emmarj's review against another edition
1.0
This did not work for me. I did not like the art style. I found the story sprawling and confusing, I could barely follow it. I didn't even like the FONT used. A complete and utter miss for me.
mrclintdavis's review against another edition
Just way too grim for me at that point in my life and where the world was sitting (2021). I also didn't like the art style at all, which made it tough for me to differentiate characters and locations. Impressive piece of work though for sure.
sortabadass's review against another edition
4.0
This is Moore's classic and exhaustively-researched (at least for comics) tome on Jack the Ripper.
First off, I think the art is great. I read a complaint referring to it as "chicken scratch" and bemoaning the lack of any grayscale shading. I actually think that Campbell's art is perfectly paired with the subject matter. This is a depiction of part of London's history, so it makes sense that the art would resemble pen-and-ink newspaper drawings. While the grayscale cell shading is immensely popular in Manga-styled comics, I think it would be inappropriate for this very Western work. I also think that Campbell's loose, fine lines go well with the convoluted, nuanced trails of the plot. A more traditional comic book artist would be too clean for this dark, messy history.
I'm not terribly interested in the Jack the Ripper story outside of From Hell, so I have no idea if Moore's research is actually as impressive as it seems to me. The story seems plausible and founded in some version of reality, and that's good enough for me. Some of the chapters are drowning in so much detail that it washes over the trail of clues (the architecture chapter... guh).
First off, I think the art is great. I read a complaint referring to it as "chicken scratch" and bemoaning the lack of any grayscale shading. I actually think that Campbell's art is perfectly paired with the subject matter. This is a depiction of part of London's history, so it makes sense that the art would resemble pen-and-ink newspaper drawings. While the grayscale cell shading is immensely popular in Manga-styled comics, I think it would be inappropriate for this very Western work. I also think that Campbell's loose, fine lines go well with the convoluted, nuanced trails of the plot. A more traditional comic book artist would be too clean for this dark, messy history.
I'm not terribly interested in the Jack the Ripper story outside of From Hell, so I have no idea if Moore's research is actually as impressive as it seems to me. The story seems plausible and founded in some version of reality, and that's good enough for me. Some of the chapters are drowning in so much detail that it washes over the trail of clues (the architecture chapter... guh).
beatsbybeard's review against another edition
5.0
Exceedingly creepy graphic novel that presents a studied and convincing theory of the Whitechapel murders of 1888, a.k.a. the Jack the Ripper killings. Royal scandals, blackmail, coverups, and the occult comprise the story and its vivid characters, juxtaposed with minimalist, black-and-white panels and expressionistic scrawls. The lengthy appendices at the back of the book provide sources for each scene within the sixteen-part narrative, as well as a zoomed-out look at "Ripperology" and its history. This book was absolutely captivating.
amyodell's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.25
rachelreadthis's review against another edition
3.0
Pros: Fun story. Amazingly detailed. Thank goodness for the appendix.
Cons: Maybe *too* much detail? Thank goodness for the appendix! Text too small. Pace a little uneven and slow for my liking.
Wish I'd liked it more and I don't see myself picking it up again, but still worth a read if you're a Ripper, Victorian, or Moore enthusiast.
Cons: Maybe *too* much detail? Thank goodness for the appendix! Text too small. Pace a little uneven and slow for my liking.
Wish I'd liked it more and I don't see myself picking it up again, but still worth a read if you're a Ripper, Victorian, or Moore enthusiast.
thepunktheory's review against another edition
4.0
Full book vs. movie review on my blog!
Alan Moore didn't just come up with the story for this on a whim. He based most of it on meticulous research and at the end of the graphic novel you get a detailed list of sources. In fact, you get a list of just about each panel in the comic and the source that inspired it. That's a whole other level of dedication!
While I enjoyed the idea behind From Hell, I did have some problems with the execution. The whole thing is in black and white. On one hand, I like it as it underlines the somber atmosphere but on the other hand, it made it pretty difficult to actually see what's going on. From time to time I actually had a little trouble following the story as I couldn't figure out right away who the characters in the panels were supposed to be. That got on my nerves pretty quickly.
Honestly, I think the only reason I was able to make sense of the story was that I had seen the movie some years ago.
Furthermore, this one is pretty long. So unless you are interested in Jack the Ripper (and made already read some books on the matter to help make sense of this) I am not sure I would recommend it. Although I found From Hell very interesting, it took me a while to finish it and did drag on at times.
Alan Moore didn't just come up with the story for this on a whim. He based most of it on meticulous research and at the end of the graphic novel you get a detailed list of sources. In fact, you get a list of just about each panel in the comic and the source that inspired it. That's a whole other level of dedication!
While I enjoyed the idea behind From Hell, I did have some problems with the execution. The whole thing is in black and white. On one hand, I like it as it underlines the somber atmosphere but on the other hand, it made it pretty difficult to actually see what's going on. From time to time I actually had a little trouble following the story as I couldn't figure out right away who the characters in the panels were supposed to be. That got on my nerves pretty quickly.
Honestly, I think the only reason I was able to make sense of the story was that I had seen the movie some years ago.
Furthermore, this one is pretty long. So unless you are interested in Jack the Ripper (and made already read some books on the matter to help make sense of this) I am not sure I would recommend it. Although I found From Hell very interesting, it took me a while to finish it and did drag on at times.
mznomer's review against another edition
5.0
The story of Jack the Ripper (and all the conspiracy and speculation surrounding it) is fascinating. I read the appendix along with the graphic novel itself (I'd read a few pages, then flip to the back). It was not a very effecient way to read, but the clarification of what was pure fiction, what was commonly acknowledged fact, and what was rumor based on rumor based on a snippet of truth, was almost more interesting than the main story itself. Of course the latter couldn't exist without the former.
roenfoe's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
As someone who greatly enjoyed V for Vendetta and Watchmen, I knew I would eventually read From Hell. I went into it almost completely blind, unaware that it was an examination of the Jack the Ripper mythos. From Hell is easily the most well-thought-out comic I have ever read, and is certainly better written and researched than many regular history books. Moore balances an absurd dedication to historical fact and detail with invented elements (such as supernatural architecture and hallucination) that establish From Hell as a wholly unique work of Jack the Ripper fiction.
While I often found the art style muddy, ugly, and difficult to read, it reflects the time and place in which the story occurs. It was appropriately filthy, irreverent, and dark.
Intriguing themes abound; power, class dynamics, the occult, and female sexual liberation and slavery.
From Hell wasn't perfect; at times it was a slog. At the end of each chapter I would spend an equal amount of time reading footnotes about mundane street names and obscure tertiary characters. Overall, though, it remained extremely compelling. I'll be thinking about it for a long time.
While I often found the art style muddy, ugly, and difficult to read, it reflects the time and place in which the story occurs. It was appropriately filthy, irreverent, and dark.
Intriguing themes abound; power, class dynamics, the occult, and female sexual liberation and slavery.
Spoiler
The time travel/premonition (?) aspect of Dr. Gull's story was a shock to the system; especially his commentary on the "hell" that a modern person inhabits. We would consider "his" world to be horrible and not worth living in... while he finds our white collar wage slavery even more repulsive.From Hell wasn't perfect; at times it was a slog. At the end of each chapter I would spend an equal amount of time reading footnotes about mundane street names and obscure tertiary characters. Overall, though, it remained extremely compelling. I'll be thinking about it for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/injury detail, Blood, Violence, Gore, Death, Murder, Medical trauma, Medical content, Sexual content, and Physical abuse
bodger's review against another edition
5.0
Extremely dark and disturbing. An excellent tale of a possible Jack the Ripper.