Top Ten: The Forty-Niners

This graphic novel is the prequel to the Top Ten series by Alan Moore. This is a complete story, and it tells the beginning of Neo city, right after WW2. Neo City is a new city where all super powered beings are moved to. The government for some reason decided that this was a good way to "deal" with super-beings, so everyone living in Neo has some kind of super-power.

This is a great concept, which we've seen introduced in Top Ten. This story shows us the start while we follow Jetlad and Leni when they settle in to this new world. They find accomodations, they find jobs, and they struggle with their lives.

Leni becomes a police officer, so through her job we follow the various criminal organizations and politics of the city. Jetlad works for the military, who represent the past who is trying to find their own place in the post-war society.

The art by Gene Ha is absolutely beautiful. His style is very detailed, and there's always something happening in the background, even though it might not be relevant to the story in the foreground, or at least not yet. The colors by Art Lyon have a painted feeling, which gives this story a historical atmosphere.

Even if you haven't read Top Ten (I have many years ago, so I couldn't even remember who Jetlad was) you can enjoy this book fully. This is not only a cop story with superpowers, it is also a historical story, a relationship drama, and at times it can be funny. Another great book by Alan Moore.