LOVECRAFT: UNKNOWN KADATH #4, from Ablaze Publishing on December 14th, 2022, takes Randolph Carter through the lethal caves populated by Gugs and Ghasts on his way to Celaphais to find the Onyx traders of Leng.
The Details
- Written by: Florentino Flórez
- Art by: Jacques Salomon
- Colors by: Jacques Salomon
- Letters by: Saida Temofonte
- Cover art by: Jacques Salomon (cover A)
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: December 14, 2022
Is It Good?
Hang on to your nightcaps, Ladies and Gentlemen. It only gets weirder from here. LOVECRAFT: UNKNOWN KADATH #4 takes readers through the precarious next leg of Randolph Carter’s journey through the Dream World to find whoever or whatever information he can to get him one step closer to Kadath. Flórez’s commendable adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s most esoteric works holds up nicely in its translation of bizarre creatures, surreal settings, and dreamy narrative.
As with the previous issues in this series, the highlight of Flórez’s adaptation is its faithfulness to the source material. A lesser writer would have changed or excised multiple sections of Carter’s journey in the interests of brevity or clarity, but a mild lack of clarity is what makes Lovecraft’s story so special. Dreams don’t make complete sense, so the oddity of some of the story’s events fits.
In short, Flórez kept all the pieces that matter, so this is as close to a point-for-point adaptation as you could hope for.
Salomon’s heavily shadowed, Kubert-inspired art style is a perfect fit for Flórez’s script. Muddy browns and sickly greens emphasize the filthy depths of the caves Carter must traverse, and the monstrous beast designs bring Lovecraft’s words to life.
In all, Flórez and Salomon continue to impress with a practically perfect adaptation of Lovecraft’s most surreal and esoteric story.
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 #3 review to find out how Randolph Carter found himself in the company of ghouls.
We catch up with Randolph Carter and Pickman after a Gug emerged from a side tunnel. Suddenly a group of Ghasts attack the Gug, and Carter’s group uses the chaos to escape notice. Eventually, the loathsome travelers arrive at the steep Tower of Koth, which leads to the Enchanted Forest above ground.
The company of ghouls climbs the tower, but before they can reach the cursed door to the outside, a wayward Ghast attacks the group with a Gug following close behind. Pickman and the Ghouls make it through the trap door in time to avoid further attacks. The group makes its way to the meeting tree, where they find a group of Zoogs scheming to attack the Cats of Ulthar. Carter informs his cat companion, and it sends a signal to all cats who come to stave off the pending ambush.
We conclude the issue with a debt of gratitude, an escort to Celaphais, and whispers of Black Ships.
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 #4 is a practically perfect adaptation of one of Lovecraft’s most esoteric stories. Flórez captures the essence of every scene in Randolph Carter’s harrowing journey while adapting the story to fit within the comic medium, and Salomon’s moody, atmospheric art expertly merges the dreamy setting with horrific characters as Lovecraft intended.
Related Information
What did H.P. Lovecraft suffer from?
H.P. Lovecraft suffered from a number of psychological disorders, including anxiety, depression, and agoraphobia. Ultimately, Lovecraft passed away due to cancer of the small intestine.
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