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Providence #issue 1
Providence #1
I: The Yellow Sign
32 pages, Paperback
First published May 27, 2015
About the author
Alan Moore
1,679 books20.4k followersAlan Moore is an English writer most famous for his influential work in comics, including the acclaimed graphic novels Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell. He has also written a novel, Voice of the Fire, and performs "workings" (one-off performance art/spoken word pieces) with The Moon and Serpent Grand Egyptian Theatre of Marvels, some of which have been released on CD.
As a comics writer, Moore is notable for being one of the first writers to apply literary and formalist sensibilities to the mainstream of the medium. As well as including challenging subject matter and adult themes, he brings a wide range of influences to his work, from the literary–authors such as William S. Burroughs, Thomas Pynchon, Robert Anton Wilson and Iain Sinclair; New Wave science fiction writers such as Michael Moorcock; horror writers such as Clive Barker; to the cinematic–filmmakers such as Nicolas Roeg. Influences within comics include Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Kirby and Bryan Talbot.
As a comics writer, Moore is notable for being one of the first writers to apply literary and formalist sensibilities to the mainstream of the medium. As well as including challenging subject matter and adult themes, he brings a wide range of influences to his work, from the literary–authors such as William S. Burroughs, Thomas Pynchon, Robert Anton Wilson and Iain Sinclair; New Wave science fiction writers such as Michael Moorcock; horror writers such as Clive Barker; to the cinematic–filmmakers such as Nicolas Roeg. Influences within comics include Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Kirby and Bryan Talbot.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
January 11, 2016
Completely surprising to me. Usually an Alan Moore comic begins with bombast, with flair, with lots of (too much) language and action. This whole comic, which I take to be his homage to H. P. Lovecraft, by contrast is very restrained, and the art is restrainedly appropriate to the text, and lovely.
And astonishingly, some pages are even silent!
It is my understanding that Moore has been working on this (which is to say deeply and fanatically researching for this) for many years, reading all things Lovecraftian and deeply into backgrounds for his stories, as he would do. So I liked this a lot, though very little happens so far, it's the first comic, it's set up! But I trust them that every image in this one matters.
Lovecraft in my view had great ideas, is clearly very influential, but wasn't that great a writer. My view, but tell me what to read if I am wrong. Now I am afraid I will have to read lots of his tales just to get Moore's references! But you know, Moore at his best makes that kind of work worth it.
What is central in this story so far is that a guy wrote a paper on The King Yellow and Sous Le Monde about how this reading caused readers to go mad and commit suicide. We will be looking into the truth of this statement, I am guessing, in subsequent issues. This looks to be a horror comic, and a "literary" one at that. I'm in!
And astonishingly, some pages are even silent!
It is my understanding that Moore has been working on this (which is to say deeply and fanatically researching for this) for many years, reading all things Lovecraftian and deeply into backgrounds for his stories, as he would do. So I liked this a lot, though very little happens so far, it's the first comic, it's set up! But I trust them that every image in this one matters.
Lovecraft in my view had great ideas, is clearly very influential, but wasn't that great a writer. My view, but tell me what to read if I am wrong. Now I am afraid I will have to read lots of his tales just to get Moore's references! But you know, Moore at his best makes that kind of work worth it.
What is central in this story so far is that a guy wrote a paper on The King Yellow and Sous Le Monde about how this reading caused readers to go mad and commit suicide. We will be looking into the truth of this statement, I am guessing, in subsequent issues. This looks to be a horror comic, and a "literary" one at that. I'm in!
June 10, 2018
The art and the location references are gorgeous.
July 16, 2017
3.5-4/5
May 24, 2022
Review at the end of the series! :)
July 27, 2020
Οι ήσυχες ιστορίες είναι πάντα οι καλύτερες.
July 9, 2015
He visto por ahí gente flipando muy fuerte con el número uno. Yo creo que es pronto para adelantar conclusiones, me ha gustado pero no me quito un regusto al relleno que acostumbra a meter Moore en los últimos comics. De momento, sigo.
July 28, 2017
Expectativa é uma merda mesmo. Aqui ela é dupla: tanto por muitos dizerem que essa obra seria um "Watchmen do Terror" e por ser descrita como uma das obras finais de Alan Moore (o último volume da Liga provavelmente o será).
Mas achei o início um pouco fraco. Parte disso é intencional. A narrativa é o oposto ao tradicional Moore, que nos mergulha em um caótico mundo de informações que serão destrinchadas ao longo dos volumes. Aqui vemos uma história de detetive mais tradicional: um sujeito meio deslocado trabalha como jornalista até começar a investigar (inicialmente para uma matéria de meio de página e depois para um livro) uma estranha ordem ocultista criada ao redor de um livro árabe de má fama. À partir daí podemos entender onde isso vai dar.
A ideia aqui não apenas referenciar, mas oferecer uma releitura da extensa e seminal obra de H. P. Lovecraft, principalmente seus mitos mais profundos. Embora a impressão inicial seja que pouca coisa aconteceu, é possível ler nas entrelinhas e em aspectos aparentemente pouco significativos que algo terrível foi nos apresentado. Dessa forma, os quatro primeiros volumes apresentem um potencial narrativo de mistério gigantesco para os próximos, em um mundo de mistério e assassinato.
Esses primeiros volumes compõe uma espécie de arco fechado sobre o mergulho inicial de Robert Black no mundo esquisito de homens (talvez) invocando criaturas numa América sombria. Os próximos provavelmente demonstrarão um círculo se fechando ao redor dele.
