Top 10: Book 2

Access a version of the below that includes illustrations on my blog.

This book wraps up the original twelve-issue Top 10 series by Alan Moore, Gene Ha, and Zander Cannon, and it's just as good as the first volume. My favorite part was probably what happened in the battle between the ultra-mice infecting Dust Devil's mother's apartment and the atom cats brought in by an exterminator: I laughed so hard when it was revealed their battles had triggered an multiversal crisis.

It's not all jokes, though. There's a surprisingly moving issue about a hyperspatial traffic accident that results in a collision between a tourist from Rigel and a piece in a gigantic galactic game. The two are fused together and slowly die while a couple cops can't do show more anything but watch.

The various plot threads from Book 1 are pulled together pretty comprehensively here, as we discover what links many seemingly disparate events together, and Top 10 shows their stuff in a couple devastating battles. I enjoyed the ongoing subplot about Shock-Headed Pete's racism against robots, though I guess it's easy to laugh about racism in this kind of context, where it's devoid of repercussions.

I was a little on the fence for the first couple issues of Top 10, like I said, but once I reached the end of Book 2, I knew I wanted to keep up with the series through all its future incarnations: prequel The Forty-Niners, sequels Beyond the Farthest Precinct and Top 10: Season Two, and spin-off Smax. I like these characters and this concept, and I want to see what else can be done with them. show less

One of Alan Moore's best works. It's a wacky read that never goes completely off the rails. For example, a dog in a metal suit could have just been a one-off gag, but Moore develops the character and his relationships (both professional and romantic) masterfully.

While there is an overarching plot, Moore takes us on a number of detours that only add to the fun. The battle between the superpowered mice and cats and Ex-Verminator's consequent woes are probably my favorite scenes.

I thought the story developed a little too slowly, but once we get out of the opening scenes, things start rolling along nicely.

Gene Ha's artwork is incredibly detailed, and nearly every panel is filled with snarky details and references. His character drawings show more come across as a bit stiff, but it doesn't detract much from the visuals.

All in all, this is a graphic you'll be rereading numerous times. show less

The amazing series concludes, and Moore manages to stick the landing, which can be difficult, especially juggling as many plot threads and characters as he is in this series. I wish there were more issues of this series.

Superhero cops in a superhero filled city. Interesting characters, and I gather if you're more of a comic book historian there's a lot of hidden gems in the artwork. and stories. Sadly, I don't have that kind of background, but I found it enjoyable nonetheless and have already ordered the first volume to catch up.

This book continues the saga of Top Ten, a police precinct in Neopolis. Neopolis is a normal city, the citizens of which just happen to be super-heroes. All of them.

This is Moore at his best. It is joyful to see how he mixes normal police series plotlines with the super-hero perps and victims. All the different officers have their own powers, which come to good use on the day-to-day police work. A laugh-out-loud mix of Hill Street Blues and Supers. :)

The art is also top notch. The greatest pleasure for me was to see all the pop culture references in both the text and the art, especially the detailed backgrounds.

The best part of the book is the storyline of the ultramice (mice with super powers), continued from book one. Moore really has show more a blast with DC and Marvel with that one...

The only problem that I have with the Top Ten series is that it was too short-lived. More of this greatness, Moore! show less

Fluid dialogue, fully-fleshed characters, pathos, sublime violence, paper-thin subplots; all more than make up for the occasionally crap art. Smart but not smart-ass, intelligent but not intellectual, retro but not nostalgic. Plus, a hundred and one visual Easter eggs from comic book history.

The tale of the police force of Neopolis, the city of superheroes, continues, with sendups of classic comics as well as impressive levels of innovation. Moore shows us corruption and heroism, laughter and camaraderie. The first episode, The Overview, as particularly moving; not much gets me misty-eyed, but Moore does it even on the reread.