I picked up the new League book at the comic-con this year, and made it one of the first things I read when I got back. I was excited for this, as I just got done reading the Black Dossier only a few months ago. Now, for those of you that haven’t read the Black Dossier, know that it’s hard to get through. I admit there was even a section in it that I skipped based purely on not understanding it. But I would still recommend reading the Black Dossier before reading Century. Because some of the secrets revealed in it make up some of the surroundings of this book. Which I will tell henceforth!
Spoiler Alert!
The story itself takes place after Quatermain becomes Quatermain Jr. with no explanation, ruining one of the mysteries of the Black Dossier. Next, the League line up has Orlando as a member with hints that he is also a she. But again no explanation. So I think just to avoid some questions one might have, if you hadn’t read the Black Dossier, you might as well just read it. Its quite good.
Century, is a three volume series, 72 pages each. Apparently it’s scheduled to be released annually, so don’t expect to get the whole story for about two more years. Just like every other League book, Alan Moore does the writing, and Kevin O’neill does the art work.
This chapter, 1910, is titled “What Keeps Mankind Alive?” The story begins with a new member named Carnacki who was a fictional supernatural detective, having a dream of bad omens to come. The story then follows one aspect of his dream. Captain Nemo’s daughter runs away from the Nautilus as Captain Nemo, now an old man, lies in his deathbed. The other side of the story follows the League trying to decode the dream because it deals with, “The Earth being plunged into a strange and terrible new aeon.”
Both sides of this story are quite enjoyable, one half is told mostly through depiction and (strangely) singing. telling how Janni (Captain Nemo’s daughter.) tries to get out from under her fathers shadow. Fleeing into the city, and being forced into a horrible job, where she is constantly beaten, and raped. I won’t tell you how it ends, but it somehow gets better from there.
The other side of the story takes place simultaneously in the same city. Both are tied together by a vigilante killer whom is about to be executed. It is laced throughout with brutality to at least the same degree as the other League books. From the fabled blade Excalibur cutting men in half, to a man lovingly getting raped by a pirate, it is clear to me that Alan Moore has a sick mind.
Since this is only the first chapter of the book it’s hard to compare it against all the other league books just yet. It obviously doesn’t tell a complete story, but is just getting one started. I liked it though, especially the supernatural aspects, and I anticipate the release of the next book.
It didn’t seem quite as rich as some of the other books in the aspect of literary references, but in its defense this could be because I didn’t get them. Alan Moore does seem to be a little smarter than most people, so it’s not entirely unlikely. One complaint that I almost have, is that it didn’t seem like Mina and Quatermain were in it enough, doing clever enough things. But it was still really good in my opinion.
If you are a fan of the supplemental material Alan Moore puts in his books, this one has some doozies. For example one that I thought was funny was an ad for “Page Woodcock’s Pills” There is also the first part that is a mask for a science fiction short story. That fills in some tiny gaps between this book, until a little past the Black Dossier. It wasn’t nearly my favorite Alan Moore backup story, but I do think he is a wonderful writer.
If you’ve read the other League Of Extraordinary Gentelmen books I would pick this one up. It’s a steal at the cover price of $7.95 I would give it a try. If you haven’t read the other books yet I would pick them all up, they are some of the best comic books ever made.