O grande culpado da falta de vigor desse início é dos diários de Robert. O expediente de apresentar texto escrito ao final dos capítulos já foi utilizado por Moore antes, no próprio Watchmen por exemplo, para descrever coisas que ficavam nas entrelinhas nos quadrinhos. Aqui não é muito o caso. Embora talvez Moore queira emular de forma mais fidedigna a escrita de Lovecraft nesses diários, eles parecem um tanto sem propósito narrativo: em alguns momentos, principalmente no quarto volume, os diários descrevem exatamente o que lemos nas páginas em quadrinhos, o que é irritante e ainda quebra o ritmo narrativo.
Talvez as anotações mostrem a que vieram nos próximos volumes, mas aqui parecem mais rascunhos do roteiro.
De uma forma geral a história é muito boa e a arte de Jacen Burrows não compromete, como apontado por alguns e o que veremos nos próximos volumes aparentemente será ótimo. Mas, no momento, baixei as expectativas.
Mas achei o início um pouco fraco. Parte disso é intencional. A narrativa é o oposto ao tradicional Moore, que nos mergulha em um caótico mundo de informações que serão destrinchadas ao longo dos volumes. Aqui vemos uma história de detetive mais tradicional: um sujeito meio deslocado trabalha como jornalista até começar a investigar (inicialmente para uma matéria de meio de página e depois para um livro) uma estranha ordem ocultista criada ao redor de um livro árabe de má fama. À partir daí podemos entender onde isso vai dar.
A ideia aqui não apenas referenciar, mas oferecer uma releitura da extensa e seminal obra de H. P. Lovecraft, principalmente seus mitos mais profundos. Embora a impressão inicial seja que pouca coisa aconteceu, é possível ler nas entrelinhas e em aspectos aparentemente pouco significativos que algo terrível foi nos apresentado. Dessa forma, os quatro primeiros volumes apresentem um potencial narrativo de mistério gigantesco para os próximos, em um mundo de mistério e assassinato.
Esses primeiros volumes compõe uma espécie de arco fechado sobre o mergulho inicial de Robert Black no mundo esquisito de homens (talvez) invocando criaturas numa América sombria. Os próximos provavelmente demonstrarão um círculo se fechando ao redor dele.
O grande culpado da falta de vigor desse início é dos diários de Robert. O expediente de apresentar texto escrito ao final dos capítulos já foi utilizado por Moore antes, no próprio Watchmen por exemplo, para descrever coisas que ficavam nas entrelinhas nos quadrinhos. Aqui não é muito o caso. Embora talvez Moore queira emular de forma mais fidedigna a escrita de Lovecraft nesses diários, eles parecem um tanto sem propósito narrativo: em alguns momentos, principalmente no quarto volume, os diários descrevem exatamente o que lemos nas páginas em quadrinhos, o que é irritante e ainda quebra o ritmo narrativo.
Talvez as anotações mostrem a que vieram nos próximos volumes, mas aqui parecem mais rascunhos do roteiro.
De uma forma geral a história é muito boa e a arte de Jacen Burrows não compromete, como apontado por alguns e o que veremos nos próximos volumes aparentemente será ótimo. Mas, no momento, baixei as expectativas.
December 30, 2020
الكتاب الأول من هذه السلسلة من الكوميك بوكس وطبعاً أنا أقرأه من أجل عيون "لافكرافت"..فلا أحد يعلم أنني واحدة من هؤلاء "الفانز" المخلصين، وأنني أكثر إخلاصاً من فانز الزمالك وشعارهم الدائم "سنظل أوفياء"..أن كّوني حالياً في "فاندوم" لشخص مثل "لافكرافت" ليجعلني شخصية تُوصف بمدي صبرها العميق ونفسها الحلوة، فأنا لست مثل جميع الصديقات في فاندوم لشون مينيديز أو حتي فرقة BTS الذين يأخذون في الثانية الواحدة مليون صورة حتي يقوم الفانز المجانين بإزعاجنا بصورهم في كل التطبيقات وكأنها مطاردة..لا، أنا فتاة مسكينة تحب رجل لم يأخذ عشر صور علي بعضهم في حياته ومن ثم فأنني لن أزعج أحداً هنا، كما أنني نفسي حلوة لأنه كذلك غير وسيم بالمرة بل وعنصري وكان من الوارد جداً أن يتعنصر عليّ شخصياً لأنني لست من أصحاب البشرة البيضاء..ولكن ماذا أقول؟ نفسي حلوة..كما أنني أحب شخص ميت من ثلاثة وثمانين عاماً لذلك لن أحزن في عيد ميلاده لأنه كبر عاماً آخر مثل صديقة بلهاء تحب شون..أتعرفون لماذا؟ نفسي حلوة طبعاً..
