This genre comic’s in a league of its own

In this age of comic book movies, few writers in the genre have proved as adept as Alan Moore at crafting stories that made their way from the printed page to the big screen. Moore is the creative force behind several such projects, among them, “Swamp Thing,’’ “From Hell,’’ “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen,’’ “V for Vendetta,’’ and “Watchmen.’’ Moore likes to work on each book with a different artist, giving each comic its own look. This first book of a projected trilogy begins a new adventure for the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and is set in 1910 London with the nation preparing for the coronation of King George V. Working in the tradition of science fiction writer Philip Jose Farmer, Moore and artist Kevin O’Neill tell the story of a revolving team of Victorian superheroes comprised of literary characters, sort of a Victorian Fantastic Four. The group continues to operate in an effort to ward off supernatural and real world enemies. Working for British intelligence under the auspices of Mycroft Holmes, the current League of Extraordinary Gentlemen includes Allan Quatermain (“King Solomon’s Mines’’), Mina Murray (“Dracula’’), gentlemen thief A.J. Raffles (a Victorian foil for Sherlock Holmes), ghost hunter Carnacki, and a Jack Heath, who may be Jack the Ripper returned. Other, sporadic members of the League include Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Captain Nemo, and Tom Sawyer. In this installment, the group has to find the “Moonstone’’ child, whose effect on history is uncertain, while pursuing an enemy who is trapped in London but not bound by the constraints of time.