The Culture

This book was written by Ian Edginton with art by D’Israeli. The pair have worked together on a number of projects that fall into the Steampunk or Alternate History genres. This book is no exception. Described on the front cover as:

It has a steampunk feel to it as it is set 10 years after the events of Wells’ novel when the invaders have been vanquished and Britain’s scientists have examined the Martian technology and incorporated it into the fabric of life in Britain. As for the plot, a group of women are discovered in the low water of the River Thames with their bodies covered in puncture marks and drained of blood. Ex army captain Robert Autumn and his manservant Archie Currie become embroiled in the mystery while trying to track down Archie’s niece who has gone missing. Their investigations lead them to discover some black secrets at the heart of the seemingly idyllic way of life afforded by the new technologies.

This is a good story by two great British comic creators. Although described as a sequel on the cover of the book, they really take the original novel as a launching point to design a gorgeous, re-imagined London transformed by the incorporation of Martian technologies. One of the most surprising changes, for me, was the seeming abandonment of the wheel in favour of spidery legs on all forms of transport – such as hansom cabs, prams, cars and motorcycle-type machine shaped to look like horses. There are also some smaller details like mini-Martian fighting machines roaming the pavements destroying vermin. The story was entertaining enough and the murder mystery is solved but the sub-plot built to a cliffhanger ending that is continued in a second book.