المهم بعيداً عن نفسي الحلوة سأتكلم عن هذه القصة التي لم أجد بها شيئاً مميزاً، هي فقط تعتبر كمقدمة لباقي القصص القادمة، كما أن البطل لم يرق لي وشعرته شخصية هادئة متعقلة زيادة عن اللازم، في هذا العدد الأول سنعرف كتاب "The king in Yellow" الذي أثار جنون البعض ودفعهم للأنتحار، وسنعرف دكتور ألفاريز الذي يعاني من مرض ما يجعله يعيش في غرفته الباردة والتي تنتشر فيها رائحة الأمونيا مثل دكتور "مونوز" في قصة "لافكرافت" "Cool Air".. ولكن الأضافة الفتاكة هنا أن دكتور ألفاريز يواعد صاحبة النزل، فكما تعلم أن حالياً في أي قصة أو مسلسل جديد يجب حشر الكثير من هذه المهاترات عديمة الفائدة وكأن ذلك قد أصبح من المعايير.. وهكذا فأن دكتور ألفاريز سيسمعنا بعض الكلام الفارغ عن الحب وسيتحدث عن أمريكا الخفية وكلام آخر كثير عن اسراري وأسرارك واسرار ابنه الجيران..علي العموم كما قلت هذه القصة مجرد مقدمة لما هو آتي..
طبعاً الرسومات مدهشة ولكن أنا أحب رسومات الأنمي أكثر والتي قد نراها في كوميكس أخري..
حسناً لنري ماذا سيحدث بعد ذلك!!
المهم بعيداً عن نفسي الحلوة سأتكلم عن هذه القصة التي لم أجد بها شيئاً مميزاً، هي فقط تعتبر كمقدمة لباقي القصص القادمة، كما أن البطل لم يرق لي وشعرته شخصية هادئة متعقلة زيادة عن اللازم، في هذا العدد الأول سنعرف كتاب "The king in Yellow" الذي أثار جنون البعض ودفعهم للأنتحار، وسنعرف دكتور ألفاريز الذي يعاني من مرض ما يجعله يعيش في غرفته الباردة والتي تنتشر فيها رائحة الأمونيا مثل دكتور "مونوز" في قصة "لافكرافت" "Cool Air".. ولكن الأضافة الفتاكة هنا أن دكتور ألفاريز يواعد صاحبة النزل، فكما تعلم أن حالياً في أي قصة أو مسلسل جديد يجب حشر الكثير من هذه المهاترات عديمة الفائدة وكأن ذلك قد أصبح من المعايير.. وهكذا فأن دكتور ألفاريز سيسمعنا بعض الكلام الفارغ عن الحب وسيتحدث عن أمريكا الخفية وكلام آخر كثير عن اسراري وأسرارك واسرار ابنه الجيران..علي العموم كما قلت هذه القصة مجرد مقدمة لما هو آتي..
طبعاً الرسومات مدهشة ولكن أنا أحب رسومات الأنمي أكثر والتي قد نراها في كوميكس أخري..
حسناً لنري ماذا سيحدث بعد ذلك!!
March 21, 2020
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Nova York, 1919. A Lei Seca e os conflitos raciais são o pano de fundo de "Providence", que escancara, em suas sutilezas, o autor H. P. Lovecraft, os mitos de Cthulhu, e todas as problemáticas encontradas nas narrativas originais através do contexto histórico da época.
Robert Black é um jornalista aspirante a escritor, que é encarregado de fazer uma matéria sobre "Sous Le Monde", um livro que (aparentemente) levou seus leitores à loucura, assim como "O Rei de Amarelo", clássico de Robert W. Chambers.
Ao encontrar o Dr. Alvarez, um estudioso que escreveu sobre esse fenômeno, Robert se depara com as condições estranhas que fazem com que este homem se mantenha sempre gelado (Lovecraft tinha, por sua vez, uma condição que tornava o seu corpo sempre frio).
Descobrindo sobre um texto árabe de alquimia de Kitab Al-Hikmah Al-Najmiyya, o "Livro da Sabedoria das Estrelas", capaz de gerar a imortalidade e ressuscitar os mortos, Robert, que acabou de sofrer uma grande perda em sua vida, decide mergulhar a fundo nessas lendas afim de encontrar a verdade.
Esta trama é lotada de referências: o nome do capítulo, "O Emblema Amarelo", referencia Chambers e Lovecraft. Também Robert comparará Alvarez com o Sr. Valdemar, um cadáver que falava em um conto de Edgar Allan Poe. Até mesmo o título, "Providence", é a cidade onde Lovecraft nasceu e que geralmente era o cenário de suas histórias.
A junção do enredo e das imagens aqui é sublime, fluido, e interessante ao extremo: dá vontade de devorar cada página, principalmente pra quem gosta da mitologia do horror cósmico.
Apesar de ser apenas o início dessa trama, preciso dizer que estou completamente imersa nessa jornada sobre literatura, sociedade e preconceito.
Mais resenhas no instagram literário @livre_em_livros
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Nova York, 1919. A Lei Seca e os conflitos raciais são o pano de fundo de "Providence", que escancara, em suas sutilezas, o autor H. P. Lovecraft, os mitos de Cthulhu, e todas as problemáticas encontradas nas narrativas originais através do contexto histórico da época.
Robert Black é um jornalista aspirante a escritor, que é encarregado de fazer uma matéria sobre "Sous Le Monde", um livro que (aparentemente) levou seus leitores à loucura, assim como "O Rei de Amarelo", clássico de Robert W. Chambers.
Ao encontrar o Dr. Alvarez, um estudioso que escreveu sobre esse fenômeno, Robert se depara com as condições estranhas que fazem com que este homem se mantenha sempre gelado (Lovecraft tinha, por sua vez, uma condição que tornava o seu corpo sempre frio).
Descobrindo sobre um texto árabe de alquimia de Kitab Al-Hikmah Al-Najmiyya, o "Livro da Sabedoria das Estrelas", capaz de gerar a imortalidade e ressuscitar os mortos, Robert, que acabou de sofrer uma grande perda em sua vida, decide mergulhar a fundo nessas lendas afim de encontrar a verdade.
