Origin
Bellman's Crew was a group which hunted for Snarks (on purpose). They were led by the Bellman.
Creation
This 10 member crew was created by Lewis Carroll in his 1874 nonsense-poem "The Hunting of the Snark". It was illustrated by Henry Holiday.
In 2002, Alan Moore took up the crew in the second volume of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Instead of hunting for Snarks, they were an expedition who ventured down the rabbit hole. The Bellman became Reverend Dr. Eric Bellman and the actual Beaver became Miss Beaver. This was marked as the cast of "Hunting of the Snark"'s first comic book appearance.
In 2011, Roger Langridge created a comic called Snarked, which was based on Carroll's original poem. Unlike Moore's work, the whole poem is cannon and most of it actually happened. In the #0 issue, Henry Holiday's original illustrations were reprinted along with Carrol's poem. The crew made cameos in the series early on (along with other Carroll characters like the Hatter). However, in issue #3, Bellman and company joined the cast of Snarked.
Team Evolution
The Bellman's Crew included a Bellman, a Banker, a Barrister, a Butcher, a Boots, a Bonnet Maker, a Billiard-marker, a Baker, a Beaver, and a Broker of Goods. All but one of the characters--the Baker--return from the adventure.
Major Story Arcs
Bellman Expedition (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen)
The Bellman Expedition were ten people who go down the "Rabbit Hole" like Miss A.L. All the crew returned insane (minus the Baker who still disappeared like before). 25 Year later, Reverend Dr. Eric Bellman was the only remaining member of the expedition. Wilhelmina Murray visited him in the asylum where he was held in order to find out the location of "Snark Island". However, Bellman indicated a blank page (renouncement of the original Bellman's blank map).
Snarked
Following the events at Snark Island, the crew returned home. They were considered the laughing stock of the town because no one believed their story. Even the Baker's brother, the Barber, had his doubts. In order to get any work, they changed the name of their ship from "Snark Hunter" to "Old Gratitude".
When Wilburforce J. Walrus and Clyde McDunk needed a ship to take Queen Scarlet and Prince Rusty in search of her father, the Red King. Only Old Gratitude and her crew would take then. Of course, this was before they knew where they were going. However, they were persuaded by Mr. Walrus, who is a conman, that their friend the Baker had not disappeared forever but merely was sent forward in time. Believing his tall tale, the crew decided to continue taking the Walrus and the Carpenter and royals to Snark Island.
On their journey, they have faced the Mad Hatter's pirate crew and the fiendish Gryphon. Most recently, they have reached Snark Island and have saved the Red King, but they are now stranded on the island.
Log in to comment