Writer: Alan Moore
Artist: Kevin O'Neill
The League of Extraordinary Gentelmen is Moore's and O'Neill's spoof on the superhero team genre, incorporating characters of Victorian era literature. The League consists of Mina Murray (Dracula), Allan Quartermain (King Solomon's Mines), Hawley Griffin (The Invisible Man), Henry Jeckyll/Edward Hyde and Captain Nemo (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea). My review of Volume I can be found here.
Volume II draws heavily from the works of H.G. Wells. The overarching plot is based on War of the Worlds. In addition to Griffin, Dr. Moreau plays a vital role in the story.
The fun of The League is in waiting to see who will pop up next, what other literary references will find their way into the story. Many of the allusions are obvious, others more subtle. The League lodges at an inn called "The Bleak House," for instance. Just as with Volume I, the story whets my appetite for the source material as much as for The League story itself.
Definitely for adults only: depictions of brutal violence between league members as well as a nude sex scene with Mina and Allan.
I have a feeling that Madame Vastra, Jenny, and Strax are subtle shout-outs to this series.
ReplyDeleteNow there's an interesting idea! I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to find out that Stephen Moffat is an Alan Moore fan.
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