The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1 Paperback – 1 Oct. 2002

The Justice League of America or Marvel's Avengers may seem like a cool bunch - but they're nothing compared to this band of notable Victorians, this group of old-school legends, this League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Assembled to retrieve the miracle substance Cavorite and help protect the Empire against the dastardly plans of Fu Manchu - all is not quite as it seems and an even greater threat is revealed.Alan Moore is well known for creating anti-heroes rather than squeaky clean super boyscouts and instead of a bunch of moralistic upstanding gents we get set of determined individuals who have been driven to success often through ruthlessness. The book starts with Wilhelmina Harker gathering the men who will form The League, and the gritty tone is assisted by a backdrop of murder and the fact that the invisible man also happens to be responsible for a series of `immaculate conceptions' at a monastery school. There's a reluctance from those approached to assist the British government, some feel disenfranchised, some don't quite see what's in it for them, and there's a general sense that they are simply a little too old now for such an adventure. The genius of the Moore is to pull together characters who don't really require any great level of backstory because they already exist within the era in separate works of fiction, this creates an alternate history where the great Explorer Quartermaine exists in the same world as Dracula and Captain Nemo, where Sherlock Holmes makes headlines and the monster Master Hyde terrorises the streets of London. He doesn't rely on what has come before though, he squeezes them into reality, what makes them so special is countered by the flaws of men and it all takes place in a time familiar but changed so that you accept anything.There's something gloriously romantic about the age; the fashion, the passion for technology and the spirit of adventure. The wonderful Steampunk elements shift modern technology into the Victorian age, it's subtly done though (unlike the film loosely based on this!) and Kevin O'Neill's artwork is incredibly detailed. The costumes are sumptuous and the backgrounds capture the foggy London streets and the brass levers of the vast Nautilus. The technology is retro-futuristic and is designed with the spirit of the age rather than shoe-horning modern artifacts into Victorian times. The story itself reads like an old-fashioned adventure, the end of each section (punctuating the end of the each individual comic which make up the volume) containing a write-up pastiche of what's coming next with great lines such as: "further scenes to divert and astonish, including episodes of a bawdy nature that our lady readers, being of a more delicate sensibility, may wish to avoid." ...which all adds to the fun.In a nutshell: A Victorian Steampunk yarn which celebrates well known characters and places the ensemble in an adventure together. It's a fictionalised world which works so well because all the individual elements are made to fit together and look as though they've always existed in the same stories. This is probably better appreciated by older audiences, some of the themes are more adult in nature. There is great re-read value here too because subsequent reads reveal things you weren't aware of the first time, and there are so many nods to other bits of Victoriana that I'll probably never notice them all!

Brought for my 12 year old daughter, who is made for graphic novels. She loved it. I looked it over when recieved and there are some sexy images of the female character, but nothing too 'graphic' for her age. She said the stories were great and she now wants the next book.

Great graphic novel, thoroughly enjoyed reading it.The story, characters and artwork are superb.Would definitely recommend, even if you don't like graphic novels.

If you have seen the film and think you know the story then you dont. The film was based on the characters and thats as far as the similarity goes. This book is far more riveting and a much better story all roundIf you dont buy another comic book/graphic novel get this one

ok

This book (series) is equal parts work of visual beauty, interesting story and characters, literary wheres Wally puzzle. Every time you re read you will love the attention to detial in the lovingly crafted art work, embrace the flawed characters a little more, and find some bizarre in joke.

Light years ahead of the film adaptation. I love this run!

As described and very quick delivery

Pros: Good story and a few extras worth reading.Con: Some of the text in the graphic novel requires a magnifying glass to read easily.

ESSA É A PRIMEIRA SAGA DA LIGA EXTRAORDINÁRIA ESCRITA POR ALAN MOORE. ELA APRESENTA HERÓIS E ANTI-HERÓIS CLÁSSICOS COMO HOMEM INVISÍVEL, JAKYLL AND HYDE, ALAN QUARTERMAIN E ATÉ 007. IMPERDÍVEL.

le livre est en tres bon etat, il n'y a pas de defaut apparent sur la couverture ou à l'interieur

La storia è avvincente. E la conosciamo tutti più o meno bene. Quello che colpisce è il disegno. Ricco, sofferto, ti obbliga ad assaporare ogni angolo della pagina. Ti soffermi, procedi, poi torni indietro. Quasi con il timore di non avere assorbito ogni linea, ogni colore. Bellissimo.

Die Liga der ausßergewöhnlichen Gentlemen musste ich für ein Studienseminar besorgen. Schon beim ersten Lesen war ich begeistert, aber nach der Besprechung und dem Lesen dreier Romane, die in der League aufgegriffen werden, bin ich ein wirklicher Fan. Sehr genial aufgearbeitet und eine Besprechung mit der zu Grunde liegenden Literatur eröffnet neue Perspektiven.