Esta trama é lotada de referências: o nome do capítulo, "O Emblema Amarelo", referencia Chambers e Lovecraft. Também Robert comparará Alvarez com o Sr. Valdemar, um cadáver que falava em um conto de Edgar Allan Poe. Até mesmo o título, "Providence", é a cidade onde Lovecraft nasceu e que geralmente era o cenário de suas histórias.
A junção do enredo e das imagens aqui é sublime, fluido, e interessante ao extremo: dá vontade de devorar cada página, principalmente pra quem gosta da mitologia do horror cósmico.
Apesar de ser apenas o início dessa trama, preciso dizer que estou completamente imersa nessa jornada sobre literatura, sociedade e preconceito.
Mais resenhas no instagram literário @livre_em_livros
September 14, 2023
Moore's awesome take on Lovecraft starts slowly, with our erudite protagonist trying to accommodate thoughts that were completely new for him.
But it becomes gripping. Let's see how it unfolds.
But it becomes gripping. Let's see how it unfolds.
October 3, 2020
The works of H.P. Lovecraft have been trawled through and expanded upon for decades upon decades to the point where the figure of Cthulhu has even entered pop culture lexicon. The Great Old Ones have gone from literary figures talked about in hushed whispers to appearing on South Park. Now, I’m not one to say that this is necessarily a bad thing, but I do believe that it has diluted the horror of Lovecraft’s creations to see them show up on the boxes of role playing games. Apparently Alan Moore thought the same thing when he and Jacen Burrows created “Neonomicon” for Avatar Press, a four-issue series that dealt with two FBI agents uncovering an ancient cult that may or may not have been the in-universe inspiration for Lovecraft’s writing. To tell the truth, I wasn’t a fan of that series. Moore’s writing was solid and Burrow’s art was gorgeously dark and stark in its horror, but my problem was that the horror felt too obvious in its attempts to be shocking through gratuitous sexual violence.
Moore and Burrows are back, though, to take their exploration of H.P. Lovecraft’s mythos back to where it all began: Providence, Rhode Island in 1919. “Providence” #1 is the kind of slow burning, methodically paced first issue that, while it sets everything up and lets you get to know and understand the protagonist – in this case it’s journalist Robert Black – of the story, it focuses more on intriguing the reader rather than hooking them. There’s no big cliffhanger moment to this issue, no moment design to shock you into buying the next issue. In fact, the story here is played out so methodically and against the conventions of how a first issue should be laid out – there’s really no hint of the horror to come and focuses instead on the emotional turmoil of the man character as it frames an investigation around the loss of his loved one – that it really speaks to how confident Moore and Burrows are in this series.
While “Neonomicon” played into the kind of horror I would describe as exploitation and perhaps even a little trashy at times, “Providence” is Alan Moore at a much more refined pace. In fact, this issue doesn’t even dive into the horror, instead it acts more as an introduction to Robert Black and the time and place he lives in while hinting at the larger story to come through a conversation he has that takes up most of the middle of the book. Moore here reminds me much more of his work on “From Hell” and “Providence” is all the better for it as the writing is subtle and character-focused while weaving a wide emotional tapestry for the story to fold out on. There’s something almost Kubrick-ian in how Moore and Burrows allow this issue to unfold, showing the reader sequences that they likely won’t figure out what they’re seeing until the end of the issue and even then, it won’t truly make sense until the series unfolds. It’s a level of trust Moore and Burrows seem to have in the reader that allows them to tell their story the way they want and the reader will follow them.
The meticulous pacing of Moore’s writing is definitely reflected in the artwork of Jacen Burrows and creates a gorgeous issue for it. Burrows employs a horizontal, four-panel grid layout for every page of this issue and it gives the issue, to use an awfully overused comparison, a cinematic feel. It gives each panel a wide canvas which Burrows fills with the minute details of the life of Providence at the time which brings the book to life. While Moore and Burrows focus mostly on Black throughout the issue – with a sub-story taking place over four silent pages space throughout the issue – Burrows’ attention to detail in the backgrounds gives the story a sense of weight by placing it in a living, breathing setting. Though, while the setting feels alive, Burrows looks at it through a stark, clean and, there’s that word again, meticulous style as if the reader is a silent observer watching a tragedy unfold before them without being able to interfere.
The starkness of Burrows’ art is really brought home by the colour by Juan Rodriguez, who brings a very natural and muted palette to the book. Rodriguez manages to walk the fine line between keeping many of the colours of the book earthy and muted without draining the life out of the artwork and ending up with something simply grey and drab. Each page has a dash of colour that stands out, often Black’s navy suit and red hair, against the washed out world of Providence, but the colours are never too saturated that it feels noticeable. The colour work is yet another element of this book that feels meticulous and subtle and goes a long way in establishing the artistry on display.
Finally, the pièce de résistance of this issue is the final four pages that come in the form of a letter written by Black in a journal. This letter chronicles and essentially sums up the events of the issue, but contextualises them in his emotional state and gives a look into the mind of the man the reader has been following around throughout the issue. This is a great closing note for the issue as the hand-written style of the lettering brings that 1919 aesthetic to the page and the writing hits home the emotional loss that this character has gone through.
