kq5's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jackievr's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
weaselweader's review against another edition
4.0
Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill continue to pay tribute to Victorian adventure classics!
THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN, VOL 2, like its stellar predecessor, is a graphic novel and is most assuredly not a comic book intended for children. Rather it is solid proof that mainstream comic books can be combined with exciting, imaginative adventure and story-telling, illustrated with serious, skilled artwork that merits close examination in each and every panel aimed at serious adult readers with eclectic tastes in classic literature. THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN, VOL 2 is at once a pastiche and a tribute to the skills of an extraordinary, lengthy and almost bewildering list of adventure, mystery and horror writers of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
Moore's eclectic team of stalwart adventurers - Mina Harker of Bram Stoker's DRACULA fame; Edward Hyde, the brutal alter ego of Robert Louis Stevenson's gentler Dr Jekyll; H Merle Haggard's aging Allan Quartermain, the basis of modern Hollywood's INDIANA JONES; HG Wells' Hawley Griffin, better known as THE INVISIBLE MAN; and, finally, Captain Nemo, Jules Vernes' inscrutable captain of the fabulous Nautilus - defend the earth against an invasion from Mars.
Moore's borrowed cast of characters leaps off the page and into life under the skilled artistry of Kevin O'Neill. But alert readers will quickly discover that it doesn't end with this short list of main players and will delight in scavenging for even the most fleeting references to an almost endless list of literary luminaries - John Carter of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Mars series; his likely inspiration, Lieutenant Gullivar Jones; Alphonse Moreau; Rupert the Bear (honest!); Badger and Toad from THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS; Ishmael; Fu Manchu ... the list just goes on and on!
Be advised. Readers who consider themselves to be faint of heart should know that Kevin O'Neill has given himself full permission to display violence, fighting, bloodletting, death (and did I mention sex?) in the most graphic fashion. But this is far from a criticism, it is only a caution in the full understanding that some potential readers will simply not enjoy the degree to which O'Neill has visually let loose the free flow of blood, guts and unbridled sexuality. Thankfully, I am not on that list and can say that I enjoyed every single word and every single illustration immensely. I'm only sorry to realize that there are only two volumes left in the series which I will be purchasing just as soon as I finish this review.
Paul Weiss
THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN, VOL 2, like its stellar predecessor, is a graphic novel and is most assuredly not a comic book intended for children. Rather it is solid proof that mainstream comic books can be combined with exciting, imaginative adventure and story-telling, illustrated with serious, skilled artwork that merits close examination in each and every panel aimed at serious adult readers with eclectic tastes in classic literature. THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN, VOL 2 is at once a pastiche and a tribute to the skills of an extraordinary, lengthy and almost bewildering list of adventure, mystery and horror writers of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
Moore's eclectic team of stalwart adventurers - Mina Harker of Bram Stoker's DRACULA fame; Edward Hyde, the brutal alter ego of Robert Louis Stevenson's gentler Dr Jekyll; H Merle Haggard's aging Allan Quartermain, the basis of modern Hollywood's INDIANA JONES; HG Wells' Hawley Griffin, better known as THE INVISIBLE MAN; and, finally, Captain Nemo, Jules Vernes' inscrutable captain of the fabulous Nautilus - defend the earth against an invasion from Mars.
Moore's borrowed cast of characters leaps off the page and into life under the skilled artistry of Kevin O'Neill. But alert readers will quickly discover that it doesn't end with this short list of main players and will delight in scavenging for even the most fleeting references to an almost endless list of literary luminaries - John Carter of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Mars series; his likely inspiration, Lieutenant Gullivar Jones; Alphonse Moreau; Rupert the Bear (honest!); Badger and Toad from THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS; Ishmael; Fu Manchu ... the list just goes on and on!
Be advised. Readers who consider themselves to be faint of heart should know that Kevin O'Neill has given himself full permission to display violence, fighting, bloodletting, death (and did I mention sex?) in the most graphic fashion. But this is far from a criticism, it is only a caution in the full understanding that some potential readers will simply not enjoy the degree to which O'Neill has visually let loose the free flow of blood, guts and unbridled sexuality. Thankfully, I am not on that list and can say that I enjoyed every single word and every single illustration immensely. I'm only sorry to realize that there are only two volumes left in the series which I will be purchasing just as soon as I finish this review.
