That he has chosen not to slavishly recreate the genre preferences of his childhood is equally evident, and should be applauded as such. That Al Davison is a long-time comics fan is evident by the Batman costume his child protagonist is seen wearing. Secondly, The Spiral Cage is an important addition to the ranks of comic books that strive to break out of the conventions of genre and establish a beach-head of work with genuine human worth and relevance. The way in which those feelings are articulated, and the tremendously uplifting sense of optimism that they engender would be a tribute to the power of even the most seasoned comics professional, and doubly so to an artist whose first published work is represented by the book in your hands. I doubt I could read it without getting a very powerful sense of the protagonist’s situation and feelings. Firstly, as the expression of a personal vision and personal experiences, it is clearly a work of the first water. Let me elaborate upon that: To me, The Spiral Cage is an important work upon a couple of levels. In the course of those readings and re-readings I’ve come across a further pleasant revelation: not only does the art stand up perfectly without the exquisite colouring, but the storytelling and substance of The Spiral Cage is a match for either. One thing I didn’t get a chance to do during that first, necessarily hurried overview was to actually read the thing, something I have since remedied more than a few times. If anything, the black and white presentation demonstrated even more ably the strength of Al’s artwork, sturdy and sensitive even without the cosmetic benefits of colour to enhance it.

Such doubts however, vanished with my first glimpse of the volume in hand. It’s true that, dazzled by the iridescence of the first version I’d seen, I was somewhat apprehensive concerning the prospect of a monochrome interpretation.

I would dwell at length upon the delicate hues and the sophisticated colour sensibilities that marked every page, except that I wouldn’t want anyone to get the impression that the work in question is any the less successful for being in black and white. Dave Gibbons and myself, attending London’s Society of Strip Illustrators to talk about our experiences creating Watchmen, found ourselves talking to Al Davison and cooing over the hand-coloured version of The Spiral Cage that he was prevailed upon to show us.

The first time that I saw the work you are about to read, it was in colour. In Al's own words and pictures, this book movingly portrays his struggle to overcome 'disability' and the prejudice that surrounds it. Synopsis: Born with severe spina bifida, doctors considered Al Davison a hopeless case, condemned to the 'spiral cage' of his own DNA.

The Spiral Cage by Al Davison