Volume Two -- Issue One
Written by Alan Moore, visuals by Kevin O'Neill. 2002, America's Best Comics.

In the first six-issue installment of this series two years ago, Mr.Moore established his fantastic version of late-nineteenth century London, populated by every major (and minor) character from that era's fictional works that he could muster up. The protaganists were Allan Quatermain, Captain Nemo, Doctor Jekyll (and, of course, Mister Hyde), the Invisible Man, and Mina Murray (from Dracula...think Winona Ryder). Summoned together by a mysterious government agent, this Victorian era Justice League was formed to do battle with various enemies of the crown, in a world whre the wild fancies of writers like Jules Verne and HG Wells were fact rather than fiction. It's a fantastic read, and it currently in the works as a big-budget Hollywood boffo production for the silver screen. It is, in effect, a tough act to follow. So how do they manage?

Pretty well. Not surprising, since the same creators are involved in the sequel. Moore and O'Neill work well together...the earliest I personally recall seeing them as a duet was an old, and wonderful, Green Lantern Corps tale called BRIEF LIVES. Forgive me if they've collaborated before that, and if they have, tell me where and I'll run out and buy it. But I digress. The new series begins on the red planet of Mars, with a collection of characters who may or may not be familiar (some are obvious...Burroughs' thinly-disguised John Carter, and the more obscure Lieutenant Gullivar and his flying carpet) squaring off against some decidedly nasty foes...terrible invaders referred to as 'molluscs', who are apparently not welcome on Mars. A vicious battle ensues, with potentially dire consequences. I don't want to spoil it too much, but suffice it to say the stage is set at the end for a...dare I say it? War of the Worlds.

The one potential drawback to this fast-paced opening issue is that it feels more like a prologue to the actual story than part of the story itself. Our Gentlemen friends don't make an appearance until the very end of the tale, and it's a cursory one at that. Still, that's a small complaint, as an Alan Moore prologue is worth more than most comic writers' epics. And Kevin O'Neill outdoes himself with the absolutely astounding visuals of war on the Martian landscape, featuring all manner of extraterrestrial beasties and exotic weaponry. It's a wonder to behold, and worth the price of the issue by itself.

The issue doesn't end there, however. There's a back-up feature (in the first series, it was a prose story titled ALLAN AND THE SUNDERED VEIL) featuring an Almanac of some of the more fantastic locales of the Victorian world. This issue's section begins with the British Isles, and is an absolute gem. Aside from showcasing the mind-boggling amounts of research Alan Moore must have done to complete this series...he's like a literary Tom Clancy in his thoroughness...the almanac also serves to offer up hints at possible future LOEG adventures, both involving the current group (there are several pointed references to the governments interest in Alice's Wonderland), and Leagues past (a seventeenth century incarnation led by Shakespeare's Prospero is quite delightedly detailed). And as with the previous series, half the fun is trying to see if you can spot all the multitudinous literary references dropping all around you. Don't feel bad if you can't...many of of the stories being alluded to are long-since out of print. Thankfully, help is at hand...check out Jess Nevins' site for some enlightenment on this and previous League adventures.

As I've already mentioned elsewhere on this site, my excitement over LOEG has gotten me voraciously reading Victorian era fiction, as fast as I can find it. And really, that's the best compliment I can think to pay to a piece of art like this. It entertained me, it informed me, and best of all...it made me desperately hungry for MORE.

Next issue, please.

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