The true horrors of H.P. Lovecraft’s work is in how he brought forward the idea of cosmic horrors, of unknowable rituals and ancient beings and the idea that we are but small and entirely inconsequential in the grand scheme of the universe, and presented them in the everyday normality of small towns. From Innsmouth to Dunwich to Kingsport, Lovecraft’s towns were small and they were ordinary and they were often places of unspeakable horrors lurking just behind the surface. With “Providence”, Moore and Burrows bring that feeling back to the normal, everyday town that Lovecraft grew up and while this issue may be a slow burn and may only hint at the horrors to come, it is stark and meticulous and engaging. This is Moore back at what he does best and he and Jacen Burrows are set to bring a whole new era of horror to comics.
Moore and Burrows are back, though, to take their exploration of H.P. Lovecraft’s mythos back to where it all began: Providence, Rhode Island in 1919. “Providence” #1 is the kind of slow burning, methodically paced first issue that, while it sets everything up and lets you get to know and understand the protagonist – in this case it’s journalist Robert Black – of the story, it focuses more on intriguing the reader rather than hooking them. There’s no big cliffhanger moment to this issue, no moment design to shock you into buying the next issue. In fact, the story here is played out so methodically and against the conventions of how a first issue should be laid out – there’s really no hint of the horror to come and focuses instead on the emotional turmoil of the man character as it frames an investigation around the loss of his loved one – that it really speaks to how confident Moore and Burrows are in this series.
While “Neonomicon” played into the kind of horror I would describe as exploitation and perhaps even a little trashy at times, “Providence” is Alan Moore at a much more refined pace. In fact, this issue doesn’t even dive into the horror, instead it acts more as an introduction to Robert Black and the time and place he lives in while hinting at the larger story to come through a conversation he has that takes up most of the middle of the book. Moore here reminds me much more of his work on “From Hell” and “Providence” is all the better for it as the writing is subtle and character-focused while weaving a wide emotional tapestry for the story to fold out on. There’s something almost Kubrick-ian in how Moore and Burrows allow this issue to unfold, showing the reader sequences that they likely won’t figure out what they’re seeing until the end of the issue and even then, it won’t truly make sense until the series unfolds. It’s a level of trust Moore and Burrows seem to have in the reader that allows them to tell their story the way they want and the reader will follow them.
The meticulous pacing of Moore’s writing is definitely reflected in the artwork of Jacen Burrows and creates a gorgeous issue for it. Burrows employs a horizontal, four-panel grid layout for every page of this issue and it gives the issue, to use an awfully overused comparison, a cinematic feel. It gives each panel a wide canvas which Burrows fills with the minute details of the life of Providence at the time which brings the book to life. While Moore and Burrows focus mostly on Black throughout the issue – with a sub-story taking place over four silent pages space throughout the issue – Burrows’ attention to detail in the backgrounds gives the story a sense of weight by placing it in a living, breathing setting. Though, while the setting feels alive, Burrows looks at it through a stark, clean and, there’s that word again, meticulous style as if the reader is a silent observer watching a tragedy unfold before them without being able to interfere.
The starkness of Burrows’ art is really brought home by the colour by Juan Rodriguez, who brings a very natural and muted palette to the book. Rodriguez manages to walk the fine line between keeping many of the colours of the book earthy and muted without draining the life out of the artwork and ending up with something simply grey and drab. Each page has a dash of colour that stands out, often Black’s navy suit and red hair, against the washed out world of Providence, but the colours are never too saturated that it feels noticeable. The colour work is yet another element of this book that feels meticulous and subtle and goes a long way in establishing the artistry on display.
Finally, the pièce de résistance of this issue is the final four pages that come in the form of a letter written by Black in a journal. This letter chronicles and essentially sums up the events of the issue, but contextualises them in his emotional state and gives a look into the mind of the man the reader has been following around throughout the issue. This is a great closing note for the issue as the hand-written style of the lettering brings that 1919 aesthetic to the page and the writing hits home the emotional loss that this character has gone through.
The true horrors of H.P. Lovecraft’s work is in how he brought forward the idea of cosmic horrors, of unknowable rituals and ancient beings and the idea that we are but small and entirely inconsequential in the grand scheme of the universe, and presented them in the everyday normality of small towns. From Innsmouth to Dunwich to Kingsport, Lovecraft’s towns were small and they were ordinary and they were often places of unspeakable horrors lurking just behind the surface. With “Providence”, Moore and Burrows bring that feeling back to the normal, everyday town that Lovecraft grew up and while this issue may be a slow burn and may only hint at the horrors to come, it is stark and meticulous and engaging. This is Moore back at what he does best and he and Jacen Burrows are set to bring a whole new era of horror to comics.
August 4, 2015
Perhaps this would be tolerable in a collected edition, but as a single issue it is a failure. The characters are introduced, the background for the plot and setting are building, but NOTHING HAPPENS. This issue does not make me want to buy any more. In the end, Alan Moore is a genius and the series may be excellent. If comics are to remain a serialized medium, there must be some attempt to make me want to buy another issue.
January 16, 2022
A very well-produced comic book. A worthy effort from Moore and maybe even better art from Burrows. Taking elements from Lovecraft, Moore tells his own version, paying tribute to the horror writer. I like the journal entries at the end; they add a nice little touch that enhances the final version of the work. Elements of queer fiction in graphic form. Recommended for fans of Moore and horror comic book readers.
