Top 10: The Forty-Niners

Brilliant.

Call him what you like, but there's no denying it; Alan Moore is brilliant. And in Top Ten: The Forty-Niners, he proves once again that he can grip a reader without the usual "big name" comic-book characters.

That's not to say that the characters in TT:TFN are completely original. In fact, that's a large part of the charm; finding and recognizing characters who can't be identified within the text by name for copyright/trademark reasons, but who are identifiable nonetheless. Look carefully, and you'll swear you see Kal-El, or possibly his father...as well as his earthly secret identity. You'll catch a glimpse of a certain Friendly Ghost, if you're sharp. Not to mention a well-known large-forearmed sailor man and his rather show more enormous nemesis.

I even spotted a rather ghoulish couple who frequently graced the pages of the New Yorker in days gone by, and were later adapted to television.

But that's just the frosting on the cake. The cake itself is a cracking good story; the story of a city after the end of World War II, a new city filled with the various super-powered and otherwise incredible characters who participated in the war (including to my amusement an analog of comic strip adviser Mary Worth).

I won't spoil the book for you. But the characters and plot are up to the usual high standards of Moore at his best. The art is also quite good, with a unique and memorable style that makes the search for familiar characters (on the second or third re-reading) a pleasure. This was a book that I didn't want to return to the library. And when I finished reading it, I wished there was more. show less

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

Alan Moore and Gene Ha return to Top 10 to fill in some of the backstory of Neopolis. Following World War II, the United States confines its "science heroes" to the city of Neopolis. Heroes accustomed to ruling the battlefield during the war, like Steve "Jetlad" Traynor and Leni "Sky Witch" Muller, must adjust to life as civilians, and figure out a use for their powers outside of a military setting.

It's a book about finding your purpose in peace. Steve and Leni find theirs, but many of their fellow veterans can't manage it. Leni joins the Neopolis Police Department; Steve becomes a mechanic for the Skysharks, an aerial squadron. Though, since he's the captain of the show more Neopolis P.D. by the time of the present-day Top 10 stories, we know he must join up eventually. The original run of Top 10 revealed at its very end that Steve was gay (which he seemingly kept on the downlow from his fellow officers), and his finding of purpose is as much a finding of himself, as he tries to force a relationship with Leni that neither of them really wants in order to deny part of his own nature.

I really liked Leni, too: a statuesque woman who initially fought on the wrong side during World War II, now trying to make good. Her subplot, like the original Top 10 books, blends superhero stories with police procedural in a way I found satisfying-- instead of the police vs. the mob, it's the police vs. organized vampires.

Gene Ha is always a strong artist, but this is probably one of his very best books, with great character, clear storytelling and emotion, and some beautiful scenes. Art Lyon's subdued coloring adds to the retro feel as well as to the book's morose, contemplative vibe as its characters find their places in a less colorful world than the one they knew during the war. show less

This is a prequel to Moore’s Top 10 books, about police work in a swarming city where EVERYBODY has superpowers. It’s a fascinating place to visit, and this book is no exception. Set in the early days, when Neopolis was just forming, this follows the formula of the other books: a plot line dealing with a mystery while throwing in a hefty dose of everyday life in an unusual city. This is kind of like what Hill Street would be like if everybody wore tights and the crooks shot lightning bolts and rayguns. The best part for me, as always, is how Moore uses Neopolis to toy around with the superhero genre’s clichés (such as it’s sexism, or it’s underage sidekicks) or to comment on social phenomena (such as the racism towards show more robots). And as always, Ha’s artwork is a delight to watch, full of winks and references to all sorts of popular culture. Here we also get the cute beginning of the love story between Wulf and Jetlad, tenderly told. show less

Moore pulls it off again. That retro feel with vampires and nazi's is really cool and makes me want to play City of Heroes again just so I can go sock it to some strigoi.

It was cool to get a glimpse of a budding Neopolis along with the toy maker guy and Traynor as a kid. I forgot he was gay and during the first half I was like, "Hey this german guys is hitting on him." Even though it was really subtle. Then I remembered and it all fell into place as Traynor's coming out story (to himself mostly).

I did feel like it was 2 short. Like the 2 plot lines should have been expanded upon. They were just too quick. But maybe that's the difference between reading the comics as they come out and reading the collection. Hard to write for both show more audiences.

But it was still very cool. I wonder if they'll be more of these? show less

still fun, but the least interesting part of the top 10 story written by moore. the overall story and characters are just less interesting, though the art is great

Of all Alan Moore's work for America's Best Comics (and indeed, perhaps of all Alan Moore work period) I think his Top 10 works the best. The art here is beautiful, and the story is very strong, with interesting characters and a plethora of Easter Eggs if one takes the time to look.

I came into this comic collection as a neophyte, having only read the back cover at a local comic store and the story just caught me and I am glad it did. “The Forty-Niners” by Alan Moore with art from Gene Ha is a great foray into the adventures, trials and tribulations of their later series “Top Ten.” The graphic novel is beautifully drawn, well written and packs a bit of punch. However, as is my problem with many comics, the story is a bit too short and I wish character development and plotting were more involved. Nevertheless, “The Forty-Niners” is a good introduction to Mr. Moore’s Neopolis universe.