Title: At the Mountains of Madness: A Graphic Novel
Author: I.N.J. Culbard
First published January 1, 2010
128 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781906838126 (ISBN10: 1906838127)
Rating: 3.87
Overview
“For a brief moment, we stood in awe…” Join a group of intrepid scientists as they journey to the icy depths of Antarctica in September 1930. What they discover there is beyond anything they could have imagined – secrets long forgotten, and a future too terrifying to even contemplate.
H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness (1936) is a masterpiece of science fiction that ushered in a new era of exploration and discovery. By embracing scientific fact, this classic tale of the “heroic age” of polar exploration will leave you breathless with wonder and fear.
About the Author
Meet I.N.J. Culbard, a talented artist and writer. His work was published in Dark Horse Comics’ New Recruits anthology after being selected from thousands of other writers in 2006.
Since then, he has continued to impress, appearing in the anthology series Dark Horse Presents, the Judge Dredd Megazine, and 2000 AD.
Culbard is also an accomplished animation director. He has directed commercials, developed television projects, and produced and directed short films.
Working alongside him at SelfMadeHero is his collaborator, writer Ian Edginton.
Editoral Review
At the Mountains of Madness: A Graphic Novel, authored by I.N.J. Culbard and published on January 1st, 2010, is a visually stunning adaptation of the 1931 novel by the iconic American writer H.P. Lovecraft. The graphic novel captures not only Lovecraft’s eerie storytelling and imagination but also provides a dazzling and terrifying graphic representation of the horror and thrill of his concept of the unknown.
The plot follows a group of scientists led by Professor Dyer on an expedition to Antarctica where they discover a hidden city in the mountains. However, as they explore further, they encounter deadly creatures and realize that the city is the home of an ancient, terrifying race of beings who once ruled the Earth.
The central characters have their individual strengths, fears, and motivations, which help shape their fate and influence the story’s direction. Despite its initial publication over 90 years ago, the novel addresses themes that are relevant even today, like humankind’s quest for knowledge, the limits of scientific exploration, and the dangers of unperturbed curiosity.
Culbard’s exceptional artistry adds an extra dimension to Lovecraft’s storytelling and creates an unsettling, gothic atmosphere. Culbard’s depiction of the creatures’ physical attributes and the world they inhabit is nothing short of beautiful, with texture and color-schemes that imbue every frame with a sense of wonder, mystery, and dread.
Each panel builds on the last until the reader feels immersed in a world of darkness and peril. Culbard’s work reflects the evolution of graphic novels as an art form and sets a benchmark for excellence.
Although this graphic novel is a marvel of visual storytelling, it does fall short in some aspects. The character development of Professor Dyer and his team is somewhat underdeveloped, and the pacing could have been more dynamic in certain sections.
Nonetheless, these flaws are outweighed by the overall quality of the book, which is a masterclass in horror and graphic arts. At the Mountains of Madness: A Graphic Novel is highly recommended for those who love horror, science fiction, and graphic novels, or for those who seek an unconventional and awe-inspiring reading experience.
The adaptation captures the essence of Lovecraft’s original work and elevates it to a new level of visual mastery. I would highly recommend this book to any reader, and I give it a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
