Alan Moore, born on 18 November 1953, is an English author who has significantly impacted the comic book industry with his groundbreaking work. Moore is best known for his contributions to comics, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, The Ballad of Halo Jones, Swamp Thing, Batman: The Killing Joke, and From Hell. He is recognized as one of the foremost comic book writers in the English language, with a reputation that extends among peers and critics alike.

Moore began his writing career in the late 1970s with British underground and alternative fanzines, before achieving success in publishing comic strips in magazines such as 2000 AD and Warrior. His talents were soon recognized by DC Comics, marking him as "the first comics writer living in Britain to do prominent work in America." During his time with DC Comics, Moore worked on major characters such as Batman and Superman, substantially developed the character Swamp Thing, and penned original titles such as Watchmen. His efforts during this period helped to elevate comics to greater social respectability in both the United States and United Kingdom.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Moore left the comic industry mainstream to pursue independent and experimental work, including the epic From Hell and the prose novel Voice of the Fire. He returned to mainstream comics in the late 1990s, working for Image Comics before developing America's Best Comics, where he published works like The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Promethea.

Beyond comics, Moore is an occultist, ceremonial magician, and anarchist, themes that permeate his works including Promethea, From Hell, and V for Vendetta. Despite his objections, his creations have inspired several Hollywood films such as From Hell, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, V for Vendetta, and Watchmen. Moore has lived much of his life in Northampton, England, drawing heavily from his experiences there for his stories.