League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century 2009 (spoilers)

[Steve-t]

Alan Moore is currently in my local comic shop (Gosh in London) signing this, but unfortunately I can't be there

But I have read the book and it's a tremendous read, really enjoyed it. And really enjoyed spotting all the background characters from recent British TV and literature.

The most interesting thing in here to me is that Alan Moore seems to think the Harry Potter saga and JK Rowling are every bit as important and lasting as Edgar Rice-Burroughs, HG Wells, Bram Stoker and Virginia Woolf. It really surprised me how much of it was in the story.

[Felt Martin]

I loved it too on first reading but will have to go back over it again to pick up all the references!

You're right though - loads of Harry Potter references which were obvious even to someone like me who has never read them.
I am surprised that Alan Moore rates them too although when I think about it I'm not sure why.

[Tom Scioli]

Super great and awesome in every way. Alan Moore just keeps getting better.

[Steve-t]

Oh, and Mary Poppins too! Amazing. What an appearance!

I guess she is sort of a god-like character in the film and book and LOEG Century 2009 confirms it.

[Tom Scioli]

Oh, and Mary Poppins too! Amazing. What an appearance!

I guess she is sort of a god-like character in the film and book and LOEG Century 2009 confirms it.

As a kid I assumed she was an angel, but making her god of a fictional childrens' story universe makes perfect sense.

[RickV]

The most interesting thing in here to me is that Alan Moore seems to think the Harry Potter saga and JK Rowling are every bit as important and lasting as Edgar Rice-Burroughs, HG Wells, Bram Stoker and Virginia Woolf. It really surprised me how much of it was in the story.

I don't find it surprising that series is responsible for reigniting a LARGE number of kids & people to start reading again.

Liked this one a lot probably most out of the Century volumes, interesting that it did say End of Volume Three, not The End.

More on the way?

[Tom Scioli]

The most interesting thing in here to me is that Alan Moore seems to think the Harry Potter saga and JK Rowling are every bit as important and lasting as Edgar Rice-Burroughs, HG Wells, Bram Stoker and Virginia Woolf. It really surprised me how much of it was in the story.

He makes it pretty clear in the story that he finds JK Rowling's work and the landscape of current fantasy fiction to be pretty bland.

[Steve-t]

Maybe I need to read it again, but what I took away from it was that he was having fun playing with all the familiar Potter elements and by the including them was putting them on the same level as all the other literary characters he has used through all the LOEG books. But then he did go ahead and violently destroy Rowlings world...

And I hope that the inclusion of "end of volume 3" means there is more, because I really got a lot out of this!

The first splash panel even includes 'Sid the Sexist' and 'Roger Mellie, Man on the Telly' from Viz magazine (not to be confused with Viz publishing). So many Easter Eggs...

[Tom Scioli]

Maybe I need to read it again, but what I took away from it was that he was having fun playing with all the familiar Potter elements and by the including them was putting them on the same level as all the other literary characters he has used through all the LOEG books. But then he did go ahead and violently destroy Rowlings world...

I think when Haddo/Crowley is talking about his disappointment with how boring Potter is, that's Alan's sentiments. It bears out in interviews, where he talks about how unimaginative the popular imagination has become.

[GLewis]

I think when Haddo/Crowley is talking about his disappointment with how boring Potter is, that's Alan's sentiments. It bears out in interviews, where he talks about how unimaginative the popular imagination has become.

I have a hard time believing that Moore would put Potter in his works, if he didn't find them to be of value. One of the things I thought, while reading this was that Mr. Moore was conflicted about Potter. Orlando even says he doesn't know what to think about it all. I've never read a Potter book, so I can't really guess any better that that.

I loved this volume. This is the series that never fails to entertain me and stay in my head for days if not weeks afterwards. In fact I find myself rereading or skimming almost all of the other volumes on a regular basis. I guarantee, that I'll be watching Mary Poppins within the week.

[Tom Scioli]

I have a hard time believing that Moore would put Potter in his works, if he didn't find them to be of value. One of the things I thought, while reading this was that Mr. Moore was conflicted about Potter. Orlando even says he doesn't know what to think about it all. I've never read a Potter book, so I can't really guess any better that that.

