Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom

Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom

Writer: Bruce Brown

Penciler: Renzo Podesta

Colorist: Renzo Podesta

Cover Artist: Thomas Boatwright

Warning: Contains Spoilers

There's a prevalent school of thought that what happens to us as young children has a great deal of impact on the later adult we become. If that's the case, what events in his young life might have warped the psyche of H.P. Lovecraft and created the delightfully twisted mind that spawned the Cthulu Mythos? Writer Bruce Brown and Artist Renzo Podesta use this idea as a springboard into their whimsical horror story featuring young Howard as the protagonist.

Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom hits the shelves this fall from Arcana. It is available for pre-orders in PREVIEW now (The Diamond Order Code is: OCT09 0688). As with any independent release, pre orders are important to assure the release of the book, so if you like what you see, be sure to place your order.

The book begins darkly enough: It's Christmas Eve 1894 and young Howard's mother takes him to see his mad father at the Butler Sanitarium in hopes that the Holy Day will give the man clarity enough to talk to his boy. The institution's staff discourage her, but young Howard wanders off on his own and sees his father.

His father is ranting and raving, but gains focus long enough to give his son two things: advice and a lucky charm. His father tells him to destroy the book, without telling him what book he means. And he gives the boy a small star as a charm before his mother whisks young Howard away.

After such a traumatic encounter young Howard can't sleep that night, so his mother gives him his present early – a book his father wrote. Howard reads aloud words no one should utter. A portal to the frozen kingdom opens and Howard is sucked through into a different world.

Howard's youthful bravado and ignorance allows him to face up to untold horrors in the frozen kingdom – well, that and he's helped by a monster beholden to him – some call him “Thu Thu” but Howard re-dubs him “Spot.” How would young Howard know how deadly these beings are? After all, it will be his grown-up self that later tells us of evils such as Dagon. All Howard has are his book, his charm and his “Spot”.

It's a fun and clever tale well told with strong art and peril that feels authentic and real. There is betrayal and sacrifice, and a few things are NOT WHAT THEY SEEM. Brown cleverly weaves elements of the Cthulu Mythos into Howard's adventures. Podesta's art is striking throughout the book, the figure of Howard ever a classic storybook figure as the frozen kingdom around him grows more impressionistic and fierce.

Brown and Podesta create true menace and scary monsters that challenge Howard and move the story along with page turning excitement. I don't have children, but can tell you I would have loved this book myself as a kid. Heck, I thoroughly enjoyed it as a supposed grown-up! This is “Where the Unspeakable Wild Things Are,” with no guarantee that dinner will still be warm! Brown doesn't coddle his all ages audience. The book finishes strong and true to its subject... without getting too grim. The book takes young readers along on a great, scary adventure, while it also rewards an older audience with Lovecraftian echoes that add depth and menace... and a few good laughs, too. The book's a winner – a real Halloween treat!

Again, it's coming in October, but order now to insure the book is released! You can pre-order Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom in PREVIEWS now, the Diamond Order Code is: OCT09 0688.

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