LOVECRAFT: UNKNOWN KADATH #8, from Ablaze Publishing on 4/26/23, brings Randolph Carter’s adventure through the world of Dreams to a close.
The Details
- Written by: Florentino Flórez
- Art by: Jacques Salomon
- Colors by: Jacques Salomon
- Letters by: Saida Temofonte
- Cover art by: Guillermo Sanna (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: April 26, 2023
Is It Good?
LOVECRAFT: UNKNOWN KADATH #8 concludes Florentino Flórez’s stunning adaptation of one of Lovecraft’s most challenging stories to a close with a wild ride through the unfathomable, the unknowable, and the unimaginable. It’s nearly impossible to accurately translate the esoteric concepts behind the final moments of this story, but Flórez gives it a good old college try and gets pretty darn close.
When last we left Randolph Carter, he led an army of ghouls and NIght Vermin against the massive Guardians blocking the way to Kadath. Now, Randolph evades the gigantic keepers, only to find one of the Old Ones waiting for him with a task with a reward beyond Carter’s wildest dreams.
As we’ve stated in previous reviews of this series, it doesn’t make sense to critique the core story, as it’s an adaptation of Lovecraft’s work, so we’ll focus on the quality of the adaptation and the art.
Florentino Flórez’s adaptation took some liberties with the wicked merchant in issue #7, but the story is back on track in issue #8. The big point in this final chapter is Carter’s encounter with Nyarlathotep, and the great being looks/sounds close to accurate from Lovecraft’s narrative description. The second big point is Carter’s tumble through stretches of indescribable voids to reach the parapet where Carter calls the Old Ones back home. It’s trippy and weird, but Salomon’s art makes it work as well as you could expect for a visual representation of a chaotic void.
In the end, Carter winds up where he should, the journey is as mind-boggling as it should be, and the final pages end the story on the right note.
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 #7 review to find out how the armies of the night assembled for a full-on siege of Kadath.
We begin with Carter shaking himself out of a stupor to the sound of a strangely lyrical voice. The voice asks him if he remembers what happened. Carter recalls the Ghouls and Night Vermin following his charge to fly past the great guardians and reach Kadath.
The flying forces managed to soar above the guardians before the giants gave chase. Soon, the fliers spot a light in the dark distance, and they alight on the wall of a great castle, drawn upward by an invisible force. Eventually, the forces are drawn inside, and Carter is confronted by the great and powerful Nyarlathotep with a mission.
We conclude the issue with a call to return, falling without direction, and a Golden City.
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 #8 ends Randolph’s Carter adventure through the dream world with a terrifying meeting, a trippy tumble through infinity, and a source-accurate ending. For a Lovecraft adaptation, this is as good as it gets.
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