League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Vol. 2 ) Summary and Reviews

League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Vol. 2 )
by Alan Moore, Kevin O'Neill

League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Vol. 2 )
List Price: $24.95
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions

Book Summary Information

Author: Alan Moore, Kevin O'Neill
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2003-12-01
ISBN: 1401201172
Number of pages: 224
Publisher: Wildstorm

Book Reviews of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Vol. 2 )

Book Review: The League of Extraordinary Gentlmen vs. Invaders from Mars
Summary: 4 Stars

"The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume 2" collects the six issues put out by Mr. Alan Moore & Mr. Kevin O'Neill. The great conceit that Moore and O'Neill came up with was to create a late 19th-century version of a group of superheroes based on literary creations from that time period (in many ways the opposite of the legendary "Watchmen" series). Back again are the core group: Allan Quatermain from H. Rider Haggard's "She," Captain Nemo from Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," Mina Murray from Bram Stoker's "Dracula," Edward Hyde from Robert Louis Stevenson's "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Hawley Griffin from H.G. Wells's "The Invisible Man." The works of Wells become a major factor in Volume 2 as two more of his science fiction novels are worked into the tale. The first is "The War of the Worlds," as the League is called upon to save England from the Martian tripods. The second plays a decisive role in saving the day, but I think that deserves to be a surprise for the reader.

Things do not work as well the second time around, partly because the novelty of the idea has worn off and also because the members of the League are not particularly well suited to dealing with invaders from Mars. That might explain why the soap opera elements are a bit more prominent this time around as Miss Mina becomes romantically entangled with one of the gentlemen and Hyde kicks Jekyll out of the picture. Actually Hyde becomes the most interesting character in this story, although you will need a strong stomach to read about how he deals with the group's traitor. For that matter, you should be forewarned that this trade paperback might look like a collection of comic books, but these are not for little kids. This is not as intense as "From Hell," but Moore's readers have long known that he only provides stories that have mature content. Even when Moore is not blazing new territory or reinventing the wheel in some interesting way, he is still worth reading.

The stories are still presented as if they were being published late in the Victorian era, with ads and articles that add to the general sense of fun. I liked the final words of the penultimate issue which disparages any one who fails "to purchase our concluding number" as being "a sissy, coward, or girl." Yet Moore and O'Neil lampoon the Victorian sensibilities of their characters as much as anything, and despite some major setbacks at the end of the saga, we are told that there is now an intermission before the stories continues again. As always, it will be interesting to see what literary works serve as additional inspiration for the next endeavor, although after the less than inspiring movie I suspect Oscar Wilde might be out of the equation (or should we expect Lady Bracknell?).

Comics & Graphic Novels Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde - A Fan's Guide
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Movie Novelization) ImageThe League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Movie Novelization)
by Kevin J. Anderson
Pocket Star; Published: 2003-07-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.49
Price in other shops: $6.99
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Widescreen Edition) ImageThe League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Widescreen Edition)
20th Century Fox; Release date: 2003-12-16; DVD
Best price: $5.98
Price in other shops: $14.98
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Vol. 2 ) ImageLeague of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Vol. 2 )
by Alan Moore, Kevin O'Neill
Wildstorm; Published: 2003-12-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.40
Price in other shops: $24.95
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1 ImageThe League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1
by Alan Moore
America's Best Comics; Published: 1999; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.00
Price in other shops: $14.99
Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde ImageDr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde
Release date: 2001-11-20; DVD
Best price: $149.95
Mary Reilly ImageMary Reilly
Sony; Release date: 2000-09-12; DVD
Best price: $3.75
Price in other shops: $9.95
Mary Reilly ImageMary Reilly
by Valerie Martin
Vintage; Published: 2001-04-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.86
Price in other shops: $13.95
Jekyll & Hyde - The Musical ImageJekyll & Hyde - The Musical
Release date: 2001-09-11; DVD
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops: $19.98
Jekyll & Hyde - The Musical (1997 Original Broadway Cast) ImageJekyll & Hyde - The Musical (1997 Original Broadway Cast)
Release date: 1997-07-15; Music CD
Best price: $9.45
Price in other shops: $18.98
Jekyll & Hyde - The Gothic Musical Thriller (1994 Concept Cast) ImageJekyll & Hyde - The Gothic Musical Thriller (1994 Concept Cast)
Release date: 1995-01-24; Music CD
Best price: $23.18
Price in other shops: $29.98
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
Batman: Arkham Asylum (15th Anniversary Edition) ImageBatman: Arkham Asylum (15th Anniversary Edition)
by Grant Morrison
DC Comics; Published: 2005-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.89
Price in other shops: $17.99
Swamp Thing Vol. 1: Saga of the Swamp Thing ImageSwamp Thing Vol. 1: Saga of the Swamp Thing
by Alan Moore
Vertigo; Published: 1998-02-23; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.73
Price in other shops: $19.99
Batman: Year One ImageBatman: Year One
by Frank Miller
DC Comics; Published: 2007-01-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.48
Price in other shops: $14.99
Batman: The Killing Joke ImageBatman: The Killing Joke
by Alan Moore, Brian Bolland
DC Comics; Published: 2008-03-19; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.25
Price in other shops: $17.99
From Hell ImageFrom Hell
by Alan Moore
Top Shelf Production; Published: 2000-02-23; Paperback; Book
Best price: $21.89
Price in other shops: $35.00
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns ImageBatman: The Dark Knight Returns
by Frank Miller
DC Comics; Published: 1997-05-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.67
Price in other shops: $14.99
V for Vendetta ImageV for Vendetta
by Alan Moore
Vertigo; Published: 2008-10-24; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.33
Price in other shops: $19.99
Watchmen ImageWatchmen
by Alan Moore
DC Comics; Published: 1995-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.00
Price in other shops: $19.99
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier ImageThe League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier
by Alan Moore
WildStorm; Published: 2008-11-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.50
Price in other shops: $19.99
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1 ImageThe League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1
by Alan Moore
America's Best Comics; Published: 1999; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.69
Price in other shops: $14.99