The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen/Fridge

The Comics

The Black Dossier

Fridge Brilliance

• In The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier, a section written in a pastiche of Shakespeare, we learn that the original 007 was, of all people, Prospero. At first I thought this connection was a bit far fetched. It wasn't until later that I learned a bit about John Dee's career. Moore has Prospero stand in for Dee in the League universe. Dee, best known as an occultist, was also a spymaster for Elizabeth. He corresponded with the Court in secret, signing his name with a special glyph of his own invention: two circles under the top line of an acute angle. And yes, it was this practice that inspired Ian Fleming during the creation of the James Bond character. I'll never doubt Moore's research again.
  • Also, it's widely thought that Shakespeare based Prospero on John Dee, adding another layer to the symbolism.

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