NEONOMICON #3

Alan Moore is probably the most famous comic book writer still working these days. I should probably say “legendary” instead of “famous,” though, because there probably are a lot of younger readers who might only know him from the film adaptations of late. He rarely does interviews and he refuses to work for the mainstream comics these days, so when a new book written by him comes out it's a pleasant surprise and sort of a big deal. No, he hasn't written anything great since his second mini-series of A League of Extraordinary Gentleman, but I am enjoying this new series of his mostly because it's fucking bat shit crazy. It's also disturbing, creepy, and interesting. I would go so far as to say that it's the love-it-or-despise-it book of the year and Moore's most pornographic since Lost Girls. The series is basically about the world that writer H.P. Lovecraft created. What if all the odd things in his novels were actually real? There's a serial killer that two F.B.I. agents are tracking down. This leads them to Salem, Massachusetts where they find a cult of weirdos that have a sea monster creature in their basement. Cue the monster raping the female F.B.I. agent who also happens to be a sex addict. & the serial killings may have something to do with the strange dude that has a mask over his mouth and is probably missing his tongue. Yes, it's insane stuff and definitely over the top and I can see how most people would think that this is garbage and horribly silly. I found it to be intriguing, though, and the strange world seemed to wash over me in the same way most of Alan Moore's writing has done. This isn't Moore at the top of his game, but it's unique and different than anything out there. Artist Jacen Burrows has drawn a terrific cover and some really moody, stark panels that bring the book to life without overdoing it. Whether you find it to be trash or brilliance, you'll still be thinking about it long after it's read. I think that's a good thing in a world of throwaway superhero tales. ***