The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill serve up a unique and imaginative superhero action adventure as they team up famous (and infamous) characters from English literature to save England and her Queen. Set in Victorian England with a distinctive Steam Punk style mixing the era of discovery style science fiction with historical embellishment to create a grand alternative universe.

The story brings adventurer Allan Quartermain, Dr. Jeckll (and Mr. Hyde), Captain Nemo, H.G. Wells' Invisible Man and Mina Murray (a divorced Mina Harker from Dracula) together to foil villains both internal and from afar. Alan Moore's studious works are always thoroughly researched and he is able to give the improbable a feeling of being historical and also blend these misfits together with a certain charm. Moore has a real knack of describing English culture, politics and history with much intrigue but also keep it entertaining with a some clever wit. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is not as ambitious as the darker, From Hell, but no less important, and a lot more fun.

Kevin O'Neill's artwork reminds me of Eddie Campbell's work in From Hell especially with its flowing dark outlines, however it differs with its bright colours and movement. It suits the tone and brings out the outrageous steam punk elements which perfectly accompany the story.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is a grand re-imagining of classic science fiction, horror and adventure stories with an action packed plot. Pitting an unlikely and dysfunction team together to take on mastermind criminals and invaders who'd threaten England and Earth.