Paul Weiss
gohawks's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the deepening relationships between the characters in this one, but the alien crisis was just kind of annoying. Sad to see some of the characters go, but at least Moore is not too precious with his creations. It's also somewhat satisfying to know he won't try to bring them back like other comics.
tikitoka's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bgabriela2023's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
antkneeomonster's review against another edition
5.0
Not much to be said, other than this is some of the finest work from both Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill - which should speak volumes about the quality.
rol's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
La segunda entrega de "La Liga" es incluso mejor que la primera, a la que suma complejidad, notablemente en los personajes de Mina Harker y Allan Quatermain, ligados sentimentalmente. La amenaza extraterrestre de la parte del cómic se resuelve con la misma brillantez que encontramos en el cómic de la primera parte; dibujos excelentes y un guión ágil e imaginativo, a veces hasta emotivo.
La parte novelizada es un extraordinario almanaque de viajes por rutas, lugares, personas y criaturas que, no sólo da una vuelta al mundo imaginativo de la novela decimonónica sino que, además, suma los diarios de distintos personajes de épocas distintas, con lo que el conjunto se enriquece y se pone en perspectiva a sí mismo y a las partes recién leídas del cómic, que leemos en presente sabiendo, por diferentes fragmentos del almanaque, que ya han quedado atrás.
Muy expectante con lo que pueda ofrecerme la tercera parte, con una "Liga" que habrá que reconstituir parcialmente.
La parte novelizada es un extraordinario almanaque de viajes por rutas, lugares, personas y criaturas que, no sólo da una vuelta al mundo imaginativo de la novela decimonónica sino que, además, suma los diarios de distintos personajes de épocas distintas, con lo que el conjunto se enriquece y se pone en perspectiva a sí mismo y a las partes recién leídas del cómic, que leemos en presente sabiendo, por diferentes fragmentos del almanaque, que ya han quedado atrás.
Muy expectante con lo que pueda ofrecerme la tercera parte, con una "Liga" que habrá que reconstituir parcialmente.
pickett22's review against another edition
3.0
Wow. Uhm. Yeah, so what to say here. This is one of those things that I sort of loved but will never, ever recommend to anyone. Ever. Moreso even than Game of Thrones. I actually really liked it, but... wow. It had these great bits in it where Hyde only listens to Mina, and they have this lovely moment, and I was like AWWWW. And even the part where Griffin attacks Mina was so heartbreaking and awful but wonderful because you knew Hyde was going to come back and save her. But then when Hyde did exact his revenge, I was like "yup, didn't see that coming." Guys...he raped Griffin to death and then threatened to kill Nemo and the other guy if they told Mina. I was like...
And then he lied about it to Mina so she wouldn't be upset! And the worst part of it all was I caught myself thinking "Griffin had it coming, he raped all those girls at the school, and he terrorized Mina." This book is bad for your soul. If you see this book your response should be:
There was so much cartoon nudity it wasn't even funny! They had sex in the woods!
And then there wass Nemo running around declaring his outrage at everything, and NO ONE LISTENED!
And then there was Dr. Moreau with his hoards of hybrids:
Moore managed to dredge up the most immoral and terrible people in the history of English literature (seriously, these people make Nemo look like the chaplain at your local parish), put them all together, and added some aliens for fun. It ends how you imagine it would. It's awful.
And yet... there are these wonderful bits. There are moments of light. And even though they are quickly smothered by either sex or blood, there are moments of truth. Are they enough to redeem the comic? I don't know. Maybe not. Probably not, actually.
So in closing, I liked it but don't read it.
And then he lied about it to Mina so she wouldn't be upset! And the worst part of it all was I caught myself thinking "Griffin had it coming, he raped all those girls at the school, and he terrorized Mina." This book is bad for your soul. If you see this book your response should be:
There was so much cartoon nudity it wasn't even funny! They had sex in the woods!
And then there wass Nemo running around declaring his outrage at everything, and NO ONE LISTENED!
And then there was Dr. Moreau with his hoards of hybrids:
Moore managed to dredge up the most immoral and terrible people in the history of English literature (seriously, these people make Nemo look like the chaplain at your local parish), put them all together, and added some aliens for fun. It ends how you imagine it would. It's awful.
And yet... there are these wonderful bits. There are moments of light. And even though they are quickly smothered by either sex or blood, there are moments of truth. Are they enough to redeem the comic? I don't know. Maybe not. Probably not, actually.
So in closing, I liked it but don't read it.
wollsocke's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75