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A review by thewrittenword
From Hell by Alan Moore
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
An Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell tandem that tackles the infamous murders that terrorized Whitechapel in 1888, From Hell is an erratic, all over the place graphic novel that takes on True Crime and History with dashes of fiction depicting Victorian London in all its elegance and inequality. Published as a serial from 1989-1998 and published in book form in 1999 the comic is an intriguing glimpse at the Victorian era and its dark and sordid underbelly.
A tale of conspiracy, nobility, freemasons and the London underclass the comic posits the theory of upper class involvement in the brutal and sordid events and the eventual cover-up that transpired. Writing in his dense, intellectual and poetic trademark Moore narrates the complex series of events as Campbell's B&W illustrations render them with some appeal in stark simplicity and a li'l crudeness.
Perhaps overwhelmed with the reputation and the possibilities of the subject matter at hand Moore lost it. While definitely the foremost writer of the genre who I consider the "Bob Dylan of comics" Moore has the flaw of intellectuals in failing to restrain their verbal onslaughts. In a topic where brevity and directness are called for to deliver that nonstop and climactic punch Moore goes on endless and wearying digressions that utterly dilute whatever strengths come before or after such transgressions. I doubt if he was paid by the word but he sure wrote like it. Utterly unfortunate and the man's exercises in verbal diarrhea ruined any chance of a work that should have been among the best in the field. The appendixes at the end of the complete edition where Moore explains the process on the comic's creation and the history of Ripperology only add to the further slog of this unfortunate reading experience.
Made into a film starring Johnny Depp and regarded as one of Alan Moore's best works, From Hell shows the range and appeal of the comic format and is one fans of History, True Crime and Comics can appreciate. Flaws aside, in textual and visual form one can see with this tome the dark, complex and ominous nature of reality and man's capacity to emerge from its ruins and move on.
A tale of conspiracy, nobility, freemasons and the London underclass the comic posits the theory of upper class involvement in the brutal and sordid events and the eventual cover-up that transpired. Writing in his dense, intellectual and poetic trademark Moore narrates the complex series of events as Campbell's B&W illustrations render them with some appeal in stark simplicity and a li'l crudeness.
Perhaps overwhelmed with the reputation and the possibilities of the subject matter at hand Moore lost it. While definitely the foremost writer of the genre who I consider the "Bob Dylan of comics" Moore has the flaw of intellectuals in failing to restrain their verbal onslaughts. In a topic where brevity and directness are called for to deliver that nonstop and climactic punch Moore goes on endless and wearying digressions that utterly dilute whatever strengths come before or after such transgressions. I doubt if he was paid by the word but he sure wrote like it. Utterly unfortunate and the man's exercises in verbal diarrhea ruined any chance of a work that should have been among the best in the field. The appendixes at the end of the complete edition where Moore explains the process on the comic's creation and the history of Ripperology only add to the further slog of this unfortunate reading experience.
Made into a film starring Johnny Depp and regarded as one of Alan Moore's best works, From Hell shows the range and appeal of the comic format and is one fans of History, True Crime and Comics can appreciate. Flaws aside, in textual and visual form one can see with this tome the dark, complex and ominous nature of reality and man's capacity to emerge from its ruins and move on.