January 8, 2023
Hmm, ciężko mi cokolwiek powiedzieć o otwierającym rozdziale tej dwunastoczęściowej serii... Była zaskakująco nijaka, a gdy na końcu zauważyłem jeszcze "wpis do dziennika" głównego bohatera, w którym streścił on to co się wydarzyło dodając może pojedynczą informację od siebie... No słabo to wyglądało, bardzo cieszą easter eggi, ale ich obecność nie może wpływać na odbiór całości, niektóre przynajmniej miały znaczenie dla fabuły, jak wymieniane przez bohatera książki. Zobaczymy co będzie dalej.
November 29, 2018
Impressive beginning, with very good artwork. A closeted reporter on a quest for a story stumbles across a doctor with a very cold apartment (a la Lovecraft's "Cool Air"). No resolutions thusfar, but a fair number of interesting plot threads coming into view. Looking forward to the next installment.
July 30, 2017
This would have made a good novel. GN? Not so much. This wasn't a visual story and all the handwritten pages were just too hard to read. I understand this is the beginning of the set up for the world he will later visit again and again, but I didn't enjoy it.
I didn't need it.
I didn't need it.
October 14, 2018
Gran adaptación de Alan Moore a la mitología de Lovecraft. Me gustó todo, salvo quizá la pretensión del autor de abarcar varios cuentos e historias bajo una misma trama, lo cual le resta continuidad al relato.
Leerá la 2ª parte, en cualquier caso.
Leerá la 2ª parte, en cualquier caso.
September 1, 2024
Really not sure what to make of it. Never having read any Lovecraft OR Alan Moore puts my a distinct disadvantage. Still- I liked it well enough to continue on to the next, and definitely to make an effort to read earlier A. M. as well as some H.p. L.
May 13, 2017
A dapper journalist with a secret life, a doctor with a mysterious illness and mentions of The King in Yellow; it all feels positively Lovecraftian.
December 28, 2017
The Start of something great. A complex, sprawling, erotic and calmly haunting look at the Mythos through the eyes of the great Moore. Can't wait for more.
January 23, 2018
Enjoyed every part
Allen Moore is always brilliant and works with great artists of all kinds. He loves to seek out and accomplish
Allen Moore is always brilliant and works with great artists of all kinds. He loves to seek out and accomplish
January 26, 2020
Wanted to see for myself if it was good, it proved passable at best.
February 5, 2021
Alan Moore es de los pocos que han logrado impresionarme con una adaptación tan buena a las historias de Lovecraft. El dibujo, la historia, el seguimiento... todo en perfecta armonía
May 2, 2021
Una novela que te presenta poco a poco el mundo de HPL
December 17, 2021
Absolutely fantastic
The art, the story, the early 1900s horror fiction mythos... I'm going to go through these fast. Moore is so talented.
The art, the story, the early 1900s horror fiction mythos... I'm going to go through these fast. Moore is so talented.
January 15, 2016
Ich habe eine von 222 deutschen Kopien des Comics gelesen- Anders als die anderen Sachen von Alan Moore- aber als großer Lovecraft-Fan führte kein Weg an diesem Buch vorbei.
~Über die Story~
Hauptcharakter ist der Journalist/Schriftsteller Robert Black, der zu Beginn auf der Suche nach einer Story für seine Zeitung, später auf der Suche nach einer Story für sein Buch unterschiedliche 'Lovecraft-Schauplätze' besucht.
Er besucht einen Doktor, er zur Jahrhundertwende eine Rezession zum König in Gelb schrieb, dieser bringt ihn auf die Spur eines magischen Geheimbundes, über einen Angestellten der Polizei von Red Hook kann er Kontakt zu einem Vertreter dieses Geheimbundes herstellen. In der Zwischenzeit erfährt Mr. Black einen großen persönlichen Rückschlag als sein Partner sich umbringt und er sich nicht zur Liebe zu ihm bekennen kann.
Als er in den Keller schleicht wird er bewusstlos und erfährt eine fragwürdige Hallouzination(?).
Nachdem er seinen Job kündigt, um sich seinem Buch zu widmen- fährt er nach 'Innsmouth' sieht die Zähne und trifft auf den Eremiten aus 'Das Bild aus dem Haus'. Er erwirbt einen 'Orden des Dagon Broschüre' und liest diese zu Hause ausführlich durch (sie ist in Vollständigkeit mit abgedruck).
Als nächstes verschlägt es ihn in ein abgelegenes Farmhaus, ein Mr. Wheatley könne ihm helfen- die Figuren aus 'Dunwich Horror' haben ihren Auftritt.
Unterbrochen werden die Abschnitte von Tagebucheinträgen und Storyideen für Mr. Blacks Buch, außerdem sind die esoterischen Proschüren und der Dagon-Gemeinebrief eingeklebt, am 18.8. bricht das Tagebuch im Satz ab- anschließend sind in der deutsche Ausgabe Artworks zu weiteren Lovecraft Stories(sehr cool).
Insgesamt mit 40€ ein teurer Comic (43US$), und insgesamt typisch Alan Moore- gemessen am Thema.
Natürlich ist die Kombination Moore/Lovecraft nicht 100% deckungsgleich und an einigen Stellen kommt der Humor des Autors (nicht der Themenvorlage- ich habe noch nie einen Witz bei Lovecraft gelesen xD) zum Vorschein- das mögen Leute die Moore mögen, für Lovecraft-Fans ist es eher verwirrend und irgendwie unpassend.
