Graphic Classics Volume 04: H.P. Lovecraft

With a stunning Cthulu cover painting by Giorgio Comolo, volume 4 of Graphic Classics features adaptations of H.P. Lovecraft stories by the best talents in comics storytelling. 

Adaptations include:

“A Memory” illustrated by Gerry Alanguilan
“The shadow over Innsmouth” adapted by Alex Burrows, illustrated by Simon Gane
“Dreams in the Witch-House” adapted by Rich Rainey, illustrated by Pedro Lopez
“Sweet Ermengarde” adapted by Rod Lott, illustrated by Kevin Atkinson
“Herbert West: Reanimator” adapted by Tom Pomplun, illustrated in four chapters by Richard Corben, Rick Geary, J.B. Bonivert and Mark A. Nelson
“The Cats of Ulthar” adapted by Tom Pomplun, illustrated by Lisa K. Weber
“The Terrible Old Man” adapted & illustrated by Onsmith Jeremi
“The Shadow Out of Time” adapted & illustrated by Matt Howarth

“Reanimated corpses, ancient evil and horrors too disturbing to describe? Must be H.P. Lovecraft, master of the creepy. This is an updated and expanded edition of an up-to-now unavailable collection of comics adaptations of the horror master’s craft. Lovecraft is a sort of pulpier, purpler Edgar Allan Poe, his stories taking place in a gothic New England landscape. Like all the great spine-tinglers, H.P. likes to leave his monsters up to the imagination, but the works in this collection are fairly dripping with tentacles, specters and monstrous visages. Simon Gane’s intense, sometimes overly busy, illustration of “The Shadow Over Innsmouth” portrays Lovecraft’s classic beast, Great Cthulu, as a scaly minotaur with a head writhing with suckers. Pedro Lopez’s film noiresque vision of “Dreams of the Witch House” has fewer monsters, but still manages to throw in a few tentacles. Even Kevin Atkinson’s appropriately cartoonlike illustrations of “Sweet Ermengarde”-one of Lovecraft’s few works that doesn’t mention monsters at all (other than the human sort)-has creepy crawlies in the wings. Although some of the collection’s drawing can be uneven, the whole makes for chilling fun.”
—  Publisher’s Weekly

“Gr. 9-up. Following books on Poe, Conan Doyle, and H. G. Wells, this fourth volume in the Graphic Classics series lives up to the intent of the series, which is dedicated to reintroducing classic authors of the macabre in comics format. The book includes an introduction by Gahan Wilson, George Kuchar’s 1975 comics biography of the early-twentieth-century horror writer, graphic novelized adaptations of several Lovecraft stories, some original comics stories based on Lovecraft lore, and a 36-stanza epic poem, “Fungi from Yuggoth,” illustrated by 17 contemporary cartoonists. In all, more than three-dozen artists contributed to this black-and-white album. The cartoonists, many of whom have also worked in other areas–film, commercial art, music, underground comics, teaching–represent many countries. Richard Corben and Rick Geary are American; Dominique Signoret is from France; Gerry Alanguilan is from the Philippines. Artists from England, Denmark, and Italy are also included. As an introduction to Lovecraft, this is fine fare; for teens already enamored of the hallmark American author, the book offers a satisfying array of stylish interpretations. In keeping with Lovecraft’s own sensibilities, creepiness, rather than violence, is the running theme.”
—  Francisca Goldsmith, Booklist

“Contains the most inspired illustration of Lovecraft’s work I have ever seen.”
— Boyd Pearson, The Eldritch Dark

“If you’re a fan of HPL, this is a must-have, and if you’re not, this book will
make you one.”
— John O’Neill, Knights of the Dinner Table