THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS Graphic Novel, available now from Blue Fox Comics, is a reverent sequel to H.P. Lovecraft’s At The Mountains Of Madness about an ill-fated scientific expedition to the Antarctic. A new team is assembled several years later to discover the truth of what happened to the original expedition.
The Details
- Written By: Adam Fyda
- Art By: Adam Fyda
- Cover Price: $24.41
- Release Date: Available Now
Author’s Note: I’m a lifelong Lovecraft fan. I’ve read all the original stories of both the horror and dream variety. And I recall in my younger years consuming any Lovecraft content available (Remember those cheesy Full Moon Video adaptations?). Well, it should come as no surprise that I appreciate Lovecraft content that’s faithful and done right. If I’m picky, it’s because I’ve always loved the source material. Reader BEWARE!
Was It Good?
Yes. It’s a subtle, nuanced, creepy homage to the classic Lovecraft story. Lovecraft isn’t about shock and gore, but about creepiness and a gloomy atmosphere. This graphic novel captures that gloomy essence marvelously.
The art is sketchbook quality, but here, that’s a plus because it gives the visuals a dated, old-fashioned feel. It’s as if you’re leafing through the pages of an old, weathered newspaper story that adds to the antiquity of the events.
This is an unofficial sequel (meaning not written by the original author), but the style and voice of the story are largely indistinguishable from the original. If you’re a Lovecraft fan, you will enjoy this book.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
We begin with Professor Howard Pym making preparations to follow the path of Professor William Dyer’s expedition to the Antarctic two years later. Little is known about what happened to Dyer’s team aside from official news accounts and ship’s logs, but Pym receives a diary from a stranger near the Boston docks shortly before the expedition departs. Pym holds on to the diary but forgets he has it in the hustle and bustle of preparations.
During the ocean voyage, Pym questions crew members who were part of the original sailing crew about what they saw and heard from the survivors. Most of the recollections focus on the somber mood of the survivors and their unwillingness to talk.
Fyda does a great job setting up a tone of foreboding for the events to come. It’s clear the first expedition ended badly, and the resistance to sharing any details from the crew quietly plants the seeds of dread.
As the vessel sails on, Pym accidentally finds the diary he was given on the docks before departure and realizes it’s Dyer’s personnel account of the first expedition, including photos. Flipping through the pages evokes the thrill of solving a long-lost mystery, and the reader gets to experience that thrill with Pym while also realizing danger may lie ahead.
When the ship arrives on Antarctic shores, the team wastes no time setting up camp and loading up planes to trace Dyer’s route. As the planes ascend over the mountain ranges, it dawns on Pym and his team that everything described by Dyer so far is accurate. When they land the planes near the location of Dyer’s campsite, observing how the nearby mountains are polka-dotted with cave entrances, Pym makes the decision to climb up to one cave mouth and explore.
Without giving away the rest, Pym finds what he’s looking for, history repeats itself, and Pym spends the rest of his days in restful care.
Final Thoughts
THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS Graphic Novel, available now from Blue Fox Comics, takes a classic story in horror literature and builds on the story in a way the feels respectful and authentic. The art captures the tone and tenor of the original and the conclusion is thoroughly satisfying.
Score: 8/10
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