And Then I Read: NEONOMICON 4

Images © Avatar Press and Alan Moore, art by Jacen Burrows.

First, I should point out that this comic contains scenes of graphic violence (well, look at that cover, for example), sexual themes and adult language, so anyone easily offended by such things should probably read something else.

The final issue of this new Lovecraftian horror series by Moore and Burrows wraps up the storyline and provides some answers as to the fate of agent Merril, as the FBI descend on the scene of her kidnapping and destroy the creature they find there. The rest of the issue is aftermath, but is perhaps the most interesting part of the story, as Merril explores what happened to her with new insight that only she, among all the people of the world, can have. I'll leave it there for you to read yourself if you're so inclined. A collected version should be out soon.

This is one of the few pages I feel I can show here on what I'd like to think is an all-ages friendly site, with Merril talking in Lovecraftian guttural language to Aldo Sax, who I've just realized was in a previous connected story, "The Courtyard," which I haven't read. I believe both stories will be in the new collected edition. The art by Burrows is quite good, and does not shrink away from anything Alan asks for, so be warned, though this issue is not as graphic as the last two.

In the most recent PREVIEWS, Avatar published a short interview/article with Alan Moore where he discusses what he was attempting to do with this story. In particular, what it might mean to introduce a female protagonist into Lovecraft's mythos, where none had gone before. It's illuminating, worth a look if you can find it. As always, Alan put a lot of thought into what he wrote here, and it's certainly thought-provoking, though I have to admit the ending did remind me of a certain horror film from the 1960s. You'll get that if you read the story.

Recommended for those who like Moore at his most horrific!