Moore has specifically stated his contempt for the character James Bond, yet he played a major role in the series as a whole. Of course you can find something to be of value even if you don't particularly like it.

[Tom Morris]

This series is about Pop Culture of the last 100 years.  It all matters.

[Steve-t]

Moore has specifically stated his contempt for the character James Bond, yet he played a major role in the series as a whole. Of course you can find something to be of value even if you don't particularly like it.

This series is about Pop Culture of the last 100 years.  It all matters.

And it all connects in the LOEG-verse. In the James Bond sequence alone there were appearances/mentions to why Bond keeps changing, UNIT and Torchwood from the Doctor Who-verse, The original UK Avengers, Rupert Bear (he sort of solved mysteries) and all of the Bonds and supporting characters. It is like a modern Bayeaux tapestry.

I know they are there to emphasise how they have shaped popular culture, but whatever Moore's opinion and why he choose these particular works to reference, it is also just plain fun spotting it all.

[Former Poet Laureate]

I thought this was wonderful, and I'm sure I missed half the references. The disappointment with the Potter character echoes my own...

making him the Anti-Christ was inspired!

[Julian Lytle]

He kills the whole game with MARY FUCKING POPPINS!!!

Like for I heard Julie Andrews in my head with Daniel Radcliff.

He's literally smashing folks in comics with this.

[Spooky]

He kills the whole game with MARY FUCKING POPPINS!!!

Like for I heard Julie Andrews in my head with Daniel Radcliff.

He's literally smashing folks in comics with this.

Let it be known, sun.

[Julian Lytle]

Let it be known, sun.

We got Spooky back! What it DOOOOOO!

[Steve-t]

You could republish all of the sources referenced in LOEG as "Before League of Extraordinary Gentleman" 

[Tom Morris]

This final issue seems to be not as inspired as part two was.  (1969 was a masterpiece for both Moore and O'Neil)

However the drabness does reflect our current times.  Personally I don't think of it as an attack on Harry Potter as much as Alan Moore is simply exploring more.  This is Harry Potter book 8.  Really when you think about it.  Harry should have gone mad with anger over being used as bait for Voldemort by Dumbledore.  Its basically what Prospero and Haddo had been doing to Mina.

I think also Moore wants to pay tribute to the BBC and American TV with this one.

Also love that he throws a punch at the terrible LXG movie. 

[Spooky]

This final issue seems to be not as inspired as part two was.  (1969 was a masterpiece for both Moore and O'Neil)

I agree. I found it to be not as lasting of an experience as the previous two Century books. 69 is the strongest out of them all, but then again that time is Moore's favorite playground in terms of themes, setting and so on.

Was I the only one that felt that this book seemed short, or even rushed?

I really like the parts in Hogwarts. That sequence is very well set and paced. The scenes with Allan are forgettable though, I think we needed to see another moment before the suicide attempt. Just one really great Moore moment of character depth that signifies his eternal struggle with addiction.

And the minor characters were another thing that came short in my opinion when you look at it in comparison to the previous issues. I know, there is the common interpretation around that it reflects Moore's view on the direness of creativity. And the moment with the Bonds reflects that very well, yet there is a certain obliviousness in this particular book. Our characters are so wrapped into their own problems and the possible ending of the world, that they don't see the...

Oh.

That is nice, if it was intended in that way. Haddo says to Minna, that she will bring the apocalypse in that one short scene during the fight. We see the freemasons, the red-eyed*, orwellian police everywhere and J. Nemo's hand in those conflicts around the world, but our characters just don't notice those occurences in their blues. They don't pay them no mind. And with Emma "M" Peel out of her position, who governs the british intelligence now?

I would interpret this as Moore's comment on the fact, that history starts repeats itself and the bad guys take over in those moments when we just seem to give up, like the League did, and that this Antichrist business was just a way to reassure us and them, like Harry Potter reassures their readers, that the worst did come and everything is better now.

That would explain why Prospero only needed the League to find the Hantichrist. Why Excalibur was in a toy box.
The worst is yet to come.