PopCultHQ received an advance review copy of the LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN Vol. 4: The Tempest from IDW Publishing. Available Wednesday, January 8th, the creative team for this trade paperback features writing from Alan Moore, art from Kevin O’Neill, colors by Ben Dimagmaliw, and lettering from Todd Klein.
Here’s PopCultHQ’s spoiler-free review of…
LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN Vol. 4: The Tempest HC
Writer: Alan Moore
Artist: Kevin O’Neill
Colorist: Ben Dimagmaliw
Letterer: Todd Klein
Cover Artist: Kevin O’Neill
Legendary swords clash atop the Paris Opera in 1913, while almost a century later a declining London witnesses assassination attempts, summit meetings in Haggerston Park, and the catastrophic return of a 1960s super-adventurer. Elsewhere, in the four-dimensional territories adjacent to the North Pole, a lost Shakespeare play sees its first and last performance, while Queen Gloriana’s conjurer finally reveals the nature of his 500-year-old game. Topping off an already heady mixture, this issue’s classic Seven Stars reprint depicts our halcyon heroes as “Captives of the Creepyverse,” another reason not to miss the unfolding of Moore and O’Neill’s fulgurant finale in issue four of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume IV: The Tempest.
PopCultHQ’s Comic Book Review:
LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN
Vol. 4: The Tempest
Writing: Alan Moore returns one final time to a comic that has become synonymous with excellence in storytelling and world-building. He wraps up the adventures of the League, pitting them against monsters and horrors the likes of which they have never encountered. Every page of The Tempest was chock-full of plot twists, excitement, and wonder. In the end, Alan left this reviewer feeling both satisfied and sad at the wrap-up of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. One of the greats of the industry has done it again.
Art: Kevin O’Neill has crafted something strange and wonderful with every collection of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen comics. His artwork is dynamite, and brings to life Alan’s scripts in a way that is both mind-boggling and amazing. Since the very beginning, he has transported readers to worlds beyond worlds – from Victorian-era London to the farthest reaches of space and time. Kevin is an artistic genius and this volume is no exception in that regard.
Colors: Ben Dimagmaliw returns alongside Moore and O’Neill for one last crack at a series that has been a part of pop culture for years. Ben’s color choices are superb as they have been in the past. Every single detail, from the large to the small, is captured in O’Neill’s artwork and given definition and depth by Ben’s coloring. Truly, Ben Dimagmaliw’s coloring is a sight to behold.
Letters: Todd Klein is a legend in the lettering business. And his work on League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is some of his best by far. Working with Alan, Kevin, and Ben, Todd gives voices to the group, their friends, enemies and everyone in-between. Voices that are unique, distinct, and all their own. And while he will no doubt continue on doing what he does best for many years to come, this is the finale of his collaboration with Moore and O’Neill, and it is sad to see it come to an end.
20 years ago, the comic book community was given a gift when Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill conceived League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and brought it into the world. Since then, readers have been taken on a wild journey, from the 1800’s to the 21st century. Along the way, we have seen a valiant band of comrades face some of the most perilous challenges of multiple generations: criminal masterminds, invasions from Mars, magic, otherworldly threats. And through it all, Alan and Kevin have been there, guiding them to this, the final installment in the League chronicles. It is sad to see it come to the end. But there is joy as well, because it means that people can go back and read these volumes again and again, and enjoy them whenever they want. The stories may have ended, but they will live on forever.
5 Out of 5 Stars
~~~~~
~~~~~
