H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu: The Whisperer in Darkness
Encyclopedia
H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu: The Whisperer in Darkness was a three-part comic book
mini-series published by Millennium Publications
that followed a group of investigators, the Miskatonic Project, as they confronted the Mi-go
, the cunning Fungi from Yuggoth
.
Created by Mark Ellis
, The Miskatonic Project consisted of three paranormal investigators who apparently had experienced brushes with the Great Old Ones in the past. Lord Justin Sabbath, Professor Augustus Grant, and psychic Fleur Avignon used the Miskatonic University
as a base of operations. They worked closely with noted folklorist Professor Albert N. Wilmarth, who brought the Mi-Go
to their attention.
Set in 1929, the first issue introduced the members of the Miskatonic Project in a framing sequence penciled by Darryl Banks
and written by Mark Ellis
. The rest of the issue was filled out by writer Terry Collins' adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s story "The Whisperer in Darkness
," with art by noted Lovecraft illustrator Daryl Hutchison and Melissa Martin.
The following two issues presented a sequel to the events of "The Whisperer In Darkness", penciled by veteran Marvel Comics
artist Don Heck
, with a script provided by Mark Ellis and Terry Collins. The Mi-Go and their human collaborators were portrayed as paving the way for the return of the Old Ones, including Cthulhu. Inspector John Raymond Legrasse, the New Orleans police officer who first appeared in Lovecraft's inaugural Cthulhu story, "The Call of Cthulhu
", appears in the second chapter.
The three issues were collected together as a single graphic novel
published by Millennium Publications in 1993. An updated edition featuring new artwork and retitled The Miskatonic Project: H.P. Lovecraft's The Whisperer in Darkness is slated for release by Millennial Concepts in October 2008.
.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
mini-series published by Millennium Publications
Millennium Publications
Millennium Productions was an American independent comic book publishing company founded by Mark Ellis, Melissa Martin and Paul Davis. Initially known as a publisher of licensed properties, Millennium adapted works by Arthur Conan Doyle, Lester Dent, Frank Frazetta, Robert E. Howard, Harlan...
that followed a group of investigators, the Miskatonic Project, as they confronted the Mi-go
Mi-go
The Mi-go are a race of extraterrestrials in the Cthulhu Mythos created by H. P. Lovecraft and others. The name was first applied to the creatures in Lovecraft's short story "The Whisperer in Darkness" , taking up a reference to 'What fungi sprout in Yuggoth' in his sonnet cycle Fungi from Yuggoth...
, the cunning Fungi from Yuggoth
Yuggoth
Yuggoth is a fictional planet in the Cthulhu Mythos. H. P. Lovecraft himself said that Yuggoth is the then newly-discovered planet Pluto. However, other writers claim that it is actually an enormous, trans-Neptunian world that orbits perpendicular to the ecliptic of the solar system.-In the...
.
Parts of the series
Mark Ellis (writer)
Mark Ellis is an American novelist and comic-book writer who under the pen name James Axler has written scores of books for the Outlanders paperback novel series and other books, as well as numerous independent comics series....
, The Miskatonic Project consisted of three paranormal investigators who apparently had experienced brushes with the Great Old Ones in the past. Lord Justin Sabbath, Professor Augustus Grant, and psychic Fleur Avignon used the Miskatonic University
Miskatonic University
Miskatonic University is a fictional university located in Arkham; a fictitious town which is said to exist in Essex County, Massachusetts. It is named after the Miskatonic River . After first appearing in the H. P...
as a base of operations. They worked closely with noted folklorist Professor Albert N. Wilmarth, who brought the Mi-Go
Mi-go
The Mi-go are a race of extraterrestrials in the Cthulhu Mythos created by H. P. Lovecraft and others. The name was first applied to the creatures in Lovecraft's short story "The Whisperer in Darkness" , taking up a reference to 'What fungi sprout in Yuggoth' in his sonnet cycle Fungi from Yuggoth...
to their attention.
Set in 1929, the first issue introduced the members of the Miskatonic Project in a framing sequence penciled by Darryl Banks
Darryl Banks
Darryl Banks is a comic book artist. He worked on one of the first painted comic books, Cyberpunk, and teamed with the writer Mark Ellis to revamp the long-running The Justice Machine series for two publishers, Innovation and Millennium....
and written by Mark Ellis
Mark Ellis (writer)
Mark Ellis is an American novelist and comic-book writer who under the pen name James Axler has written scores of books for the Outlanders paperback novel series and other books, as well as numerous independent comics series....
. The rest of the issue was filled out by writer Terry Collins' adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s story "The Whisperer in Darkness
The Whisperer in Darkness
"The Whisperer in Darkness" is a short story by H. P. Lovecraft. Written February–September 1930, it was first published in Weird Tales, August 1931. Similar to "The Colour Out of Space" , it is a blend of horror and science fiction...
," with art by noted Lovecraft illustrator Daryl Hutchison and Melissa Martin.
The following two issues presented a sequel to the events of "The Whisperer In Darkness", penciled by veteran Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
artist Don Heck
Don Heck
Don Heck was an American comic book artist best known for co-creating the Marvel Comics character Iron Man, and for his long run penciling the Marvel superhero-team series The Avengers during the 1960s Silver Age of comic books.-Early life and career:Born in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, New...
, with a script provided by Mark Ellis and Terry Collins. The Mi-Go and their human collaborators were portrayed as paving the way for the return of the Old Ones, including Cthulhu. Inspector John Raymond Legrasse, the New Orleans police officer who first appeared in Lovecraft's inaugural Cthulhu story, "The Call of Cthulhu
The Call of Cthulhu
The Call of Cthulhu is a short story by American writer H. P. Lovecraft. Written in the summer of 1926, it was first published in the pulp magazine Weird Tales, in February 1928.-Inspiration:...
", appears in the second chapter.
The three issues were collected together as a single graphic novel
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
published by Millennium Publications in 1993. An updated edition featuring new artwork and retitled The Miskatonic Project: H.P. Lovecraft's The Whisperer in Darkness is slated for release by Millennial Concepts in October 2008.
Trading cards
The three issues also included "Old Ones" trading cards, rendered by Darryl Banks, Daryl Hutchison, Deirdre DeLay, and Joe PhillipsJoe Phillips
Joe Phillips is an American artist, known for his mainstream comic book art and for his work depicting his views of gay life. He currently lives in San Diego, California.-Early Years and Comic Work:...
.
- Part One (Dec. 1991) — "CthulhuCthulhuCthulhu is a fictional character that first appeared in the short story "The Call of Cthulhu", published in the pulp magazine Weird Tales in 1928. The character was created by writer H. P...
" and "Cthulhu Statue" trading cards - Part Two (Feb. 1992) — "HasturHasturHastur is a fictional entity of the Cthulhu Mythos. Hastur first appeared in Ambrose Bierce's short story "Haïta the Shepherd" as a benign god of shepherds. Robert W...
" and "Mi-Go" trading cards - Part Three (Apr. 1992) — "Yig, Father of Serpents" and "Quachil Uttaus" trading cards
External links
- Official site of Mark Ellis
- Comicspace.com Select comics work by Mark Ellis
- Press release announcing Millennial Concepts & Transfuzion's Miskatonic Project graphic novel.