MYTHS & LEGENDS QUARTERLY: DAGON, from Zenescope Entertainment on 6/21/23, follows the legendary Dagon as he gathers the five keys that will unlock Cthulu’s prison at the Mountains of Madness.
The Details
- Written by: David Wohl, Dave Franchini
- Art by: Dario Tallarico, Alessandro Uezu, Massimiliano La Manno, Ricardo Osnaya
- Colors by: Maxflan Araujo
- Letters by: Taylor Esposito
- Cover art by: Riveiro (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $8.99
- Release date: June 21, 2023
Is It Good?
Finally! MYTHS & LEGENDS QUARTERLY: DAGON is the second Lovecraft-focused issue in the row that finally answers questions and clarifies what the past year of Lovecraftian horror is all about. If you’ve felt frustrated by the endless references and cameos of Lovecraftian horrors that don’t appear to have any connective tissue or lead in any particular direction, MYTHS & LEGENDS QUARTERLY: DAGON brings it all together. Whether or not the answers have come too late is up to you.
When last we left everyone in the Grimm Universe, the Dark One, Tempest, Keziah the witch, and several others fought the collective of Grimm heroes to a standstill, only to escape in service to some great plan that will see the Great Old Ones return to rule Earth. Now, Dagon collects the malignant servants who are the living embodiment of the five keys meant to unlock the spell cast by the Elder Gods to keep Cthulu imprisoned.
What’s great about this issue? Clarity. Clarity is king. Lovecraft fans have something to crow about over the last year as the Grimm Universe contends with Lovecraft’s famous monsters popping up to do their worst. But again, the main titles lost focus on the villains, the plan, and the motivations behind what the Great Old Ones were up to. MYTHS & LEGENDS QUARTERLY: DAGON gives you that sorely lacking focus through Dagon’s actions, creative flashbacks, big monster battles, and organically delivered exposition to set the stakes for what’s to come.
What’s not so great about this issue? The issue starts by focusing on yet another character to add to the mix in the form of Ramsey McRay. Ramsey isn’t a bad character by any stretch, but his origin and place in the grand scheme are pushed through quickly to get him established, and it feels like a crowded elevator forced to push in one more rider. Part of that previously mentioned lack of focus is the plethora of characters dipping in and out of the storyline, sometimes for no apparent purpose to the over-arching plot, so to introduce a pivotal character this far along in the Lovecraft arc is an off-putting choice. You can’t say Zenescope didn’t have enough time to get Ramsey introduced earlier.
How’s the art? It’s okay. As with most Zenescope quarterlies, multiple artists are engaged to handle different sections of the book. Sometimes the handoffs are not noticeable, and other times, the handoffs are horrendous. In MYTHS & LEGENDS QUARTERLY: DAGON, the handoffs are slightly noticeable but not enough to make the quarterly feel like it was cobbled together. On the whole, the art reflects the standard Zenescope house style, but you will notice when the artist changes.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with an introduction to a young boy, Ramsey McRay. After a tough upbringing, Ramsey develops into a loner, susceptible to the whispers of evil. The whispers urge Ramsey to seek out knowledge and rituals that will grant him great power if he has the courage to complete the rituals with sacrificial blood.
Later, Ramsey is freed from prison by Dagon and the Deep Ones as one of the five keys destined to unlock an ancient binding spell. Ramsey willingly follows Dagon to the Mountains of Madness, along with the Dark One, Tempest, and others. Their presence eventually sets off the Mountain’s defense, releasing the ancient Elder Gods and their soldiers to stop Dagon’s approach.
We conclude the quarterly with zombies, transformations, godly battles, and a new master of the throne.
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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MYTHS & LEGENDS QUARTERLY: DAGON brings much-needed focus and clarity to Zenescope’s year of Lovecraft by unveiling Dagon’s plan to free Cthulu. The story delivers plenty of plot development and monster-fighting action to keep you engaged for what’s to come, but the character-heavy arc gets a little heavier, and the art suffers slightly from too many cooks in the kitchen.
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