Sherlock Holmes vs Lovecraft 20220626

I binge listened last two books of James Lovegrove’s The Cthulhu Casebooks trilogy. Without going in to spoilers and too deep I mostly enjoyed the books. Not as good as first one. First one was what I expected from these books. Sherlock Holmes against Lovecraftian adversatives. Last two books build on top of first one and now Sherlock and Watson can fight against Lovecraftian forces. Humans are no longer insects among ancient forces. Books are enjoyable but I rather had each book having own story without Sherlock becoming expert in eldritch horror. Not going to spoilers but I didn’t like the trilogy wide story arc. Individual books’ arcs worked better. Last book is mostly ending the trilogy wide story arc. I liked it least.

I tried to use this Sherlock reference in last drawing but couldn’t make it work that time. I gave it another shot and added Lovecraft to background. Again trying to use as much black as possible. This time I used hard light layers instead of using darker and lighter colors on coloring layer. I am not sure which way works better. Hard light layer gives more “realistic” colors but I am not after realism.

The Cthulhu Casebook 20220623

Started to listen James Lovegrove’s The Cthulhu Casebooks. Idea of Sherlock Holmes investigating Lovecraftian cases sound interesting and same time had change to be terrible. At least first book “Sherlock Holmes and the Shadwell Shadows” works for me. Don’t know how well it works for fans of Sherlock Holmes. It makes some changes to the lore. More than just adding Lovecraftian themes. Book is so well written it made me want to listen some history books of the era.

Drawing is based on photo of Basil Rathbone’s Sherlock Holmes. Found couple photos of his Sherlock Holmes with horror feeling. Might use others if I want to say something more of The Cthulhu Casebooks. I got back to playing with strong black shadows after previous felt missing something.

H. P. Lovecraft 20220605

Wasteland: The Great War and the Origins of Modern Horror by W. Scott Poole has few sections of H.P. Lovecraft. It got me interested of him again. I joined H.P. Lovecraft Literary Podcast in Patreon if you call paying for episodes. I listened free version so much I thought I could get pay for it and get all episodes. Started to listen it from the beginning again now when I can listen all the episodes. Also found H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society and their Dark Adventure Radio Theater. Wanted to draw something Lovecraft. Will probably try this idea in future.

IDW's Infestation 2

IDW’s Infestation 2 is comic book event which contains 12 issues of H.P. Lovecraft related stories. Lovecraftian monsters in each is only thing connecting them. Some of the stories take two issues others one. I made mistake by reading issues in order they were released. There is no need to do it because stories don’t have any connection to each others. If you read issues in order they were released you jump from story to story without any reason. There is a free preview comic which explains H.P. Lovecraft connection.

Infestation 2: This is main story with first and last issue of Infestation 2. It has preview comic in it. When the story starts you feel betrayed because it is not anywhere near as good as preview comic was. There is vampire special force which is trying to stop lovecraftian monsters coming to their reality. If I got it correctly these characters were from first Infestation. Don’t know if they have their own comic outside Infestations. This felt like short and cheap copy of B.P.R.D. It made me want to get back to reading B.P.R.D. I don’t want to call this main story because it has nothing to do with other stories. If we take free preview part away this was the worst story. You can skip this if you don’t want to read the complete thing.

Infestation 2 - Transformers: This is heavily influenced by Cthulhu and Shadows Over Innsmouth. Story would have been better without Transformers and Decepticons. Elder god Not-Cthulhu and Not-Innsmouth were good lovecraftian creations. Them having mind controlled Decepticons made no sense. Transformers and Optimus Prime took away the rest of the lovecraftian tone. Art and story were good outside Transformers. This happened 19th century. It didn’t matter. This could have been in modern day remote place if they changed Nikolai Tesla’s name. There was potential but Transformers took it away. Might be worth for Not-Cthulhu and Not-Innsmouth if you can endure Transformers.

Infestation 2 - Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeons & Dragons was turn for better after first two stories. I didn’t expect much from it but it turned out to be my second favorite story of Infection 2. This is detective story with elf Sherlock Holmes and dwarf Doctor Watson. They had different names but inspiration was too obvious and too much referenced. They investigate case of missing mental patient which lead into lovecraftian monster attacking their town. This was enjoyable ride and I liked the characters enough for the story. But if point was to make me read other Dungeons & Dragons comics it didn’t happen. It wasn’t same as Transformers where lovecraftian theme was only thing carrying the comic. These characters would become dull in long run. I don’t think you can get much more out of them in other stories. But they were enough for this two issue story.

