The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Volumes 1 and 2
Written by Alan Moore
Art by Kevin O’Neill
I’ve chosen to review the two volumes together. Volume 1 has a cliff-hanger ending that leads directly on to Volume 2, as well dropping a number of clues of things to come. Both volumes also very much fit together as one story arc, charting the rise and fall of the late 19th Century League.
Firstly, abandon any preconceptions you may have of the League based upon the farcical movie of 2003 starring Sean Connery. The movie takes the central characters and concept of the comics - the League is a long established institution of "extraordinary" individuals who from time to time are gathered together by British Secret Intelligence to combat threats to the British Empire – but that’s about it. To judge these comics based on the movie would be like judging Batman based on the Batman & Robin movie.
For those of you who may not know, all the characters are creations of other authors who all exist in one single cohesive fictional universe, with the League in these two volumes comprising Mina Murray (Dracula), Allan Quartermain (King Solomon's Mines), Captain Nemo (20,000 Leagues Under The Sea), Hawley Griffin (The Invisible Man) and Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde.
Volume 1 spends some time opening with the recruitment of the team, before the purpose of their mission becomes known to them; to investigate the theft of the levitating metal Cavorite from British scientist Selwyn Cavor, who is planning a lunar expedition to mark the turn of the century. The trail leads through the squalor of Limehouse, to a mysterious Oriental “Devil Doctor” (an unnamed Fu Manchu, for copyright reasons), and to a threat more serious than any of the League could originally have imagined.
Volume 2 is set against the background of H G Wells’ War of the Worlds, opening with a lengthy prologue on Mars, before returning to more familiar territory, where the League begins to rapidly fracture. Mina and Allan are dispatched to Sussex to find a mysterious doctor with something essential to British efforts to repel the Martian invaders, while the remainder of the group deals with both internal treachery and assisting the military.
The League can be enjoyed simply as a “rousing and invigorating narrative”. The characters are sent on a series of well crafted adventures, against a series of worthy foes, and alliances are made and broken. As with any good ensemble piece, each of the characters has their part to play, and all have their chance to develop and expand from their literary origin.
However, there is much more to the League than straightforward action and adventure. Between them, Moore and O’Neill have shoehorned in a phenomenal number of references to other works of fiction, ranging from a 7 page cameo from Sherlock Holmes, to blink and you’ll miss them appearances from a myriad of characters, and even objects, from other fiction. Even being able to identify a handful of the references adds to the enjoyment, and shows how much effort and planning has been undertaken by the creators. To those who want to delve deeper into those references, I would certainly recommend Jess Nevins’ unofficial companion volumes “Heroes and Monsters” and “A Blazing World”, which detail the references, as well as containing contributions from both Moore and O’Neill.
Kevin O’Neill’s art is something that I struggle to define. It almost has a rough, sketchy look to it, but at the same time it’s very detailed. There’s a huge amount of background detail in most pages, whether it be the Devil Doctor’s lair, advancing Martian armies or panicked Londoners fleeing the city. It also conveys great subtlety, a scene in Volume 2 between Mina and Hyde being a particular favorite. There are several sections in both volumes without any text (or any English text) but filled with superb sequential artwork, a descent into the Martian canyons and a restless Mina roaming the corridors of an inn, further favorites.
To focus purely on the traditional comic section of the League is to omit half the material on offer. Each volume contains large prose sections; the penny dreadful “Allan and the Sundered Veil” in Volume 1, and “The New Traveler’s Almanac” in Volume 2. The Sundered Veil recounts an out of body experience of Allan’s; while the Almanac is a tour of the League’s fictional world.
These are, admittedly, dense reads, and often people pass them over. I must admit that I didn’t initially understand the Sundered Veil story as I was unfamiliar with a number of the references, and it’s rather metaphysical. There’s more humour in the Almanac (I’ll never quite think of Santa the same way) and it’s easier to follow. Both contain tantalizing references to future and past adventures of this League that will most likely never be seen in comic book form, as well as other Leagues (and equivalent leagues of foreign powers). Plus, Moore and O’Neill are clearly in no hurry to publish further volumes, so you may as well enjoy what you can.
And if that wasn’t enough, each volume has few miscellaneous items – a paint by numbers portrait of Dorian Gray, a somewhat improbable origami Nautilus, and best of all the “morally instructive” Game of Extraordinary Gentlemen! These don’t add anything to story, but do add to the overall sense of fun in the world of the League.
There’s really no one I would not recommend these to, but fans of the original source novels and the literature of the time in particular ought to enjoy the world of the League. So as proof of your loyal citizenship, I urge you to seek these out. God save the Queen!
Reviewed by The Web of Fear (Jonathan Miller)
and a huge thank you to Mr John Web of Miller for a most excellent review / reviews. if you like what you have read here join the forum to agree / or disagree, yes we will give you a choice.
