H.P. Lovecraft’s Haunt of Horror #1(2008).
© Marvel

Mania Grade: A-
Comic Series: H.P Lovecraft's Haunt of Horror
Issue: 1
Author: Richard Corben
Publisher: Marvel/MAX
Price: $3.99

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H.P LOVECRAFT'S HAUNT OF HORRORS #1

With H.P. Lovecraft’s Haunt of Horror, Marvel and Richard Corben present the second of a series of black and white anthology series modeled after E.C. horror comics. The first miniseries drew on Edgar Allan Poe, whereas this draws from the titular pulp writer famous for his Cthulhu Mythos. None of the Great Old Ones or the Elder Gods appear in this issue, however, as Corben draws and adapts the lesser known Dagon and two of Lovecraft’s poems—“Recognition” and “A Memory.” Corben writes and draws all three stories, each of which is followed by the original Lovecraft work. 

Corben’s adaptation of Dagon takes a fairly straightforward approach, though it updates the setting to a more modern one. But, it still concerns a single man, lost at sea—one who lands on mysterious landmass after drifting for days. But, rather than finding another member of the human family, he witnesses a dark ritual by those things that dwell in the depths of the sea, where they worship something more terrible than even themselves. In The Scar—adapted from the poem, “Recognition”—a young man and an old one—an old man, not an Old One—find themselves on the run from a living forest. And, in Recognition—adapted from “A Memory”—two explorers learn that sometimes vengeance can span generations, after an ancient amulet brings a curse from the past screaming into the present. In both cases, Corben takes the more ambiguous circumstances from each poem and extrapolates two stories uniquely his own. That may displease some Lovecraft purists who would rather straight adaptations of more stories like Dagon. But, it keeps Haunt of Horror from becoming a high-profile issue of Classics Illustrated by way of Tales from the Crypt. 

Seeing Corben’s vision of Lovecraft offers readers the greatest incentive to pick up Haunt of Horror. Corben has always drawn in a bulky, exaggerated style that is all his own. But, his characters’ facial expressions convey an essential humanity lost in so much comic art. And in this book, the reader experiences pain, suffering, and madness alongside his characters. Given Lovecraft’s emphasis on the heights of terror and isolation, Corben seems well-suited for the job. His use of black and white lends an obvious feel of a classic horror movie to the proceedings. However, it also sets a remarkably unforgiving tone for each story’s characters. Past the security of the light lies not shades of gray and ambiguity, but black and unrelenting horror. 

Richard Corben’s take on H.P. Lovecraft combines a straight adaptation with two extrapolated takes on some of the author’s poetry. It conveys the doomed circumstances of Lovecraft’s protagonists by way of unsurpassed detail in their expressions. It also lends a visual interpretation of some of the author’s poetry, without laying claim to any sort of definitive vision—these are Corben’s stories, only inspired by Lovecraft’s images. Ultimately, Haunt of Horror combines the best of adapted and interpretive content in a single pleasing package. And, this is just the first issue.

Questions? Comments? Let us know what you think at comicscape@mania.com.