Alan Moore Books In Order

Publication Order of Albion Books

Publication Order of Crossed + 100 Books

Publication Order of Miracleman Books

Publication Order of Providence Books

Publication Order of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Books

Publication Order of Tom Strong Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Short Story Collections

Publication Order of Graphic Novels

Publication Order of Vampirella: The Dynamite Years Omnibus Books

Publication Order of The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Alan Moore is a widely renowned writer best known for his work on some of the best comic book titles and graphic novels in the industry.

+Biography

Even if you have never heard of Alan Moore, you have most likely come across some of his works, this including Watchmen and V for Vendetta. Moore was born in 1953 in Northampton, England.

Moore’s life was hardly an easy one. His father a brewery worker and his mother a printer, Moore lived in a neighborhood that lacked those basic facilities most people take for granted. As such, his childhood was one of poverty.

Moore’s grandmother played a critical role in his life. She was very religious and highly superstitious, and her influence on Alan Moore’s life was imminent because she lived with them.

Moore also took to reading at a very early age. By the age of five, he was borrowing books from the local library. The writer spent some time at Spring Lane Primary School before joining Northampton Primary school.

It was in Northampton that Alan Moore was introduced to a different class of people, one far different and better educated than those living in his neighborhood. Moore didn’t exactly cope well with this jarring change in his environment and his grades suffered, Moore transitioning from one of the best students in the class to a low grading one.

Eventually, Moore completely lost all interest in academics, instead disappearing into his love for literature. As such, it wasn’t a surprise when Moore began publishing in a number of fanzines in the 1960s, primarily working with poetry and essays.

At some point, Embryo, Alan Moore’s own Fanzine, was born. Even with his foray into the literary arena, Moore continued to live with his family, working odd jobs such as cleaning toilets

Moore’s wife, Phyllis, came into his life in 1971 and the two were married sometime after. The couple had two daughters, namely: Amber and Leah.

At some point, Moore began experimenting as a cartoonist, his work appearing in places like Sounds and NME, though he almost always used pseudonyms. Some of his most renowned work at the time included contributions made to Doctor Who Weekly and 2000 A.D. It was also around this time that he created popular series like The Ballad of Halo Jones.

Despite the smatterings of recognition he had begun to receive at this point, Moore didn’t really get his big break until he began writing for ‘Warrior’, an anthology magazine in Britain.

It was during this time that he created some of his most popular books and stories, this including V for Vendetta and Miracleman. His renown for these works was such that he eventually won the British Eagle for Best Comics Writer for some of his stories.

The American audience began embracing Alan Moore when he produced the Saga of the Swamp thing, a series he wrote specifically for an American audience. Alan Moore stood apart because of the unique styles and standards he introduced to comics.

Books like Watchmen redefined their genres and changed the comic book landscape, so much so that, by the 1980s, Moore was contributing to major titles like Batman and Superman.

Moore’s star didn’t last, though. Even with all the influence he had garnered in the industry, Moore kept disagreeing with mainstream comic book publishers, so much so that he had to seek out fringe publications to get his voice heard at a time when no one would hire him.

A number of Alan Moore’s works have been translated into movies, this including ‘From Hell’ in 2001, ‘The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen’ in 2003, ‘V for Vendetta’ in 2006 and ‘Watchmen’ in 2009.

+Watchmen

Watchmen is a Hugo Award-Winning graphic novel. In it, Alan Moore chronicles the downfall of a group of superheroes plagued with human failings. The book works to dissect a collection of superheroes who must find their identities in a world that no longer understands them even as an unknown assassin seeks to destroy them all.

To a lot of people, Watchmen is the greatest graphic novel that has ever been written. It might be Alan Moore’s greatest work. The book explores history through the lens of the superhero genre.

There is no real hero in the story and Moore doesn’t really work that hard to make any of the characters sympathetic. IN fact, it could be argued that Watchmen represents more of Alan Moore’s opinions on humanity than any other comic book or graphic novel.

Admittedly, the story was very much a product of its time. The social conflicts and political machinations of the time clearly influenced Moore’s work on this book. As such, it might not translate appropriately for those readers who were born long after that particular period of time.

A lot of readers, especially young readers, might miss the philosophical elements of this book. Luckily, Watchmen succeeds even as a superhero story, a comic book, one filled with action, a sprawling setting and convoluted yet intriguing concepts.

This is definitely one of the best graphic novels ever written.

+V for Vendetta

V for Vendetta is set in a futuristic England that has fallen to fascism. Alan Moore explores the suffocating existence of the populace even as they strive to survive under the boot of an authoritarian police state.

This chilling story of oppression and resistance vies for the top spot in Alan Moore’s bibliography. Considered by many to eclipse Watchmen, V for Vendetta isn’t nearly as heavy as its superhero counterpart.

Some people have described the graphic novel as pop art. And, indeed, it is beautiful, Moore using his unique visual style to represent the frailty of humanity. While the movie adaptation of the comic definitely did it justice, the V for Vendetta graphic novel brings a gravitas to the table that makes it worth exploring.

Admittedly, some people might fail to enjoy this Alan Moore story, primarily because it is a strong manifestation of Alan Moore’s Anarchist beliefs and philosophies. V for Vendetta is very political and it seeks to spread a very specific message.

There are people that have found this message so intolerable that it ruined their enjoyment of this story. That much cannot be helped because V for Vendetta definitely has some serious political undertones.