When I saw the "From the world of ALBION" tagline on the front cover of this comic, I approached the debut issue with some trepidation. I didn't read the entirety of that previous limited series, and I worried that I'd be lost trying to wade my way through a spinoff. I'm relieved to report that is not the case. The good news is that this reads well on its own as a separate super-hero origin/resurrection story. Unfortunately, the bad news is that this reads like a fairly typical super-hero origin/resurrection story. Gibbons's short essay in the back of the book indicates the title character is a previously established property, an obscure one but one with fairly traditional, old-school-comics roots. The writer manages to modernize the concept and offers some decent characterization and interpersonal dynamics, but I still came away from the book thinking this new comic was all too familiar.
Three friends make their way through a blinding rainstorm in the hopes that the ancient church they've stumbled upon might contain some kind of treasure to allow them to escape the dreariness and pain of their mundane lives. And treasure they do find, but the value of the pieces they discover isn't monetary. Jack opts to take a golden belt for himself while his two friends snatch up a cross and what appears to be a necklace, but the local bus schedule forces them to return home before they can decide what to do next. Jack faces some heart-wrenching circumstances at home, but he also discovers something wondrous and unexpected.
Higgins's achieves an appropriately dark tone; Gibbons's script is clearly exploring some morose territory, and the art reflects that nicely. Actually, Higgins's work here reminds me of Tom (The Spectre) Mandrake's style. The colors reinforce those darker leanings quite well, and I like how the golden shine of the magical objects uncovered slicely through the darkness. Speaking of which, the color effect used to bring the lightning bolt to life really drove home the intensity of the power as it erupts near the teen protagonists. Gibbons's cover design is commendable as well, not only for its simplicity but because of its consistency with the Albion covers, offering a visual connection to the other series.
My favorite part of the book is to be found in the opening pages, as we glimpse three old maids at a bus stop discussing the events that are about to unfold. Obviously, we're meant to see the Fates in these characters, but I also enjoyed how it elicited memories of the crones from Macbeth.
That's about where the book stops setting itself apart from other super-hero fare, though. I did like the idea of a trio of tragic friends, especially the cancer patient who refuses to just convalesce in his bedroom. But little in the plot itself grabbed me. As I delved further into the story, I felt as though I and the creators were just going through the motions. There's potential here, and it's possible Gibbons may tap into more successfully in subsequent issues. 5/10
