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connorrooke's review against another edition
3.0
I need to come back and reread this, with a notebook and pencil at hand. It's very well crafted, but a very large portion of it simply went over my head. I'll give it a month or two, and come back prepared.
aknglvsbl's review against another edition
3.0
The artwork style is very interesting and good. Found it difficult to get into as it had quite a slow start. Found it really hard to keep track of all the white men and which one was which, particularly when they used first or last names in difference scenes. Interesting to see the research and historical evidence that inspired this take of the Jack the Ripper legend, and also an interesting exposure of how insane and cult-like the Freemasons are
starcrossedstacks's review against another edition
1.0
This was my least favorite Alan Moore book I have read to date, and that is saying something.
The writing is preachy and pretentious, the amount of unessesary sexism is appalling, and the art and lettering is unbearable.
The writing is preachy and pretentious, the amount of unessesary sexism is appalling, and the art and lettering is unbearable.
vilena's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jmcook's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
badseedgirl's review against another edition
1.0
To say I was disappointed by From Hell by Alan Moore would be an understatement. This graphic novel was bloated and the dialogue was tortured to within an inch of its life. On top of that there was hardly a page out of the 576 that did not include a penis, vagina, buttocks, or breast, although to be honest the art in the novel was “sketchy” most of the time the only things I could identify were the naughty parts those were drawn in vibrant realism. I felt like I was reading the 1972 edition of The Joy of Sex by Alex Comfort I stumbled across in my Aunts house at one point.
Probably the most disappointing thing I have read all year.
1 of 5 stars
Probably the most disappointing thing I have read all year.
1 of 5 stars
cobhlaith's review against another edition
5.0
loved excitedly pointing, "Hey, I know that nineteenth century socialite!!"
I'm tired of the air of implied importance that comes along with reading a comic by Alan Moore, but I guess he's owed his due or whatever lol. A while ago I tried a read-through of all his comics, and after reading through the bulk of his 80s work I came out the other end loathing the conversations that won't stop happening about him. What ELSE do you expect after choking down some of the most misogynistic stories I had ever read; V? Trash. Miracleman? MiracleMID. Watchmen? Surface level as hell, but Gibbons kills it so I can't be too mean. The Killing Joke is a completely worthless and vile piece of writing that turned me off this career read-through immediately. Aaaawesome... a year after writing one of the most violently misogynistic comics ever created, he writes a Jack the Ripper story??!
Alan, despite himself, somehow steers his fetish for violence towards meaning here, casting William Gull (Jack the Ripper), as the damnable spirit of the patriarchy. An early chapter frames the violence to come as belonging to a long history of builders, a barely hidden river of filth running underneath the streets of London, serving as inspiration and eventual monument to the patriarchal violence Gull commits. Great care is made to lend weight to the victims of this violence, with the tough and desperate realities of the underclass in London given a life and love that turns the murders into the narratively horrifying and tragic acts that they truly are... I've read that Vigilante two parter so this is quite the progressive step from Moore!!!!!
This story was unimaginably lucky to be rendered by Eddie Campbell, whose sketchy impressionism and whimsical sensibilities keeps this story from being the horridly self-important affair a more traditional comics artists might have steered this script into being. The daily toil of survival sex work and desperate poverty in Whitechapel is depicted with a deft touch and deep empathy, and anchors the five victims as the emotional center through Campbell's wonderful character drama and dialogue pacing. Conversely, the villains of this story (the cops and the killer) are always kept at an emotional distance. The "camera" is kept at arms length, letting the cold professional detachment of the men who make a living off the murders that their bosses let happen lay bare. The closeness, the intimacy that helps us get to know Mary Kelly, Mary Nichols, Liz Stride, and Annie Chapman is gone once we're with Gull and the rest. Incredible, subtle work on display, I'm straight up gonna read Bacchus like right now after this.
Dense and capital-H Historic, From Hell filters the sensationalized serial killings through the filter of the century that came after it. The women who are remembered these days more as corpses are given a humanity that contextualizes the terrible violence as a true tragedy. Condemning the sensationalized culture that springs up around grisly murder, once it comes times to perform the act that we came to this book anticipating, it's disgusting. The crowds that form further the disgust. Hey... I think that's-a the point! Mama mia!!
I'm tired of the air of implied importance that comes along with reading a comic by Alan Moore, but I guess he's owed his due or whatever lol. A while ago I tried a read-through of all his comics, and after reading through the bulk of his 80s work I came out the other end loathing the conversations that won't stop happening about him. What ELSE do you expect after choking down some of the most misogynistic stories I had ever read; V? Trash. Miracleman? MiracleMID. Watchmen? Surface level as hell, but Gibbons kills it so I can't be too mean. The Killing Joke is a completely worthless and vile piece of writing that turned me off this career read-through immediately. Aaaawesome... a year after writing one of the most violently misogynistic comics ever created, he writes a Jack the Ripper story??!
