(This review originally appeared in the July/August 1999 issue of Prism, the newsletter of the British Fantasy Society.)
Codex Arcana: A Tribute To H.P. Lovecraft
Dark Horse, $2.95 US
When I first heard Dark Horse Presents would have an entire issue dedicated to the works and legacy of H.P. Lovecraft, my reaction was a mixture of curiosity and concern. The curiosity was for the distinctive tales that might be told in such a format. The concern, on the other hand, was due to the possibility the stories might merely be slavish, unoriginal imitations. This is an unfortunate characteristic of all too many Lovecraft-inspired projects. Another reason for misgiving is the frequent failure of Lovecraft's work to be translated into other mediums. This failure has most often occurred in cinema, although comic books have not been exempt. Fortunately, Codex Arcana is a noteworthy, entertaining issue.
DHP #142 contains three stories, the first of which, "The Bookroom Horror," introduces the character of Dr. Gosburo Coffin (an archetypal Lovecraftian protagonist whose appearance is even modeled after the Lovecraft's own unusual countenance). The story, written by Mike Mignola, has some fine artwork by Ryan Soak. One might fault Soak for trying to emulate the feel of Mignola's own art, rather than utilizing a more unique style. Nevertheless, the atmospheric art does suit the mood of the story. The plot at first appears to be just another derivative Lovecraft pastiche, but quickly improves as it becomes apparent that Dr. Coffin, for all his knowledge and confidence, is very much out of his league in his attempt to deal with a supernatural menace. One of the most compelling themes of Lovecraft's work is the insignificance of man before the awesome, terrible power of the unknown. It is to Mignola's credit that he utilizes this concept, instead of merely relying on the more superficial elements such as mysterious tentacles and ancient mystic books (although both of these do figure in the story).
"The Devils Footprints," by Scott Allie and Galen Showman, is a similar story. Unlike Mignola's tale, though, Allies is not particularly distinctive. There is a certain tension and rivalry between this story's two characters, the type of interplay not found in Lovecraft's own fiction. This at least demonstrates Allies willingness to be flexible with the traditional formula. Nevertheless, the calling-up of convenient counter-spells to defeat the menace at hand results in an ending that is too pat.
"The Keyhole," by Welles Hartley and Vince Giarrano, is an effective tale that produces tension as it progresses towards its horrific resolution. As with so many of Lovecraft's tales, this ending is one that the reader no doubt suspects is coming, but the confirmation is nevertheless a chilling and startling one. Giarrano's highly-detailed art is well-suited to this story of the ill-considered efforts of two scientists to look into strange, fantastic dimensions.
Altogether, DHP #142 is a notable issue, with only one of its three stories being somewhat disappointing. A good average, considering the potential problems I cited earlier. It is worth buying by those who have an interest in Lovecraft's work, and certainly by those who are looking for an entertaining read.
Recommended.