# Mina Murray and the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 15, 2002, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mina-murray-and-the-league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen/136925 "2002-11-15T21:07:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mina-murray-and-the-league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen/136925/1 "2002-11-15T21:07:46Z")
I just finished _Dracula_ and it’s left me with some questions. Namely, what skill is Mina Murray bringing to Alan Moore’s comic _The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen_? Some Dracula spoilers: At the end, Mina is cured, and Jonathan is alive. In the _League_, she may not be okay - she still wears a scarf at all times - and Jonathan is dead or at least gone. So, given these discrepancies, I’m given to wonder: Is there a _Dracula_ sequel I’m unaware of? Is Moore basing the character off something other than the original novel? (I realize that his conception of Mr. Hyde is also different from that novel - is it just artistic license?) Furthermore, what does Miss Murray bring to the group, other than her bravery and secretarial skills? Do you suspect there’s something to her we haven’t yet seen? ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mina-murray-and-the-league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen/136925/2 "2002-11-15T21:46:37Z")
By an odd coincidence, I just finished _The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen_ (I wait for the albums these days, as I can’t stand reading comix any more). I was under the impression that Moore was taking considerable liberties with the Mina character, turning her into much more of a heroine than Stoker intended. Moore has her matching wits with dangerous foreign men, giving her past experience with Dracula as her credential. In the action-packed finale of the Stoker, she was really just a homing device (she had tainted Transylvanian blood in her, and could be used to track the vampire) in the employ of Van Helsing, Seward, et al. She’s divorced from Harker, BTW, he’s not dead. See page three, her conversation with Bond. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mina-murray-and-the-league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen/136925/3 "2002-11-15T21:56:44Z")
I think it’s artistic license I think Moore wanted a strong female protagnoist that readers would easily recognize, but there aren’t a whole lot of strong female-types in Victorian literature. So, he did a little creative re-writing for the Mina character. Incidentally, I’ve been trying to remember where the hell Cavorite came from. Anyone help me out here? ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mina-murray-and-the-league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen/136925/4 "2002-11-15T22:01:05Z")
My guess is that Mina brings an -um- **odd persuasiveness** and perhaps a deceptive physical strength, probably both instilled by whatever incident makes her wear that scarf wrapped around her neck. You’ll recall the scene in the first series in which she faces down an angry Hyde, which I believe would require some possibly hypnotic power and maybe some augmentation of strength. Of course, even without any hypothetical extra powers, she’s tough as nails. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mina-murray-and-the-league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen/136925/5 "2002-11-15T22:40:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > \*\* > Incidentally, I’ve been trying to remember where the hell Cavorite came from. Anyone help me out here? \*\* H.G. Wells, I believe And to answer any other “Where did “X” come from” questions, allow me to point you to an incredibly _good_ site that has [exhaustive annotations](http://www.enjolrasworld.com/Jess%20Nevins/League%20of%20Extraordinary%20Gentlemen/LoEG%20index.htm) for **League** Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mina-murray-and-the-league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen/136925/6 "2002-11-15T23:07:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike \* > \*\*By an odd coincidence, I just finished _The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen_ (I wait for the albums these days, as I can’t stand reading comix any more). I was under the impression that Moore was taking considerable liberties with the Mina character, turning her into much more of a heroine than Stoker intended. > > Moore has her matching wits with dangerous foreign men, giving her past experience with Dracula as her credential. In the action-packed finale of the Stoker, she was really just a homing device (she had tainted Transylvanian blood in her, and could be used to track the vampire) in the employ of Van Helsing, Seward, et al. > \*\* In fairness to Stoker, Mina was pretty tough for a Victorian chick. She was smart, reasonable, not prone to fainting, and in the finale she even got to have a gun, although she never used it. And Stoker makes it pretty clear that the only reason she ends up being bitten by Dracula in the first place is because the men were being macho jerks and forced her to stay in her room alone rather than taking her along to search Carfax Abbey. ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Propski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@Guy\_Propski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Propski)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2002, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mina-murray-and-the-league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen/136925/7 "2002-11-16T03:16:40Z")
Cavorite is a Wells creation; it’s from “First Men on the Moon.” Cavorite is a material developed by Professor Cavor (naturally); it’s unusual property is that it repels gravity. ---
**Author:** ![Manatee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@Manatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manatee)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2002, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mina-murray-and-the-league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen/136925/8 "2002-11-16T07:43:56Z")
In the face of what Jonathan’s going through, I’d say that Stoker’s Mina is pretty strong. She also brings research skills and intelligence to the table. Sure, they won’t save you in a knife fight, but still… ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2002, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mina-murray-and-the-league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen/136925/9 "2002-11-16T22:20:26Z")
I agree that within both Stoker’s book and Moore’s League, Mina is a strong, intelligent character - and I do think those are worthy skills for the team (especially when you’re also the sanest person on a team consisting of paranoids, psychotics, and addicts - Mina’s also the voice of reason in the group). I was just curious as to whether people thought there was an additional something else going on with her. ---
**Author:** ![Manatee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@Manatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manatee)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2002, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mina-murray-and-the-league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen/136925/10 "2002-11-16T22:48:49Z")
It could be, to use a GURPS term, that she’s just a “weirdness magnet” due to her link to Dracula. If so, then she might be useful as a sort of paranormal dowsing stick. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mina-murray-and-the-league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen/136925/11 "2003-05-05T17:40:10Z")