Die Stripes sind alle sehr schön, abwechslungsreich und voller Details- aber das deutsche Cover zeigt einen sich erhebenden Cthulhu (die Rückseite Dagon(?)) und verspricht ein bisschen mehr Action als tatsächlich kommt- wer einen Actioncomic mit lovecraft'schen Horrorelementen sucht- sucht sehr lange. Wer einen Alan Moore zum Lovecraftthema ohne Moore-Action sucht: Jackpot!
Ich hätte gern mehr von den 'krassen' Lovecraftstories gehabt, die m.M. nach auch besser zu Herrn Moore passen, und am Ende so kurz in den Artworks gezeigt werden.
~Über die Story~
Hauptcharakter ist der Journalist/Schriftsteller Robert Black, der zu Beginn auf der Suche nach einer Story für seine Zeitung, später auf der Suche nach einer Story für sein Buch unterschiedliche 'Lovecraft-Schauplätze' besucht.
Er besucht einen Doktor, er zur Jahrhundertwende eine Rezession zum König in Gelb schrieb, dieser bringt ihn auf die Spur eines magischen Geheimbundes, über einen Angestellten der Polizei von Red Hook kann er Kontakt zu einem Vertreter dieses Geheimbundes herstellen. In der Zwischenzeit erfährt Mr. Black einen großen persönlichen Rückschlag als sein Partner sich umbringt und er sich nicht zur Liebe zu ihm bekennen kann.
Als er in den Keller schleicht wird er bewusstlos und erfährt eine fragwürdige Hallouzination(?).
Nachdem er seinen Job kündigt, um sich seinem Buch zu widmen- fährt er nach 'Innsmouth' sieht die Zähne und trifft auf den Eremiten aus 'Das Bild aus dem Haus'. Er erwirbt einen 'Orden des Dagon Broschüre' und liest diese zu Hause ausführlich durch (sie ist in Vollständigkeit mit abgedruck).
Als nächstes verschlägt es ihn in ein abgelegenes Farmhaus, ein Mr. Wheatley könne ihm helfen- die Figuren aus 'Dunwich Horror' haben ihren Auftritt.
Unterbrochen werden die Abschnitte von Tagebucheinträgen und Storyideen für Mr. Blacks Buch, außerdem sind die esoterischen Proschüren und der Dagon-Gemeinebrief eingeklebt, am 18.8. bricht das Tagebuch im Satz ab- anschließend sind in der deutsche Ausgabe Artworks zu weiteren Lovecraft Stories(sehr cool).
Insgesamt mit 40€ ein teurer Comic (43US$), und insgesamt typisch Alan Moore- gemessen am Thema.
Natürlich ist die Kombination Moore/Lovecraft nicht 100% deckungsgleich und an einigen Stellen kommt der Humor des Autors (nicht der Themenvorlage- ich habe noch nie einen Witz bei Lovecraft gelesen xD) zum Vorschein- das mögen Leute die Moore mögen, für Lovecraft-Fans ist es eher verwirrend und irgendwie unpassend.
Die Stripes sind alle sehr schön, abwechslungsreich und voller Details- aber das deutsche Cover zeigt einen sich erhebenden Cthulhu (die Rückseite Dagon(?)) und verspricht ein bisschen mehr Action als tatsächlich kommt- wer einen Actioncomic mit lovecraft'schen Horrorelementen sucht- sucht sehr lange. Wer einen Alan Moore zum Lovecraftthema ohne Moore-Action sucht: Jackpot!
Ich hätte gern mehr von den 'krassen' Lovecraftstories gehabt, die m.M. nach auch besser zu Herrn Moore passen, und am Ende so kurz in den Artworks gezeigt werden.
May 31, 2015
This was a very odd first issue of a comic book series. It is an introduction to the characters, without really doing much introdcution.
Instead, it starts with discussion in a newspaper office about what story to look into in order to fill the last half page of the paper.
After some discussion including the Jersey Devil, the main character mentions something about a local man who wrote a paper on The King Yellow and Sous Le Monde and the idea that it had driven readers mad and caused them to commit suicide.
He visits the author, interrupting a lovemaking session with the landlady and discusses his work. He talks about the madness being rubbish, but how Chamber's had been prophetic in some of his ideas, which had already come to fruition.
The man goes back to the newspaper office to try to squeeze a story out of what he has discovered while working on the idea for a book in the back of his mind.
Once he arrives, he discovers that the space has already been filled and he will not be forced to create something afterall.
At the back of the book, we get two pages of transition and four pages of a commonplace book where the main character recounts what has happened in the issue while adding a few things here and there.
Overall, I thought the story was promising, but not very full or even full of setup for a second issue. After struggling with the star rating, I had to drop it down from 3 to 2 stars as so very little actually happens here that I could not merit a third star.
I'm really hoping that things pick up in the next issue as a fan of Lovecraft. The tone and word choices seem to fit and the art seemed to work well with the words, so once we finally get going, it could get really good fast.
However, it did not do so here.
It did remind me of Lovecraft's story "Cool Air" and I wondered if it might touch on it more.
Instead, it starts with discussion in a newspaper office about what story to look into in order to fill the last half page of the paper.
After some discussion including the Jersey Devil, the main character mentions something about a local man who wrote a paper on The King Yellow and Sous Le Monde and the idea that it had driven readers mad and caused them to commit suicide.
He visits the author, interrupting a lovemaking session with the landlady and discusses his work. He talks about the madness being rubbish, but how Chamber's had been prophetic in some of his ideas, which had already come to fruition.
