Nemo: Heart of Ice
Nemo: Heart of Ice
Written by Alan Moore
Art by Kevin O’Neill
Letters by Todd Klein
Colors by Ben Dimagmaliw
Color/56 pages/HC
$14.95
Published by Top Shelf
Get this. It’s literally about finding Nemo. Truly.
The man called Nemo might have saved the world from Martian tripods, but hero is hardly the word. Prince Dakkar’s brilliance for invention was eclipsed only by his cunning as a privateer. His legacy lies not in the mechanism of his magnificent submersible Nautilus, but in its crimson wake. As for his mortal dynasty, the old man was grieved only to have sired a daughter. At this news, he fled on an expedition to the underbelly of the globe. Rescued some time later, he left a doomed crew and much of his sanity on the colorless shores of Antarctica.
It is 1925. Dakkar is dead. Nemo, however, lives on, if reluctantly, in his daughter Janni. As with Mina Harker before her, steely, capable Janni seems caged in a role decided for her by a villainous man. These women persevere as the vampires and mad scientists who deem to define them as wards, lovers, ingenues, age and die. These Leagues of Extraordinary Gentlemen come and go while the women at their core refuse to be undone. That’s never been clearer than in this brief misadventure, a tale that returns the series to its roots in boys’ adventure serials and penny dreadfuls. Men of extreme scientific ambition–or is it vain audacity–race to their damnation in pursuit of African plunder and something more. That something more is the largely male fixation of legacy, of immortality through endeavor.
“We have a flaw, we striding figures of our age” writes Janni in her journals, “Our warmth to others wanes beneath the pack-ice of our legends. Foreigners to love, with vain agendas and remarkable devices, as remote from human feeling as that silent city’s buried architects.”
That silent city is a Lovecraftian ruin beneath the snow. Janni and her crew lead a team of futurists on a chase through the Antarctic, first by sea, then on high-speed tanks, and finally on foot. Their numbers dwindle quickly, perhaps too quickly for us to build very strong opinions of them. By the end, the furious pace of this 56-page story, O’Neill’s decidedly unnerving giant penguins, and some narrative tricks relating to occult PTSD the reader is just as jilted as Janni herself. Though Moore and O’Neill achieve a relentless pursuit through an unsettling environment, I can’t help but wish this roller coaster was more of a walking tour, both in terms of plot and visuals. O’Neill’s work is often exquisite, but some sequences fall short of their potential power, a bit slap-dash, more gestural than defined. Though this is a continuation of Janni’s story from the Century books, it’s difficult to view it as part of a cohesive whole. Were this entry as long as all three of these shorter works combined, then we might be on to something.
Compelling as Janni is, the men who surround her and pursue her simply don’t resonate so much as the former Nemo’s unseen ghost. That’s fine and may well be the point. But the decision to excise League of Extraordinary Gentlemen from the title seems appropriate. There are no Hydes or Invisible Men in this tale. This is a Nemo story. I only wish she had as captivating foils as Mina enjoyed. As expansive a journey too.
Story: 4 / Art: 4 / Overall: 4
(Out of 5 Stars)
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Story is solid. More straight forward than Century, which was what most people seemed to want. I’d completely agree with Paul that it’s a throwback to the first two volumes in that respect.
Kinda shocked at 3.5 out of 5 for the art to be honest. I thought it was up to Kev O’Neill’s regular standards. Are you just not that big a fan Paul?
Heh. You caught me before I finally settled on a 4. I was bouncing back and forth. I think there are moments of greatness, but there are a few reveals that seemed a little messier than I would’ve hoped. I don’t think it’s as strong as the older material.
Good to hear. I always welcome more LoEG books and hope Moore and O’Neill keep them coming.
Having taken a flick through the older LOEG I can see what you mean. Those first two series and The Black Dossier were some of O’Neill’s neater work. I’ve been reading him since he started Nemesis the Warlock so I suppose I’ve seen his more impressionistic work quite a bit often. I can see how you could be a bit disappointed. Personally it doesn’t bother me, he generally throws it in to emphasise movement, etc and I find it appealing when it’s done right. That said, horses for courses.
Still holding out for a Century trade… Hope it’s coming. Might get this one in the meantime though!
Should I hold out for a soft-cover?
It’s like 8 bucks on Amazon.
I just bought this on Kindle for $5.
I only read the the last century issue but I really enjoyed it.
Glad to hear this is a bit more straightforward and easier to read than those Century books
Man….those three books were a fucking nightmare to read. I still have no idea what the hell happened in them.
I’m not saying this in the ‘snobby Grant Morrison fan, you don’t get it because you’re stupid’ way, but try re-reading them. I followed the stories much better the second and third time through.
This one also probably benefits from a second reading. He plays with amnesia and repeated elements. It’s disorienting, but it’s designed to be.
I re-read the first 2 century books in anticipation of the 3rd and they were definitely better on that re-read. Well worth giving them another try.
Great review, felt similar with my read. I just posted my own review of the comic.
Sounds really interesting to me ! I’m getting this one