The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Vol. 2

Writer: Alan Moore
Artist: Kevin O'Neill

Right from the start, I was sure this one wasn't going anywhere and a read through (including the almanac) confirmed my gut reaction. Volume 2 of the league is a very different beast from the first. Because of the Martian Cutaway that opens the book, the main story line actually only covers five chapters as opposed to volume 1's six--thus doing away with the possibility of the simple structure of the previous volume. Instead of being neck deep in the major events taking place, the league is actually on the sidelines just trying to survive. With Wells' Martian Invasion forming the framework for the events of this volume, it's no surprise that Moore decided to focus on character interactions rather than large scale set pieces. Don't get me wrong, those are here too, but the battles that punctuated the first volume's main storylines are represented in the second by the Martian Cutaway--in other words, the climactic battle is played out at the beginning leaving the end to conclude with a whimper (a sneeze?).

It is in this second volume that Moore and O'Neill start solidifying the core of the league--laying the foundation for future volumes. At the heart of the book is team leader Mina Murray and it is her interactions that provide the focal points of the story: her relationships with Hyde and Quatermain, and the consequences of Griffin's actions towards her. Unlike the first volume where missions were peppered with interpersonal interactions, the second volume reads like interpersonal interactions peppered with missions. The all encompassing nature of the larger story gave Moore the room to tease out what he thought important about the team. Of course those answers may not have been satisfactory to every reader.

Likewise, O'Neill's art is extremely well polished in this volume and his story telling ability has improved. With that complement has to come recognition of the fantastic coloring job that Ben Dimagmaliw did on this volume. His nuance and use of multiple palettes for various locations made an intense impact and helped give O'Neill's work a clean, finished look.

Unfortunately, volume 2 falls apart a bit near the end, where Moore's habit of writing one draft of a work, as the work is serialized, reveals its flaws. To Moore's credit, it is a rare occurrence when this flaw rears its ugly head, but it certainly does so here. In addition, the last chapter makes clear the focus of this volume and the detriment that had to certain aspects from volume 1. The prime example of this is Nemo: while all the other characters receive some sort of character development--far in excess of the previous volume--Nemo is maintained at the same level of character development, meaning he receives very little focus here. The ending brings this to the forefront with Nemo's departure. It is so sudden and uncharacteristic that it feels shoehorned in--like Moore planned it in advance and then found he didn't have the time to set it up.

So, despite the improvements and the interesting developments that take place in volume 2 of the league, it's difficult to recommend this volume any more or less than the first volume. Be aware, however, this volume is very different and an indicator of the tone and focus to come. Personally, I found it extremely enjoyable (almanac and all), but your mileage may vary.

Status: Bookshelf