The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
This series is an absolute delight! Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill initially came up with the idea of creating a "Justice League of Victorian England" but instead took the concept into a really different direction.
Mina Harker, from Dracula, is charged with assembling a team of "extraordinary" individuals to safeguard the interests of the British Empire. In the first volume, she gathers Captain Nemo, Allan Quartermain, Dr. Jekyll, and Hawley Griffin (the Invisible Man) to battle Fu Manchu and Professor Moriarty.
Future volumes incorporated elements from The War of The Worlds, John Carter, Dr. Moreau, 1984, James Bond, Emma Peel, and so much more. Each volume has numerous in-jokes and references that require multiple re-readings.
While not for everyone, it is an incredible read, especially the original mini-series.
And, yes, I do have a weak spot for the movie!
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John Carter? Now you have my attention.
ReplyDeleteI'm not really in love with the movie, but I loved the original series. It was pretty great.
ReplyDeletei'm doing a reading challenge this year, sponsored by man of la books, that involves this graphic novel. it's been fun so far. i enjoyed your post about it.
ReplyDeleteAlan Moore probably hates me for this, but I enjoy the movie, and am less inclined to read the comics because of that fact. I like that the movie puts everything on Quatermain and uses the other characters in support of him. Otherwise I'm of the opinion that LXG can be viewed as a mash-up, maybe a very good literary mash-up, but a mash-up all the same.
ReplyDeleteIt IS a good movie, have to agree with that! I had a scroll down through your alphabet so far and had a giggle or two at some of the comic book covers... brought back so many memories. Nothing I liked better as a kid than a stack of new comic books.
ReplyDeleteWe just picked up volume 1 yesterday. Wife gets first crack at it.
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