Identify the members of the League and the books they come from. Who are the writers of these works and what kind of literature seems to be the main source of inspiration for the comic?
The members of the League include Captain Nemo (Prince Dakkar), The Invisible Man (Hawley Griffin), The Honourable Mr. Edward Hyde, and Allan Quatermain. The team was reportedly gathered by its leader, Wilhelmina Murray. Captain Nemo was the character that was apparently developed in a novel written by Jules Verne and entitled Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. As could be deduced, the original literary work was categorized as a science fiction and adventure novel.
Another member, the Invisible Man, was a character who originated from another science fiction novel, this time written by H.G. Wells with the same title: The Invisible Man (CBS Interactive). The Honourable Mr. (Edward) Hyde, the third character, was also developed from a novel written by Robert Louis Stevenson, entitled The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde. This was also classified as a science fiction with horror and thriller elements.
Likewise, a major character, Allan Quatermain, apparently assisted the team leader, Wilhelmina Murray in recruiting team members. This character was identified in the original novel entitled King Solomon’s Mines, written by H. Rider Haggard. The literary word was classified as an adventure fiction and Allan Quartermain was portrayed as an exemplary hunter and a prolific adventurer.
Wilhelmina Murray, was a character which apparently originated from Dracula by Bram Stroker (CBS Interactive). She was noted to be the team leader and was instrumental in selecting the members who would fulfill the identified mission. The original literary work was classified as horror and fictional novel.
Discuss the time period in British history depicted. Describe the plot of the graphic novel.
The time frame for the story’s setting was disclosed to be upon the closing of the Victorian Era and on the verge of the upcoming 20th century. As such, it was expressly emphasized that “it is a time of great change and an age of stagnation, a period of chaste order and ignoble chaos. It is an era in need of champions. In this amazingly imaginative tale, literary figures from throughout time and various bodies of work are brought together to face any and all threats to Britain” (DC Comics 1).
Describe the plot of the graphic novel.
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was reportedly written as a novel by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill . The historical overview apparently evolved in the late 19th century and the plot focused on the pursuit of a certain machine, called the Cavorite, by the British Secret Intelligence Service’s (M16). The Cavorite was reported to have the power to defy gravity; therefore, falling into the wrong hands would evidently wreak havoc in the lives of mankind. Thus, the M16 sought the service of Wilhelmina Murray to gather extraordinary men with distinctly extraordinary powers and skills with the objective of finding and retrieving Cavorite from the enemies. The enemies of the League were identified to be Fu Manchu, who was actually another character who was earlier introduced in another novel entitled The Mystery of Dr. Fu Manchu and was reported to have been written by Sax Rohmer . Finally, another enemy identified in the League was James Moriarty, allegedly noted to be the archenemy of Sherlock Holmes .
What makes this a "postmodern" work?
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen could be considered a genre that belongs to the postmodern era since it perfectly embodies the definition of features or traits of postmodernism, which include the following descriptive characteristics: rejection of autonomy or individualism and focus on collectivism. This was perfectly evident in the collection of characters who became members of the League. As noted above, the characters came from previous literary works or novels, which apparently share similar genres: science fiction novels, adventure, or even horror, suspense, and thriller categories.
Likewise, literary works within the postmodernism category was noted to exemplify diversity and a collaboration of previous works; which could be an integral backdrop to the mystical and suspense facets. For those readers of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, it would therefore be helpful to have some overview or theoretical knowledge of the past novels where the different characters originated. Knowledge of these individual characters would assist in enlightening the audience’s understanding for the rationale of their collaboration as selected members of the League.
Thus, the merging of literary contents, which could be the subject, characters, and other elements most exemplify why this literary work is considered postmodern work. As evident, the collage of distinct and extraordinary characters exhibited and personified by the members of the League makes the literary work a product of past literatures through the various novels where they were featured as individual characters with distinct and unique powers and skills. As such, the novels where they originated existed showcased uniquely the embodiment of their character in a story; yet, their contribution and collaboration as a group also effectively generated a creative and innovative narrative discourse which could have stood in itself – should these separate characters have been primarily designed in the current novel.
And in your opinion, is it "literature"?
Finally, one is convinced that the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is indeed a literature, since it satisfies the definition of literature, as follows: “works of the creative imagination, including works of poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction” . As the writer have effectively designed the plot, characters, and the unified product to serve the interests of the audience who love a good story about science-fiction, adventure-thriller, and suspense-action genres, it definitely satisfied the features and traits of a literary work. After having concocted a plot that required the skills of a collaborative team, the creativity and imaginative work applied by the writer/s indicates that the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen would remain within the midst of contemporary and future readers.
In sum, the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, though created through a collaboration of characters from past novels, proved to be successful in enticing audience appeal in the genres of science fiction, adventure-thriller, and suspense-action categories. The members of the League have been presented to have been famous characters in previously written novels. Thus, their collaborative effort as a team made it possible for the literary work to be a successful written endeavor, which aptly satisfied the postmodernism works, through the various facets, components, features, and merging of characterization in the League. Although these characters have been deemed successful in their respective previous novels, their gathering to work as a group created an innovative and thrilling literature which made these characters even more famous and appealing even in contemporary times.
Works Cited
CBS Interactive. "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." 2013. comicvine.com. http://www.comicvine.com/league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen/4060-40396/. 15 July 2013.
DC Comics. "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol. 1." 2012. vertigocomics.com. http://www.vertigocomics.com/graphic-novels/the-league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen-vol-1. 15 July 2013.
Goldberg, Leslie. "Alan Moore's 'League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' Gets Put Pilot Order at Fox." 9 July 2013. hollywoodreporter.com. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/alan-moores-league-extraordinary-gentlemen-fox-582372. 15 July 2013.
Keep, Christopher, Tim McLaughlin and Robin Parmar. "Defining Postmodernism." 2000. elab.eserver.org. http://elab.eserver.org/hfl0242.html. 15 July 2013.
Lombardi, Esther. "Literature." 2013. About.com Classic Literature. http://classiclit.about.com/od/literaryterms/g/aa_whatisliter.htm. 15 July 2013.
