Interesting that you talk about a sense of obligation. That's kind of how I felt about From Hell when I first and last read it. That thing where people have said this is a high point in the medium, and you sit there wondering why you just don't care.
Like you, I think the art is wonderful. And there's a lot of interesting 'stuff' in there. But I imagine I'd struggle with it now, much for the same reasons you did. And as for "Comics shouldn't feel like homework"... Yeah. I have a set of League collections I've not read through yet (bar the first two). And I do wonder if they'll be staying on the shelf once I've done so, for much the same reasons.
Like you, I think the art is wonderful. And there's a lot of interesting 'stuff' in there. But I imagine I'd struggle with it now, much for the same reasons you did. And as for "Comics shouldn't feel like homework"... Yeah. I have a set of League collections I've not read through yet (bar the first two). And I do wonder if they'll be staying on the shelf once I've done so, for much the same reasons.