The man goes back to the newspaper office to try to squeeze a story out of what he has discovered while working on the idea for a book in the back of his mind.
Once he arrives, he discovers that the space has already been filled and he will not be forced to create something afterall.
At the back of the book, we get two pages of transition and four pages of a commonplace book where the main character recounts what has happened in the issue while adding a few things here and there.
Overall, I thought the story was promising, but not very full or even full of setup for a second issue. After struggling with the star rating, I had to drop it down from 3 to 2 stars as so very little actually happens here that I could not merit a third star.
I'm really hoping that things pick up in the next issue as a fan of Lovecraft. The tone and word choices seem to fit and the art seemed to work well with the words, so once we finally get going, it could get really good fast.
However, it did not do so here.
It did remind me of Lovecraft's story "Cool Air" and I wondered if it might touch on it more.
August 25, 2015
Cuando supe que habría una nueva serie mensual de Moore, pensé que era una buena oportunidad para por primera vez leer algo de él
al mismo tiempo de su publicación. Posteriormente me enteré que la serie era un homenaje a Lovecraft y que tomaba muchos elementos
de sus historias, y eso como que me hizo pensarlo un poco ( yo no había leído más que como 3 cuentos de él y ni siquiera eran de los
más representativos) pero aún así me animé a comprarlo.
Es de esos cómics que tienen demasiado contenido para ser de sólo 32 paginas(el 2 creo que ya traerá 40 o 48). Me tardé como 1 hora
en leerlo y releerlo y aún así me quedaron algunas dudas, pero de inmediato me fui a buscar las referencias, y no sé en realidad
qué es mejor si primero leer el comic y luego las historias a las que hace referencia o al revés, Moore dijo en una entrevista que se
puede hacer de cualquiera de las 2 maneras, porque el queria reinventar a Lovecraft para las nuevas generaciones.
La historia que se narra en el número 1 es apenas una leve introducción e incluso aún no podría yo decir cuál será el conflicto principal
de la serie en general(será de 12 números), aún así presenta muy bien al personaje principal, y cómo es clásico de Moore, es una persona
con demasiados matices, como de la vida real. Las locaciones ( en este caso Nueva York en 1919) están investigadas a fondo y
si uno se pone a buscar fotos de esa época se ve que si se fijaron en cada detalle. Me recuerda al arte de Gibbons en Watchmen, que
si bien no es apantallador, técnicamente es una fregonería en cuanto a perspectivas, arquitectura, detalles en el fondo, etc.
En fin desde que lo leí ya llevo mas de 10 cuentos de Lovecraft(espero leer todos antes de que termine la serie) y espero que el siguiente número ya no me agarre tan novato.
al mismo tiempo de su publicación. Posteriormente me enteré que la serie era un homenaje a Lovecraft y que tomaba muchos elementos
de sus historias, y eso como que me hizo pensarlo un poco ( yo no había leído más que como 3 cuentos de él y ni siquiera eran de los
más representativos) pero aún así me animé a comprarlo.
Es de esos cómics que tienen demasiado contenido para ser de sólo 32 paginas(el 2 creo que ya traerá 40 o 48). Me tardé como 1 hora
en leerlo y releerlo y aún así me quedaron algunas dudas, pero de inmediato me fui a buscar las referencias, y no sé en realidad
qué es mejor si primero leer el comic y luego las historias a las que hace referencia o al revés, Moore dijo en una entrevista que se
puede hacer de cualquiera de las 2 maneras, porque el queria reinventar a Lovecraft para las nuevas generaciones.
La historia que se narra en el número 1 es apenas una leve introducción e incluso aún no podría yo decir cuál será el conflicto principal
de la serie en general(será de 12 números), aún así presenta muy bien al personaje principal, y cómo es clásico de Moore, es una persona
con demasiados matices, como de la vida real. Las locaciones ( en este caso Nueva York en 1919) están investigadas a fondo y
si uno se pone a buscar fotos de esa época se ve que si se fijaron en cada detalle. Me recuerda al arte de Gibbons en Watchmen, que
si bien no es apantallador, técnicamente es una fregonería en cuanto a perspectivas, arquitectura, detalles en el fondo, etc.
En fin desde que lo leí ya llevo mas de 10 cuentos de Lovecraft(espero leer todos antes de que termine la serie) y espero que el siguiente número ya no me agarre tan novato.
Read
January 5, 2016Begins at a good, slow expository clip that a good piece of literature ought to start. Establishes the scene and uses comic technique to great effect, though not apparent yet totally, I know that it being an Alan Moore piece that there will be elements that will come into play later. I am taking my time in reading this comic, pacing myself to slow down and take in the art, still sometimes difficult in how we are trained to read as "adults". I could see some considering this "boring" issue but there is much that Moore wants to tell in this story. having read background into the extensive research into this, and many references to anything from Jack London to the Jersey Devil and alchemical texts. I was hoping there was something in the afternotes for explanation; however, it is an interesting commonbook by the main character that enhances elements of the story that would have made the comic more cluttered if included within. Can't help seeing structural elements of Watchmen in this as well.
June 1, 2015
this book seems to be mostly set up, but it has a lot more promise for the whole series since this is one of twelve. the book was very slow, but I had the impression that it was supposed to be slow since this is a noir occult story taking place in the early 20th century. I found the cursive to be hard to read, but that has more to do with age and my relationship with cursive rather than the authors mistake.
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