NECRONOMICON (ONE-SHOT), from Zenescope Entertainment on 9/13/23, explores the Mad Arab’s travels making the infamous book in the past, while Lovecraft and Holmes fight to get the book back in the present.
The Details
- Written by: David Wohl, Chas! Pangburn
- Art by: Alessandro Uezu, Massimiliano La Manno, Dario Carrasco
- Colors by: Maxflan Araujo, Robby Bevard
- Letters by: Taylor Esposito
- Cover art by: Caio Cacau (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $5.99
- Release date: September 13, 2023
Is NECRONOMICON (ONE-SHOT) Good?
Zenescope’s tale of woe follows up Henry Lovecraft’s and Spencer Holmes’s first meeting as the two partners search for the Necronomicon to stop Dagon from freeing Cthulhu. Filled with Lovecraftian monsters galore, action, and an interesting tale of the Necronomicon’s creation, NECRONOMICON (ONE-SHOT) is the most original yet faithful Lovecraft-inspired comic of the last year.
Wohl and Pangburn’s tale is split into two timelines. The first is a recurring flashback to Abdul Alharad, the infamous author of the Necronomicon, and how he was drafted into service to Old Ones to write the book. The second is an adventure in the now starring Henry Lovecraft and Spencer Holmes on a mission to recover the book and stop Dagon from unleashing Cthulhu.
If the release of this one-shot seems confusing or odd, you’re not alone. Based on the sequence of events, this issue was scheduled to come out several weeks ago before Grimm Fairy Tales #75, where Holmes and Lovecraft join the battle with the book in their possession against Dagon. Presumably, there was a hiccup in production, causing this issue to release out of the order with GFT, but it works well enough as a stand-alone story if you discount the cliffhanger with Hastur.
What’s great about NECRONOMICON (ONE-SHOT)? Zenescope’s take on Abdul Ahazrad’s fateful pilgrimage is a neat read for anyone who’s a Lovecraft fan. The overall story execution, plotting, pacing, and dialog are spot-on. And this story elevated the duo of Holmes and Lovecraft into a formidable pair worthy of more adventures.
What’s not so great about NECRONOMICON (ONE-SHOT)? Putting aside the out-of-order publishing cycle noted above, Lovecraft’s ability to wield the ankh happens a little too quickly and easily. We’re all for heroes rising to the occasion, but Lovecraft’s development rubs too close to the Mary Sue line.
How’s the art? If you’ve read our review long enough, you know multiple artists on the credits are a red flag. Here, the artist handoffs are at least logical, so you can turn a blind eye to the differences in style – except in one area. The multi-headed beast summoned in the flashback and in the present looks too different to ignore. In the flashback, the monster looks like a terrifying nightmare that defies explanation. In the present, the beast looks like a giant lion with a weird head. Consistency matters.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s NECRONOMICON (ONE-SHOT) About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with a disembodied narrator describing the early life of Abdul Alhazrad, the Mad Arab, as he’s inducted into the service of Old Ones after stumbling upon an ancient ritual in the desert. Alhazrad is forced to record the deeds of spreading darkness until the day comes when that darkness consumes him.
Now, Lovecraft and Holmes head into the Sahara desert to find the Unnamed City Lovecraft witnessed in his dreams. If the duo can find the city, they can find the Necronomicon as a weapon against Dagon. The duo finds the city, but Hastur, the King in Yellow, is waiting for them.
We conclude the issue with lizard men, sacrifices, giant monsters, and magic battles.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
NECRONOMICON (ONE-SHOT) gives readers a frightening history lesson on the creation of the Necronomicon in the past while delivering a frantic battle in the present to reclaim the book from the King in Yellow. Lovecraft and Holmes have good chemistry that should work for future adventures, and the art is mostly good.
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.