as they took away the Eye.

Martha's Monster Make-Up

Martina has make up that came transform her face into that of a monster, she is in prison and is dating Faceache.

Mytek the Mighty

A giant robot monkey.

Rubberman

James Hollis, had a curse placed on him that turned his bones to rubber. He attempted an escape with Tri-man which failed. He is being stored in a cooled cell.

The Spider

The Spider was a master criminal who was employed by the UK government to arrest all superheroes and inventors, as his reward he was also imprisoned. His loves playing mind games and is always looking for ways to escape.

Tri-Man

Johnny Small obtained superpowers from Professor Meek’s ray, he had supersight, superspeed, and superstrength. He was a prisoner until "The Spider" encouraged him to attempt an escape with Rubberman, and was killed during the attempt.

Others

Bad Penny

Penny Dolmann, daughter of inventor Eric Dolmann, was a child who 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.

Charlie Peace

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 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 identify.

Janus Stark

A Victorian hero, born with rubber bones and who is a brilliant escapologist, and also solves crimes and fights evil.

Queen of the Seas

The Queen of the Seas is a reliable old ship.

Robot Archie

Robot Archie was a hero who was deactivated and served as a display in a cafe until Penny and Danny rescued and reactived him.

pinoffs

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. [ [http://www.comp.dit.ie/dgordon/Albion/AlbionOrigins.htm Albion Origins ] ]

Thunderbolt Jaxon

"Thunderbolt Jaxon", a "spinoff" 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 1401212573, 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 WWII 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 WWII expert) Garth Ennis, with art by New Zealand's Colin Wilson. Covers are by Garry Leach. A trade paperback was released in 2007, ISBN 1401213782, which contained some additional info on the original character.

Collections

A trade paperback collection of the six-issue miniseries was released in the US on December 13th, 2006 by WildStorm (ISBN 1-4012-0994-7). Titan Books published the UK edition a month later, on January 26th (ISBN 1-8457-6351-3).

References in pop culture

*This comic book has been spotted by eagle-eyed fans in the new Die Hard movie, "Live Free or Die Hard".Fact|date=May 2008

Notes

References

*comicbookdb|type=title|id=29|title="Albion"

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/[e-mail]/Albion Leah Moore and John Reppion's "Albion" page]
* [http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/u/uk.htm International Hero - A website devoted to British comics heroes.]
* [http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=36&t=003486 Andrew Sumner of IPC Media on "Albion"]
* [http://cwn.comicraft.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?column=crumpets&page=3 More detail about the IPC comics universe and the history of "Albion" from Andrew Sumner]
* [http://newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16046 Inside the DC-IPC Deal] , Newsarama, August 2, 2004
* [http://www.comp.dit.ie/dgordon/Albion/ In The Fifty-Pee Box: An ALBION Website ]
* [http://www.comp.dit.ie/dgordon/Albion/Annotations.html ALBION Annotations]

Interviews

* [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20041122/ai_n12819228 Andrew Sumner interview] , November 22, 2004, "The Independent"
* [http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=59696 Talking to Leah Moore and John Reppion] , Newsarama, February 16, 2006
* [http://eroomnala.livejournal.com/6438.html John Reppion] , February 23, 2006
* [http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/?p=1228 Leah Moore and John Reppion talk Albion] , Forbidden Planet, July 20, 2006
* [http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6407721.html?nid=2789 Leah Moore Brings Back the Brits] "Publishers Weekly", January 16, 2007
* [http://www.downthetubes.net/features/interviews/writers/moore_reppion070207.html Forever Albion] , John Freeman interviews Moore & Reppion, February 7, 2007
* [http://www.downthetubes.net/features/interviews/editors/andrew_sumner120207.html Albion Man] , John Freeman interviews Andrew Sumner, February 12, 2007
* [http://www.downthetubes.net/features/interviews/artists/shane_oakley170207.html Shane Oakley: Albion Artist] , John Freeman interviews Shane Oakley, February 23, 2007
* [http://podcasts.resonancefm.com/archives/773 Panel Borders: The work of Leah Moore and John Reppion part 1] , October 12, 2007
* [http://fractalmatter.com/main/?p=154 Leah Moore & John Reppion] , May 2, 2008

Reviews

* [http://living.scotsman.com/bookreviews/Superheroes-in-graphic-detail.3345624.jp Superheroes in graphic detail] , "The Scotsman", February 11, 2007
* [http://www.comicsbulletin.com/reviews/114618069682328.htm "Albion" #4] and [http://www.comicsbulletin.com/reviews/1148919787596.htm #5] , Comics Bulletin