Lovecraft in Black & White

Lovecraft in Black & white is a no-brainer. The Gothic appeal of the Cthulhu Mythos is best served by uncolored penwork. The late Silver Age and Bronze Age was when we got these stories. There have been many new Mythos and Lovecraft comics since but I wanted to focus specifically on these earlier ones. Let’s briefly mention what is not here. These are all from stories or poems by HPL. They are adaptations. I have not included new material inspired by Lovecraft like Mike Vosburg’s Linda Lovecraft series. I have not included the Golden Age EC versions that do their own thing. I have not included works by other Mythos authors like Robert Bloch.

In past posts, the two main publishers were Warren and Skywald. This time around Skywald is absent. They did do a series called “The Shoggoths” which was a pretty muddled affair and not an adaptation. For more on that series, go here. There were similar comics at Charlton. Marvel borrowed from HPL too.

The other thing I have not included were color versions. Now having said that, I do include color comics that were released later as black & whites. That would Marvel I am talking about. Tower of Shadows did several Mythos comics and some were reprinted in Masters of Terror #1 and #2. Marvel was always looking for ways to recycle stories.

You may notice something as you go through these comics. I have chosen the big reveal at the end of most of them. This was the comic book’s version of Lovecraft’s italics. You can just imagine that scene in letter like this…

Call of Cthulhu

“Island at the World’s End” (Eerie #4, July 1966) was adapted by Archie Goodwin from “The Call of Cthulhu” (Weird Tales, February 1928) . I almost didn’t include this one because it isn’t a proper adaptation of the story. It is like a partial adaptation, focusing on the part that happens at sea. As with all the black & whites, it is Archie Goodwin who starts us out.

Wentworth’s Day

“Wentworth’s Day” (Eerie #13, February 1968) originally appeared in Christopher Lee’s Treasury of Terror (1966) was adapted by Russ Jones. I almost didn’t include this one because the posthumous collaborations are mostly Derleth but Lovecraft had some part in this, so here it is.

The Rats in the Walls

“The Rats in the Walls” (Creepy #21, July 1968) was adapted by an unknown author. “The Rats in the Walls” appeared in Weird Tales, March 1924.

“The Rats in the Walls” (Skull Comics #5, August 1972) adapted and drawn by Richard Corben.

To A Dreamer

“To a Dreamer” (Skull Comics #5, August 1972) adapted and drawn by Charles Dallas. This poem appeared in Weird Tales, November 1924.

The Terrible Old Man

“The Terrible Old Man” (Masters of Terror #1, July 1975) was adapted by Roy Thomas. This story was reprinted in Weird Tales, August 1926. This comic was reprinted from the color comic, Tower of Shadows #3 (January 1970). Another example of Smith doing something other than Conan like “The Boy Who Loved Trees” from Vampirella.

The Music of Erich Zann

“The Music of Erich Zann” (Masters of Terror #2, September 1975) was adapted by Roy Thomas. This story was from Weird Tales, May 1925. This comic was reprinted from the color comic, Chamber of Darkness #5 (June 1970).

Pickman’s Model

“Pickman’s Model” (Masters of Terror #2, September 1975) was adapted by Roy Thomas. This story appeared in Weird Tales, October 1927. This comic was reprinted from the color comic, Tower of Shadows #9 (January 1971).

“Pickman’s Model” (Skull Comics #4, May 1972) adapted and drawn by Herb Arnold.

Cool Air

“Cool Air” (Skull Comics #4, May 1972) adapted and drawn by Michael Smith. “Cool Air” was reprinted in Weird Tales, September 1939.

“Cool Air” (Eerie #62, January 1975) adapted and drawn by Berni Wrightson. Finally! Wrightson and Lovecraft! I’m often surprised Berni didn’t make a career of it. His Swamp Thing is pretty close.

The Hound

“The Hound” (Skull Comics #4, May 1972) adapted and drawn by Jack Jackson. “The Hound” appeared for the first time in Weird Tales, February 1924.

The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath

“The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath” (1978) was a portfolio by Tom Sutton later used in Graphic Classic #4, 2002. I had to include this one because I love Tom Sutton’s work. Who better to do the Dream-quest? Philippe Druillet comes in a close second. The story was originally serialized in The Arkham Sampler, Winter 1948, Spring 1948, Summer 1948, Autumn 1948.

The Dunwich Horror

“The Dunwich Horror” (Heavy Metal, October 1979) adapted and drawn by Alberto Breccia. “The Dunwich Horror” appeared in Weird Tales, April 1929.

Conclusion

Of all the Lovecraft in Black & White, that last comic was very important (to me anyway). The October 1979 issue of Heavy Metal was dedicated to HPL. There were many strips that were not actual adaptations but plenty of Lovecraftian weirdness. “The Dunwich Horror” was the longest and truest. To my mind it was the clarion call that begins the next phase of Lovecraft comics. The French always loved HPL as they did Poe. Most of the HM stories were in color but Breccia was brave enough to do it in black & white.