Alan, despite himself, somehow steers his fetish for violence towards meaning here, casting William Gull (Jack the Ripper), as the damnable spirit of the patriarchy. An early chapter frames the violence to come as belonging to a long history of builders, a barely hidden river of filth running underneath the streets of London, serving as inspiration and eventual monument to the patriarchal violence Gull commits. Great care is made to lend weight to the victims of this violence, with the tough and desperate realities of the underclass in London given a life and love that turns the murders into the narratively horrifying and tragic acts that they truly are... I've read that Vigilante two parter so this is quite the progressive step from Moore!!!!!
This story was unimaginably lucky to be rendered by Eddie Campbell, whose sketchy impressionism and whimsical sensibilities keeps this story from being the horridly self-important affair a more traditional comics artists might have steered this script into being. The daily toil of survival sex work and desperate poverty in Whitechapel is depicted with a deft touch and deep empathy, and anchors the five victims as the emotional center through Campbell's wonderful character drama and dialogue pacing. Conversely, the villains of this story (the cops and the killer) are always kept at an emotional distance. The "camera" is kept at arms length, letting the cold professional detachment of the men who make a living off the murders that their bosses let happen lay bare. The closeness, the intimacy that helps us get to know Mary Kelly, Mary Nichols, Liz Stride, and Annie Chapman is gone once we're with Gull and the rest. Incredible, subtle work on display, I'm straight up gonna read Bacchus like right now after this.
Dense and capital-H Historic, From Hell filters the sensationalized serial killings through the filter of the century that came after it. The women who are remembered these days more as corpses are given a humanity that contextualizes the terrible violence as a true tragedy. Condemning the sensationalized culture that springs up around grisly murder, once it comes times to perform the act that we came to this book anticipating, it's disgusting. The crowds that form further the disgust. Hey... I think that's-a the point! Mama mia!!
bhall237's review against another edition
4.0
"But...
Isn't there "Bring
some other way? me
I'm sure these Doctor
women's Gull."
silence could
be bought if..."
The incredibly gifted Alan Moore is a devious and twisted individual. He is also a history aficionado in many facets of life. From history to comics to literature, American, British, or otherwise, Moore is one of the most well versed authors in the graphic novel field. From Hell tackles arguably the most infamous serial killer of all time, Jack the Ripper, and sets about not only giving him a set identity, but fully unraveling the plot to murder a collection of prostitutes before our very eyes. There's no mystery as to who's doing the killing, there's no mystery as to the motive behind the killings, everything is laid out plainly for us the readers to behold in all of it's twisted glory. This was honestly my favorite part of Moore's writing in my opinion. I enjoyed the characterizations of these historic individuals and with motives, thoughts, emotions, and everything in between for us to either connect with or revolt from.
The two biggest forms of criticism come in how first, there is a LOT of monologuing, especially from Dr. Gull. There is one chapter where Dr. Gull and Netley tour all of England it seems as Dr. Gull gives a history lesson on Free Masons. It was impressive in showcasing how knowledgable and educated Alan Moore is, but as entertainment, it was a bit of a drag. Secondly, the use of old English handwriting made certain pages appear as if I was suffering from vision loss, certain pages took much longer to comprehend and decipher than a bit of a more modern or standard font. Accurate and fundamental in selling the legitimacy of both time period and props to Moore, yes, absolutely. In execution, arguable to its integrity.
I greatly appreciated this work of fiction from Alan Moore, and I have taken somewhat of a dive into his other works. This might not be at the top, but it is very close to it.
Isn't there "Bring
some other way? me
I'm sure these Doctor
women's Gull."
silence could
be bought if..."
The incredibly gifted Alan Moore is a devious and twisted individual. He is also a history aficionado in many facets of life. From history to comics to literature, American, British, or otherwise, Moore is one of the most well versed authors in the graphic novel field. From Hell tackles arguably the most infamous serial killer of all time, Jack the Ripper, and sets about not only giving him a set identity, but fully unraveling the plot to murder a collection of prostitutes before our very eyes. There's no mystery as to who's doing the killing, there's no mystery as to the motive behind the killings, everything is laid out plainly for us the readers to behold in all of it's twisted glory. This was honestly my favorite part of Moore's writing in my opinion. I enjoyed the characterizations of these historic individuals and with motives, thoughts, emotions, and everything in between for us to either connect with or revolt from.
The two biggest forms of criticism come in how first, there is a LOT of monologuing, especially from Dr. Gull. There is one chapter where Dr. Gull and Netley tour all of England it seems as Dr. Gull gives a history lesson on Free Masons. It was impressive in showcasing how knowledgable and educated Alan Moore is, but as entertainment, it was a bit of a drag. Secondly, the use of old English handwriting made certain pages appear as if I was suffering from vision loss, certain pages took much longer to comprehend and decipher than a bit of a more modern or standard font. Accurate and fundamental in selling the legitimacy of both time period and props to Moore, yes, absolutely. In execution, arguable to its integrity.
I greatly appreciated this work of fiction from Alan Moore, and I have taken somewhat of a dive into his other works. This might not be at the top, but it is very close to it.
dlfletcher's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
scott204's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5