Top 10

Title: Top 10

Author: Alan Moore; Gene Ha; Zander Cannon

Publisher: America's Best Comics 2001

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 208

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

Written by Alan Moore; Art by Gene Ha and Zander Cannon This is the tale of Neopolis, a modern metropolis with a citizenry made up exclusively of super beings. In a city where everyone is blessed with powers, it takes a unique and powerful police force to protect and serve. In this Eisner Award-winning book, we are introduced to the extremely diverse officers of Precinct Ten; an armored and talking dog, a genetically engineered "perfect woman," a high tech cowboy, an indestructible man, and a rookie with a toy box full of "helpers." Individually they are unique personalities, together they are Neopolis' finest.

So this is no Watchman, but I was still intrigued by the premise and execution. In general, I really enjoy Moore's writing and this wasn't the exception. Unfortunately, the storyline just didn't completely hold my attention. I wasn't excited to flip to the next page. I finished the volume, but definitely not his finest work...

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century 1910

Title: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century 1910

Author: Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill

Publisher: Top Shelf 2009

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 80

Rating:  3 /5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel; Support Your Local Library

How I Got It: Library Loan

The new volume detailing the exploits of Miss Wilhelmina Murray and her extraordinary colleagues, Century is a 240-page epic spanning almost a hundred years. Divided into three 80-page chapters - each a self-contained narrative to avoid frustrating cliff-hanger delays between episodes - this monumental tale takes place in three distinct eras, building to an apocalyptic conclusion occurring in our own, current, twenty-first century. Chapter one is set against the backdrop of London, 1910, twelve years after the failed Martian invasion and nine years since England put a man upon the moon. In the bowels of the British Museum, Carnacki the ghost-finder is plagued by visions of a shadowy occult order who are attempting to create something called a Moonchild, while on London's dockside the most notorious serial murderer of the previous century has returned to carry on his grisly trade. Working for Mycroft Holmes' British Intelligence alongside a rejuvenated Allan Quartermain, the reformed thief Anthony Raffles and the eternal warrior Orlando, Miss Murray is drawn into a brutal opera acted out upon the waterfront by players that include the furiously angry Pirate Jenny and the charismatic butcher known as Mac the Knife.

I admit absolute disappointment in this slim comic.  I had such high hopes after my enjoyment of Volume 1 and 2 of LXG.  Unfortunately, this one felt completely disjointed to me.  I didn't connect to any of the characters.  I had trouble to following the storyline.  I found the singing to be an interesting, yet ultimately distracting, storytelling device.  I don't think I will be attempting to find the other two Century volumes.

Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

Title: Watchmen

Author: Alan Moore

Publisher: DC Comics 1995

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 416

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; April Read-a-Thon; Page to Screen

Another graphic novel... or is this a trade paperback?  Okay all you geeky people, feel free to correct me.   I saw the movie before I read the book, but I really did want to read the book.

The novel: Different characters narrate different chapters.  This gives a greater insight to those who tend to be one dimensional on screen.  For example, Dr. Manhattan seems like a tool until I read chapter IV: Watchmaker.  Moore lets us see the conflicts inside Jon even when others don't understand.  We actually get a sense of seeing all of time as one.  Brilliant!  My favorite quote:

Perhaps the world is not made.  Perhaps nothing is made.  Perhaps it simply is, has been will always be there... A clock without a craftsman.

Beyond the characters, I loved the inclusion of excerpts from Hollis' book.  The movie mentions it, and we see much of the past through flashbacks, but I loved hearing him telling it.  We see the rise and fall of the superheroes along with the rise and fall of the country.  It makes so much more sense with the bit of history.

The movie: I watched the movie right after it came out, but decided to watch it again after reading the novel.  The rewatch affirmed that I really did like the movie.  I just understand it a bit more after reading the novel.  The visuals are stunning.  I loved the colors, the music (it's in the book, but in quotes), the costumes.  Seeing everything come to life in a slightly nonrealistic way was a highlight.  Overall I think Zak Snyder did a good job bringing Watchmen to life.

V for Vendetta by Alan Moore

Title: V for Vendetta

Author: Alan Moore and David Lloyd

Publisher: Vertigo 1995

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 286

Rating: Graphic Novel  5 / 5 stars - Movie  5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; April Read-a-Thon; Page to Screen

I really liked the movie when it came out, but never got around to reading the graphic novel.  To be fair, I've only really been interested in reading graphic novels and comics for a few months (again, I blame J).  So I picked the novel up from the library to acquaint myself with V, Evey, and the new world.  The graphic novel is better than the movie in plot and character development.  The movie doesn't focus as much on the characters, especially the side characters.  The novel really gave them life, a story, a journey.  Also, the twists and turns in the plot make more sense in the graphic novel.  The movie attempts to show things more in chronological order instead of in an order that makes more sense to the overall story but not necessarily in chronological order.  I don't mind authors messes with order as long as it makes sense for the story.

All that being said, I really do enjoy the movie.  It adds the music (both literally and in a more poetic sense) and the atmosphere to the story.  I really like seeing the action takes places, the fluid movements of V, the changing facial expressions of Evey (Natalie Portman is amazing!).  My favorite part of the movie has to be the finale.  To see the train take off, the eventual explosion, and the masses revolting in one scene was breathtaking.  Definitely one of the better graphic novel to movie transitions that I've seen.  Thoroughly enjoyed both!

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore

Title: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Black Dossier) 

Author: Alan Moore

Genre: Graphic Novel

Rating: Vol. 1 4/ 5 stars, Vol. 2 4/5 stars Black Dossier 2/5 stars

Movie Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Page to Screen; Support Your Local Library; Steampunk

I picked these three volumes up from the library.  A group of literary heroes/villains brought together until shadowy circumstances to "aid" England against threats, what better idea?  I was intrigued.  J convinced me to read them.  He said I would like them.  And I did.  Each character not quite a hero even with their actions.  The art was amazing. If you ever read it, make sure to really look at each panel, especially the backgrounds.  There's a lot of details drawn into the background.  While the dialogue was good and plot interesting, I really liked finding the surprises in the backgrounds.  And of course, I really enjoyed the allusions to other literary characters and historical events.

Volume one consisted mostly of setting up the universe and characters.  The storyline was intriguing though somewhat predictable.  Volume two was an interesting take on War of the Worlds.  I liked the Martian invasion and inclusion of Dr. Moreau and other shadowy secrets.  Unfortunately, the Black Dossier was a real let down.  Set in 1958, it attempted to pick up the continuation of the League but was much too confusing for me.  I only half-heartedly finished the volume.  It just really didn't grab my attention like the other two volumes.

A few years back I had seen the movie version of The Leagues of Extraordinary Gentlemen and was very disappointed.  I revisited the movie to see if it had grown on me.  Alas, it was as bad as I remembered.  Unfortunately, most of the characters fell flat. the plot boring and predictable, and the dialogue cheesy.  There were moments when the movie shined, but they were few and far between.  Of all the characters in the movie, I thought Mina Harker and Dorian Grey were the only interesting ones.  And even their story could have been expanded and more interesting.  The allusions to their history could have set up a much more complicated relationship.  Unfortunately the entire movie tried to play it safe and ended up being boring instead.  Not the worst movie I've ever seen, but definitely not one I am going to seek out to rewatch.