H.P. Lovecraft's the hound and other stories
(Graphic Novel)

Japanese artist Tanabe (Mr. Nobody) breathes new life into three of Lovecraft's chilling tales of madness in the face of unknowable horror and cosmic indifference in this collection of stories previously unavailable in the United States. While the idea of adapting the sometimes staid, highly cerebral stories of Lovecraft (1890-1937) into the typically wildly dynamic, kinetic manga style might not seem like an obvious idea, Tanabe quickly puts any concerns to rest. His sense of pacing, atmosphere, and design, turns the first story here, "The Temple," which tracks the unraveling of a submarine crew, into a claustrophobic, almost unbearably tense nightmare. The other two tales, "The Hound" and "The Nameless City," feature more than enough creepy architecture, doomed expeditions, and visceral monster attacks to thrill -Lovecraft aficionados, manga fans, and everyone in between. VERDICT Tanabe's vision and style set this collection miles above most of the numerous Lovecraft adaptations already available, coming in second to perhaps only -Richard Corben (Graphic Classics: H.P. Lovecraft), the undisputed master adapter of Lovecraft's work to the graphic form.-TB © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Japanese artist Tanabe (Mr. Nobody) breathes new life into three of Lovecraft's chilling tales of madness in the face of unknowable horror and cosmic indifference in this collection of stories previously unavailable in the United States. While the idea of adapting the sometimes staid, highly cerebral stories of Lovecraft (1890–1937) into the typically wildly dynamic, kinetic manga style might not seem like an obvious idea, Tanabe quickly puts any concerns to rest. His sense of pacing, atmosphere, and design, turns the first story here, "The Temple," which tracks the unraveling of a submarine crew, into a claustrophobic, almost unbearably tense nightmare. The other two tales, "The Hound" and "The Nameless City," feature more than enough creepy architecture, doomed expeditions, and visceral monster attacks to thrill Lovecraft aficionados, manga fans, and everyone in between. VERDICT Tanabe's vision and style set this collection miles above most of the numerous Lovecraft adaptations already available, coming in second to perhaps only Richard Corben (Graphic Classics: H.P. Lovecraft), the undisputed master adapter of Lovecraft's work to the graphic form.—TB