Horror
Found picture of Mark of the Vampire I had to try to draw. Nothing more special behind this drawing. I will draw more in portrait orientation because I have found good references and those show bigger here. I have put my later drawings to Drawings section. There you can find bigger versions of drawings with landscape orientation.
I have not seen the movie. After drawing this I went to check trailer and found this.
IDW’s Infestation 2 is comic book event which contains 12 issues of H.P. