ELVIRA MEETS H.P. LOVECRAFT #4, by Dynamite Comics on 5/22/24, travels the mysterious Dreamlands to keep the Necronomicon away from H.P. Lovecraft and Nyarlathotep.
Credits:
- Writer: David Avallone
- Artist: Kewber Baal
- Colorist: Walter Pereyra
- Letterer: Taylor Esposito
- Cover Artist: Dave Acosta (cover A)
- Publisher: Dynamite Comics
- Release Date: May 22, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 22
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of ELVIRA MEETS H.P. LOVECRAFT #4:
Plot Analysis:
It’s time to get a little dreamy, but not in a good way. David Avallone takes readers through the weird, whimsical, and dangerous vistas of H.P. Lovecraft’s Dreamland, and your sanity may never be the same again.
In issue #3, Elvira and Lovecraft finally found the real Necronomicon at the same time as Nyarlathotep and its minions arrived at the same spot. Lovecraft used the book to banish the Old One to parts unknown, but just when you thought the mission was complete, Lovecraft turned heel and decided to use the book for his selfish means. But before the famous writer could make good on his plans, Elvira snatched up the dread book and leaped through a portal to dimensions unknown.
ELVIRA MEETS H.P. LOVECRAFT #4 takes Elvira to parts unseen to interact with characters indescribable, starting with the mouth-tentacled, rat-like Zoogs who attack strangers in their territory. Before the Zoogs can make a meal out of Elvira, she’s rescued by the intelligent cats of Dreamland.
After a surprisingly polite conversation with her feline saviors, the cats agree to take her to the only human around who could help – the ghost of Robert Bloch (most famous for writing “Psycho”). After a pleasant Lunch, Bloch suggests the only way to stop the competing malcontents of Lovecraft and Nyarlathotep is to complete the original mission – turn over the book to the great god Nodens.
Elvira hops Bloch’s train (deep cut alert) to Leng, where she hopes to hitch a ride on a night gaunt for the last leg of the trip to Unknown Kadath. The trip is weird and wondrous on the way to Leng, but when Elvira disembarks, she’s met by the Tcho-Tcho Lama of Leng, who recognizes the book and tries to take it for himself.
Thankfully, Mortimer the night gaunt swoops in to assist, and carries Elvira to the gates of Unknown Kadath. Unfortunately, Lovecraft and Nyarlathotep are following close behind. Inside, the three get into a heated bickering match about who has a right to the book by making their case to a Kitsune named Jack, who guards the gate and the Court of the Gods. Unable to settle the matter between themselves, Jack devises an alternate solution instead of waking Nodens for a trivial matter.
Character Development:
Contrary to the recent issues in this series, Elvira takes a more passive/reactive role in ELVIRA MEETS H.P. LOVECRAFT #4. On the one hand, that gives this issue a more thematic parallel to Randolph Carter’s harrowing journey through Dreamland in the source material. On the other, Elvira is carried by the story rather than acting through agency.
Artwork and Presentation:
Kewber Baal’s artwork is vibrant imaginative, and still presents one of the most accurate (if that even makes sense) versions of Nyarlathotep we’ve ever seen. Plus, the in-joke about drawing and subsequently describing Tcho-Tcho the High Priest Not To Be Described is peak Dad joke humor, and we loved it.
Art Samples:
Pacing and Structure:
David Avallone’s pacing moves like a raging river as Elvira encounters one Lovecraftian fantasy creature after the other on her way to the home of the Gods. For Lovecraft fans looking for those Easter Eggs, you get an embarrassment of riches in this issue.
Plotwise, this issue presents as a miniature version of The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath, which is great for Lovecraft fans, simply for the callback, but you’re getting a highly abridged version. Plus, the inclusion of Robert Bloch is a literary dream (literally), but his presence and the in-jokes may be too deep a cut for even us, especially with the appearance of “That Hellbound Train.”
Thematic Exploration:
Thematically, ELVIRA MEETS H.P. LOVECRAFT #4 is a basic good vs. evil quest. Elvira has to stop the bad guys from getting their hands on the powerful object. There’s no obvious meaning that’s readily apparent.
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
As much as this is an Elvira comic first, Avallone puts considerable effort into putting the Lovecraftian elements at the forefront. You don’t have to be a Lovecraft aficionado to understand what’s happening, but it helps to read The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath to make sense of a few cameos and jokes.
Final Thoughts:
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ELVIRA MEETS H.P. LOVECRAFT #4 is the best story to homage to Randolph Carter which actually doesn’t contain Randolph Carter. Elvira embarks on a wild ride through the Dreamland of Lovecraft fame with an entry in the story that practically overflows with Easter Eggs, cameos, and literary reference jokes. Plus, the art is amazing. That said, some of the in-jokes and references may be too deep of a cut for casual readers.
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