Watchmen Blog and Journals

Graphic Novel Review: LOEG Black Dossier

Writer: Alan Moore

Artist: Kevin O'Neill

Publisher: America's Best Comics

Reviewed by Howard Lee More than Just Comics

Alan Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen has changed the way many fans of Victorian literature think about classic heroes like Allan Quatermaine, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Capt. Nemo, Mina Harker from Dracula, and The Invisible Man.

 The first two books were such a hit that they spawned a movie version starring Sean Connery as Allan Quatermaine. Now Alan Moore is back with the third book in the series called "Black Dossier" This third book moves the story into the Cold War of Britain of the late 50's where a youthful looking Allan Quatermaine and a now blond Mina Harker are looking for the Black Dossier that contains the secrets about the League that the government wants to keep from them

One of the secrets of interest to Allan and Mina and the government is the whereabouts of mysterious, sex changing, 3000 plus year old agent called "Orlando" who has disappeared taking government secrets with him/her.  Trying to stop Allan and Mina from getting the Black Dossier is legendary detective Hugo "Bulldog" Drummond, his god-daughter Miss Night,  and a young MI5 agent with the boring name of "James Bond".

 The story opens with Mina being picked up in a bar by James Bond the very lustful James takes Mina to the London Museum to try to seduce her, but she knocks him out with a brick in her purse. Then with Allan's help they find the Black Dossier now they are on the run from Bulldog Drummond who has severely punished Bond for losing the Black Dossier and both Allan and Mina who he was supposed to have captured.

Now armed with the Black Dossier, Allan and Mina begins to read the Black Dossier with the amazing story of Orlando. His/her story begins 3000 years ago in ancient Greece. Orlando is the son of Oedipus and was cursed by the gods to become a woman at different time in his/her life. During his/her life he/she came across a magical pool that once he/she bathed in that pool he/she became immortal

 While reading Orlando's life in the Black Dossier it give Allan and Mina clues as to the whereabouts of Orlando and why what he/she knew could bring down the government if it was ever made public. Using the clues Allan and Mina goes on a strange tour of Britain that made even both of them wonder if the story of Orlando was true or something made up by a deranged mind. But one thing was certain Drummond and Bond was not far behind them waiting for them to make a mistake and fall into their hands.

 Finally in a small sea town on the south coast of Britain they find the mysterious Orlando living with a very strange group of people who are not thrilled about having Allan and Mina coming to their little village.  In the village Allan and Mina talks to Orlando about the contents of the Black Dossier. Is his/her story true or just an elaborate fantasy? To answer that Orlando takes them to a part of the village that makes answering those questions easier.  Meanwhile Drummond and Bond arrive at the village and find that Allan and Mina has completely disappeared where have they gone and where is Orlando and the Black Dossier?  To find that out you have to read The Black Dossier.

 The third installment of LOEG Alan Moore story takes a dark and definitely more adult tone than usual. The Black Dossier is not for children eyes and maybe for some adults. I was impressed by making Allan Quatermaine younger he is better matched with Mina then he was in the previous books. Mina as a blond well she as always been sexy, but in this story she is up to a ten. Like in past LOEG Alan Moore's use of contemporary heroes are everywhere and are weaved effortless into a believable story.

 Fans of Hugo "Bulldog" Drummond would be impressed even if you don't know who he is like in his own series Hugo "Bulldog" Drummond is relentless in his pursuit of the Black Dossier and Allan and Mina. For James Bond fans this can be an untold early story about the now master British spy. Allan Moore's Bond is not very different from the Ian Fleming's Bond in the books he is clever, ruthless, conniving and a womanizer who looks out for himself. This is one of his first assignment and gives you look at what he will eventually comes. As for his womanizing his treatment of Mina and Miss Night leaves much to be desired. As for his relationship with Hugo Drummond let's just say it's a killer.

 Now for some of the adults parts of the Black Dossier, when Mina reads the book you are reading it with her. Using this device twist Alan Moore pulls you into the story because you read along with Mina the secrets of the Black Dossier to help you find the mysterious Orlando. Alan weaves sections of Fanny Hill into the story as to clues about Orlando

 Then there is the erotically charged and drawn story of Orlando that graphically tells the 3000 year old odyssey with a lot of his/her lovers. Then there are the hot and heavy sex scenes of Allan and Mina through out the book. But the most unusual part of the book is a comic insert known to collectors of comic erotica as a Tijuana bible or 8 pagers, they where published underground artwork that started in the 1930's and showed comic book characters or movie stars in sex scenes. Alan Moore's Tijuana bible is a take off of George Orwell's 1984 called Porno Sec "Sex Jane" this fits in so well with the Black Dossier I am surprised Alan didn't make it a larger part of the book.

 Kevin O'Neill artwork seem so perfect for the Black Dossier his 1950's style line drawings for the main story with strikingly detailed backgrounds blended very well with Alan's storyline. For the Orlando's story O'Neill creates a comic within a comic called "Trump" to tell the story of the immortal Orlando. In his 1984 Tijuana bible O'Neill is so close to recreating the style that I thought maybe he had a few Tijuana bibles hiding somewhere. If not him I know Allan might, I know from personal experience that Alan is a fan of underground art [Read my blog on this later]. But by far the real gem of this book is when Allan and Mina are taken into another dimension by Orlando and everything changes into a dream world like that of Windsor McCay's Little Nemo in Slumberland. If you never seen any them they are fantastic. But if never Little Nemo in Slumberland don't worry O'Neill does a beautiful job. The artwork is made more striking because it's in 3-D. Yes that's right there is a set of 3-D glasses in Black Dossier. I have not seen a 3-D comic since the 90's. But given the story in the Black Dossier it all just fits so well. So if you are a fan of LOEG or just want to read a good story with enough twist and turns to keep you re-reading to find the hidden clues Alan Moore is known for then get a copy of The Black Dossier.

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