I’m bumping this because I have just finished League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and I have something to contribute. On the 12th page of the final issue, she does seem to use what I interpret to be a vampiric ability. Mr. Hyde has her hand gripped as if he is about to pull her arm off(a skill he showed before). Quatermain yells out for Hyde to let go and she responds, “That will not be necessary, Mr. Quatermain.” She then stairs at Hyde and asks him politely to remove his hand. There is one panel in-between of just the Hyde and Mina staring at each other. In the next panel, he lets go. I take this as a hypnotic ability, like Dracula. I know others have not seen it this way and think her kind request just penetrates into the Dr. Jekyll inside Hide, but I think that’s wrong. The single panel of the two staring at each other seems to be the main indicator and her comment that Quatermain’s yelling is “unnecessary”, as if she knows she can get him to let go. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mina-murray-and-the-league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen/136925/12 "2003-05-05T21:08:46Z")
Say, is it true that Alan Moore is going to quit putting out _League_? Before he finishes the second series? Say it isn’t so! ---
**Author:** ![Exoskeleton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@Exoskeleton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exoskeleton)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mina-murray-and-the-league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen/136925/13 "2003-05-05T21:29:57Z")
First, here’s a link to the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen message board, which has dealt with this issue on many an occasion. Link:[http://dcboards.warnerbros.com/cgi/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=League+of+Extraordinary+Gentlemen&number=51&DaysPrune=10&LastLogin=](http://dcboards.warnerbros.com/cgi/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=League+of+Extraordinary+Gentlemen&number=51&DaysPrune=10&LastLogin=) In at least one interview, Alan Moore has clearly stated that Mina does not have any vampiric powers, and is simply willful enough to stare down Hyde. That scene is often alluded to in arguments about the series (another popular debate: Nemo is actually Sherlock Holmes in disguise, a goofy idea which was also thankfully denied by Moore). The Hyde/Mina scene is pivotal in a relationship which is addressed further in the second series. ---
**Author:** ![Skydive101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@Skydive101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skydive101)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mina-murray-and-the-league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen/136925/14 "2003-05-14T01:06:31Z")
I saw X-men 2 over the weekend and was fortunate enough to see the full trailer for League of the Extraordinary Gentlemen. Has anyone else seen this yet? I was going to open a thread about how bad-ass this movie looks, but come to find out from reading this thread that apparently there is already a LXG comic book that’s been around a while? As for the Mina character, in the movie trailer there is a vampire girl. She is shown forming from bats, and I think there’s a shot of her flashing the teeth. [This](http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/lxg/) website has the trailer and links to the official movie site which upon further review does list a Mina Harker as a vampire. Looks like I gotta go try to find some comic books now… ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mina-murray-and-the-league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen/136925/15 "2003-05-14T02:11:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Skydive101 \* > \*\*I saw X-men 2 over the weekend and was fortunate enough to see the full trailer for League of the Extraordinary Gentlemen. Has anyone else seen this yet? I was going to open a thread about how bad-ass this movie looks, but come to find out from reading this thread that apparently there is already a LXG comic book that’s been around a while? > > As for the Mina character, in the movie trailer there is a vampire girl. She is shown forming from bats, and I think there’s a shot of her flashing the teeth. [This](http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/lxg/) website has the trailer and links to the official movie site which upon further review does list a Mina Harker as a vampire. > > Looks like I gotta go try to find some comic books now… \*\* Let’s just say that the movie is “loosely” based on the comic. It has a completely different plot, Mina is a vampire(wtf?), Tom Sawyer is there(WTF?), and Dorian Grey is also in the League(WTF! WTF! WTF!). The movie may be fun, but it is not the same as the comic. Not to mention the fact that Mina is the leader of the League in the comic, and Allan Quatermain is the leader in the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mina-murray-and-the-league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen/136925/16 "2003-05-14T02:52:55Z")
I see at the IMDb that the same actor is playing both Dr. Henry Jekyll and Mr. Edward Hyde. I wonder how that’s going to work. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mina-murray-and-the-league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen/136925/17 "2003-05-14T03:34:02Z")
Any speculation on the identity of “H-142”, the Dr. Moreau creation who will presumably join the team in the next issue? Possible choices: Baloo (from The Jungle Book), Winnie tne Pooh, or some talking gorilla, ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mina-murray-and-the-league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen/136925/18 "2003-05-14T05:24:30Z")
Just a quibble: It’s Allan **Quartermain**. The trailer makes it evident that the movie is, to say the least, action-oriented. What the hell is that 1920’s roadster doing there? ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mina-murray-and-the-league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen/136925/19 "2003-05-14T05:26:37Z")
Also, why don’t illustrators or movies ever show the _Nautilus_ the way Verne described it? The ship was spindle shaped; essentially cylindrical, just like an actual modern sub. As I recall, it ran on electric fuel cells, replenished with chemicals filtered from seawater. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mina-murray-and-the-league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen/136925/20 "2003-05-14T09:35:49Z")
**Baldwin:** As with Gullivar/Gulliver Jones, it looks like the author used more than one spelling for Allan Quatermain/Quartermain, and Moore simply went with the one he preferred. Also, the 20s roadster bothers me a lot less than the 20-something Tom Sawyer, who should be nearly as old as Quatermain (unless, in the LXG timeline, slavery wasn’t abolished in the States until the 1880s). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mina-murray-and-the-league-of-extraordinary-gentlemen/136925.md?page=2)