The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: a Victorian literary crossover
In London in 1898, during Queen Victoria's reign, agent Campion Bond receives a secret order. He must recruit a group of individuals with unique talents to create a covert operations unit. This initial alliance brings together Mina Murray, Allan Quatermain, Captain Nemo, Dr. Henry Jekyll, and the Invisible Man. Their primary objective is to investigate a wave of thefts of advanced technological artifacts that could destabilize world power. 🕵️♂️
A team of legends with a common enemy
The group's first mission, assigned by the British government, puts them on the trail of a threat seemingly orchestrated by the infamous Professor Moriarty. As they pursue this goal, the heroes must overcome their differences and learn to collaborate effectively. The dynamic between such disparate personalities, from a scientist with a monstrous alter ego to a technological pirate, adds a layer of complexity to the adventure.
Founding members of the League:- Mina Murray: A resilient figure with experience in the supernatural.
- Allan Quatermain: The legendary African hunter and explorer.
- Captain Nemo: The genius inventor who commands the submarine Nautilus.
- Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde: A scientist tormented by his powerful and violent transformation.
- Invisible Man: A character with the ability to be unseen, which generates friction.
The League proves that even the most extraordinary heroes can have trouble sharing a submarine, especially when one is invisible and another transforms into a giant monster.
Kevin O'Neill's angular and grotesque linework
The visual aspect of the series is entirely defined by Kevin O'Neill's art. His style is recognized by an angular line and an aesthetic that deliberately seeks the grotesque. Each panel is filled with a density of details and visual references that pay homage to other literary works from the period. This graphic approach, which shows the sordidness and complexity of the era, creates a stark contrast with Alan Moore's structured narrative, generating a unique atmosphere of grandeur and decadence. 🎨
Characteristics of the visual style:- Angular lines and deliberately grotesque compositions.
- Panels saturated with details and nods to other 19th-century works.
- Visual representation of the complexity and contrasts of the Victorian era.
Alan Moore's narrative and the shared universe
Alan Moore builds this story using characters that already belong to the public domain of classical literature. The plot functions as a piece of metafiction, where these protagonists interact in a world that also incorporates elements from novels by H.G. Wells, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Sax Rohmer. The series is not limited to a single adventure but evolves through several volumes, spanning different historical periods and genres, from Martian invasions to 20th-century dystopias.
This work expands a shared literary universe, demonstrating how iconic figures can coexist and face challenges that redefine their individual mythologies. The League is, in essence, a narrative experiment on the legacy of the characters and their ability to adapt to a collective story. 📚