Monday, July 2, 2012

League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Century #3 '2009'

(Sorry to be running late with this review. I've been under the weather the past couple of days - your pal Chuck recommends drinking lots of water every day - stay away from Kidney Stones. Doing better now, thanks to the miracle of pharmaceuticals.)

This latest series in the adventures of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen has really lived up to the "Extraordinary" in the title. as it wraps up an adventure that started in 1910.

Dark forces have plotted the birth of the Anti-Christ, and a tragic loss back in 1969 left the LoEG team broken, split up and unable to function.

Now, in 2009, it's up to the immortal Orlando to bring the team back together and track down the impossible enemy.

This series has walked a bit of a tightrope, depicting popular characters from fiction, movies, TV and comics (among others) without outright violating copyright law. But this issue vaults over all that and uses some of the most famous fictional characters from modern times, including a certain boy wizard and the even more surprising character who confronts him.

It's audacious, it's dark, it's quite clever, and a must-read. (Though definitely not for kids.) Kudos to writer Alan Moore and artist Kevin O'Neill for continuing to live up to the incredibly high standards set by each previous issue.

Highly recommended!

Grade: A

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5 comments:

Kyle said...

I'll have to check this out... I think The Black Dossier was the last I read of the League. Didn't care for it as much once it left the 19th century.

I feel your pain with the kidney stones Chuck. I've had two. I'm amazed you were able to get your reviews out! I was barely able to get out of bed!

Chuck said...

Kyle, I also prefer the stories set in the past, but these have been good (though very dark).

I've had two kidney stones before this (maybe three), and I wasn't able to do anything until a visit to the emergency room and some proper drugs. Still a bit woozy, though.

Dwayne said...

Whaaaat? Alan Moore using other creator's characters without their permission? And he thinks he can complain about DC's Before Watchmen series because they're using his characters... which weren't even his original creations?

Chuck said...

Dwayne, you've hit the nail on the head. Moore's really playing with fire on this one - you have to wonder if J.K. Rowling's attorneys will be keen on his treatment of their billion-dollar asset.

Dwayne said...

They can't just let it go because it sets precedence. If they don't defend their trademark, then it weakens it in any future actions.

I just think Moore talks out of both side of his mouth about creative control - when he heavily depends on the works of others. Let's add Lost Girls to this list too.