The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen | |
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Cover of Volume I
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Publication information | |
Publisher |
ABC/WildStorm/DC Comics (1999–2007) Top Shelf and Knockabout Comics (2009–present) |
Genre |
Alternate history Steampunk Metafiction |
Publication date(s) | 1999–present |
No. of issues | 15, plus one original graphic novel |
Main character(s) |
Mina Murray Allan Quatermain Hawley Griffin Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde Captain Nemo Orlando |
Creative team | |
Written by | Alan Moore |
Artist(s) | Kevin O'Neill |
Letterer(s) | Bill Oakley |
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is a comic book series co-created by writer Alan Moore and artist Kevin O'Neill which began in 1999. The series spans two six-issue limited series, Volume I, Volume II, and an original graphic novel Black Dossier from the America's Best Comics imprint of DC Comics, and a third volume and spin-off trilogy Nemo published by Top Shelf and Knockabout Comics. According to Moore, the concept behind the series was initially a "Justice League of Victorian England" but quickly grew into an opportunity to merge many works of fiction into one world.
Elements of Volume I were used in a loosely adapted feature film of the same name, released in 2003 and starring Sean Connery. The film opened at #2 at the box office but was met with negative responses from critics and had little resemblance to the comic book source, and resulted in Alan Moore's departure from involvement with Hollywood. A reboot was announced in May 2015.
The year is 1898, and Mina Murray is recruited by Campion Bond on behalf of British Intelligence and asked to assemble a league of other extraordinary individuals to protect the interests of the Empire: Captain Nemo, Allan Quatermain, Dr. Jekyll, and Hawley Griffin the Invisible Man. They help stop a gang-war between Fu Manchu and Professor Moriarty, nemesis of Sherlock Holmes. Following this they are involved in the events of H. G. Wells's The War of the Worlds. Two members of the League (Mina Murray and Allan Quatermain) achieve immortality, and are next seen in an adventure in 1958, which follows events that take place after the fall of the Big Brother government from Nineteen Eighty Four.