Infestation 2 - Team Up: I am not sure what point of this story was. At least it was only one issue and had some ideas. Grey alien from Area 51 is taken to town which lovecraftian monster is attacking. Alien is so bored with all event comics but acts because monster tries to eat his new friend. Story is commentary against event comics in middle of event comic. Someone might have thought it was clever idea. There are tons of references to Marvel and DC. Little bit better than the “main story” but still bad parts bring it down from what it could have been. You can skip this if you don’t want to read the whole thing.

Infestation 2 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: In short this is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles meet Hellboy and lovecraftian monster. Haven’t read Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics before. Don’t know if their comics are this heavily inspired by Hellboy in story and art wise. Monsters attack New York and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles find lovecraftian monster in sewers. Story suffers to smaller extent the same problem as Transformers that story would be better without the main characters. Maybe it was so close to Hellboy that I kept thinking this could be decent Hellboy story. Turtles are not as wrong place as Transformers were in their story. Still one of the better stories thanks to heavy Hellboy influence in art and story.

Infestation 2 - G.I. Joe: This is better than it has any right to be. With same story and art but without G.I. Joes and Cobras this would have been great lovecraftian story. G.I. Joes don’t need to be there even if you keep the Cobra. They just come outside Cobra base to get some lovecraftian action. They have no agency in the story. Cobra has all the agency. Corporation’s or rich person’s science base would have made more sense that Cobra. Yes this would have been better story without guys whose name is in the cover. Making this Cobra fighting against monsters they released saves something. Main story happens inside Cobra base they locked down to stop spread of a song which turns sane persons into monsters. Insane are safe as are those who can control their minds well enough.

Infestation 2 - 30 Days of Night: 30 Days of Night is already dark horror. They don’t have characters which need to return from this unchanged. Easy to guess this was best story of Infestation 2. Adding lovecraftian monster to vampire story worked because both use same fear of unknown. This happens 1950’s. Time period is used to enhance the story unlike in Transformers. This is a good horror comic. It is only one issue long but more would have been too long for the story.

I was surprised how good some of these were. 30 Days of Night and Dungeons & Dragons were only ones without problems with main characters. In others having characters whose name was in cover caused some problems. With Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and G.I. Joe the problems weren’t that big. But for Transformers you have be ready for Transformers nonsense to enjoy the lovecraftian parts. The “main story” and Team Up are probably not worth of you time and money. You get best part of the “main story” in free preview comic. Fans of lovecraftian horror get something out of these. Not so sure about fans of main characters. Maybe that is why there isn’t Infestation 3 yet several years after Infestation 2. If this was supposed to make us read more from these characters it didn’t work with me. 30 Days of Night was already on my wish list and I will eventually check it. But I have no interest in others.

Best thing at the moment: Batman: The doom that came to Gotham

This post is not meant to devaluate The Immortal Hulk even though I publish it so close to it. First I thought I write post about The doom that came to Gotham without making it Best thing at the moment post. That was before I finished the book. Reason why this comes so close to The Immortal Hulk is because I started reading the comic right after writing that post. No. Not every comic I read is best thing ever. I just happened to read two good ones back to back.

Reason why I wanted to write about The doom that come to Gotham was it isn’t that well known. Gotham by gaslight is much better know Elseworlds Batman comic. I have heard of few others too. But never about The doom that came to Gotham until couple weeks ago. It is weird Gotham by gaslight drawn by Mike Mignola is better known than The doom that came to Gotham written by Mike Mignola. Mike Mignola is the guy who created Hellboy. Hellboy universe is my favorite comic book universe. I will get back to it later. For those who don’t know DC’s Elseworlds stories are stories with familiar character in different worlds where anything can happen.

The doom that came to Gotham is lovecraftian Batman story. Maybe better term is lovecraftian horror story played by Batman characters. That is how it feels like. Batman characters are there but they are changed some much they feel they act similar character. This goes to level where story might have worked better without making it Batman story. Batman characters don’t add much to story. That said Two-Face and Poison Ivy were turned into great lovecraftian characters. What was done to Two-Face made me make this Best thing at the moment post.

In this world Bruce Wayne has known for twenty years he has to fight evil forces in Gotham. He has adventured around the world waiting for sign to come back to Gotham. He gets that at the beginning. He returns to Gotham 1926 bringing seed of the doom. You will be surprised if you expect this to follow rules of Batman stories. No character is safe even if they are important in normal Batman comics. Here everything serves lovecraftian story.

The doom that came to Gotham remind lot of Hellboy. Story has many same elements. Artwork could be from Hellboy universe book. Probably because of the way Mignola writes comics. This might be over looked by Batman fans because it more Lovecraft and Hellboy than Batman. Lovecraft and Hellboy fans will enjoy this book.