Captain Nemo and Lumen set off to solve the mystery of who’s behind the attack on Lumen’s home in The Adventures of Lumen N. #2, written by James Robinson with art by Phil Hester, Marc Deering and Bill Crabtree. The issue opens a few hours after last issue’s ending, as Lumen still comes to grips with learning that Nemo is her grandfather. Aboard Nemo’s new vessel the AlloNautilus (which is shaped like a Manta Ray and looks so gloriously Steampunk on the inside and outside that Batman would be drooling with envy over it), the two set off to find the Nautilus, Nemo’s original vessel that was taken by Aeon. Aeon is Nemo’s son and Lumen’s father and he’s presumed dead, having been missing for months.
Captain Nemo gives Lumen some background information on Aeon (who she never really knew) and his own history as they head towards the Arctic Circle, where they’ll once again face the machinations of the mysterious villain whose reach extends across the entire world. If you love 19th century sci-fi literature like Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine or Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, then you’ll love this miniseries.
What’s so beautiful about 19th century sci-fi is that when Jules Verne and the other writers of that period sat down to write these tales, the world was still a place filled with infinite mystery and potential. Many places on Earth were yet to be explored. Who knows what would be discovered? This era’s stories mixed swashbuckling adventure, horror and philosophy masterfully, with nothing to shackle the writers’ imaginations.
Dark Horse
Though H.G. Wells is briefly referenced, this miniseries is all about Jules Verne and his work. This miniseries is a loving sequel to Verne’s books, continuing Captain Nemo’s story after 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Mysterious Island and I imagine writer James Robinson must have devoured all those books multiple times as a youth because he nails Verne’s tone perfectly.
As for Lumen (this is her book after all), she’s fearless, super intelligent and far more interesting than any of those kids in Stranger Things. Normally, it would be easy to dismiss a character such as her, who seems to have an answer for everything, but last issue showed that she was forced into studying different languages and the Sciences since she was old enough to talk, so the fact that she can speak multiple languages and has a good understanding of Science isn’t just a fluke, it’s an organic part of her character. She’s a smaller and more optimistic version of Captain Nemo and we get to see the adventures through her eyes.
Artist Phil Hester and inker Marc Deering deliver all the Steampunk goodness, the details of the AlloNautilus rendered in great detail and the world that Nemo and Lumen occupy feel like a living, breathing place. The scenes in the arctic are especially lovely and impactful.
The villain is revealed at the end of the issue, promising that the rest of the miniseries is going to be even more action-packed and full of intrigue than this issue. Also, characters from Verne’s other novels will be crossing over and appearing in this adventure, expanding Verne’s shared universe. Take that, MCU!
Steampunk lovers unite! This issue has lots of fun moments between Captain Nemo and Lumen, as well as a slam-bang cliffhanger ending in the Arctic Circle.
You must be logged in to post a comment.