LOVECRAFT: UNKNOWN KADATH #3, from Ablaze Publishing on November 23rd, 2022, continues Randolph Carter’s precarious journey across the mountains and caves of the Dream World.
The Details
- Written by: Florentino Flórez
- Art by: Guillermo Sanna
- Colors by: Guillermo Sanna
- Letters by: Saida Temofonte
- Cover art by: Jacques Salomon (cover A)
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: November 23, 2022
Is It Good?
LOVECRAFT: UNKNOWN KADATH #3 leads readers into the muck and mire of the Dream World’s underbelly for a frightful chapter that exquisitely adapts Lovecraft’s tale – The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath – to life. Florentino Flórez brilliantly translates Lovecraft’s dizzying array of characters, locations, and references into a cohesive comic that captures the essence of Lovecraft’s story while remaining wholly accessible as a comic.
As in our prior reviews of this series, it wouldn’t be accurate to critique the story as-is when this is a near-precise adaptation of Lovecraft’s work. Therefore, this review will focus on the accuracy and effectiveness of the adaptation as well as its art.
Flórez’s adaptation is impressive for two reasons. First, the sheer volume of name-drops is tough to track, even in Lovecraft’s original story. Flórez integrates all the references to people, places, and things organically as Carter makes his way from one danger to the next in his quest.
Second, Pickman’s Model is arguably one of the most famous and well-regarded Lovecraft stories, and this is the portion of Carter’s quest where his journey intersects with Pickman’s. For staunch Lovecraft fans, Pickman’s depiction needed to be handled well, both in art and voice. Flórez nails Pickman’s appearance, and in so doing, gives weight to an interconnected Lovecraft universe as was intended.
Regarding the art, Guillermo Sanna bears the responsibility of bringing several species of men and monsters to life in this issue. Sanna’s depiction of Bholes, Ghouls, Ghasts, and more capture the spirit of Lovecraft’s writing with an engaging mix of horror and dreaminess. Further, the action moments are tense and thrilling, so kudos to Sanna for nailing the source material while wrapping it in a dramatic visual package.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our LOVECRAFT: UNKNOWN KADATH #2 review to find out how Carter and Kitty wound up on Mount Ngranek.
We begin mid-cliffhanger as Randolph Carter and Kitty are carried away by the flying, faceless monstrosity from the peak of Mount Ngranek. Rather than flying into the air, Carter and Kitty are carried into the mountain’s caves, where they’re roughly dropped into an underground valley of bones, leftovers from the great and hideous Bholes.
Carter and Kitty spot a trio of Ghouls on a nearby ledge, and Carter hatches a plan to call the Ghouls for help using their native language he learned from his Bostonian friend, Richard Pickman. The plan works, and the Ghouls save Carter and Kitty just before a Bhole devours them. Carter asks the Ghouls to take him to Pickman, hoping his old friend can point the way in his quest.
We conclude the issue with an old friend with a new face, a dangerous debate, and more dangerous travels.
We begin mid-cliffhanger as Randolph Carter and Kitty are carried away by the flying, faceless monstrosity from the peak of Mount Ngranek. Rather than flying into the air, Carter and Kitty are carried into the mountain’s caves, where they’re roughly dropped into an underground valley of bones, leftovers from the great and hideous Bholes.
Carter and Kitty spot a trio of Ghouls on a nearby ledge, and Carter hatches a plan to call the Ghouls for help using their native language he learned from his Bostonian friend, Richard Pickman. The plan works, and the Ghouls save Carter and Kitty just before a Bhole devours them. Carter asks the Ghouls to take him to Pickman, hoping his old friend can point the way in his quest.
We conclude the issue with an old friend with a new face, a dangerous debate, and more dangerous travels.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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LOVECRAFT: UNKNOWN KADATH #3 is another successful entry in the series that brings an assortment of Lovecraft beasts to life while tackling one of Lovecraft’s most revered stories – Pickman’s Model. The quality of the adaptation is nearly flawless, and the dramatic tension will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Related Information
How long is The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath?
H.P. Lovecraft’s story about Randolph Carter’s adventures through the Dream World is technically considered a short story, but it’s long enough to qualify as a novella. Depending on the font and line spacing, the story ranges from 60 to 120 pages in length.
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