Review – Rat God #2 (Dark Horse Comics)

March 4, 2015

1–2 minutes

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Writer/Artist: Richard Corben
Release Date: 4th March, 2015

The love for Lovecraft seems to show no sign of abating in the comic world. The world – or rather worlds – of the founding father modern horror continue to inspire deranged minds nearly a century on from his first short stories. Because it was a sandbox that he was so willing to allow others to play in, we continue to get an extraordinary diversity of mythos-fuelled comics month-to-month (vid. Morrison’s Nameless). There are hits and misses, to be sure, but Corben’s excellent Rat Gods is definitely one to go for.

Miskatonic University graduate Clark Elwood has found himself stranded in snowy woods after an incident with his car in issue #1, and now stumbles across the very backwoods town he was hoping to find, to unravel the mysteries of the woman he has loved and lost. You know that’s it’s going to end badly, and yet the townsfolk seem to determined to protect him from the (inevitable) terrible secrets that lurk within.

There are what may be negatives to some. The narrative is a bit disjointed in places, although perversely, perhaps, this is almost a better jumping on point than #1. The quasi-narrator, who may or may not be hunting Clark, frames the story. However, a good mythos tale should force us to investigate, shouldn’t it? Equally, the art is heavily stylised with almost exaggerated faces which some may find off-putting, but I felt really suits.

If you’re still with me, great. Because this is an intricate, detailed, and compelling story. There is a sense of where the tale is going, but only insofar as it abides by the twisted rules of these Gothic, otherworldly tales. This is one to stay with all the way to its mind-warping conclusion.

Rating: 4/5

PREVIEW ARTWORK.
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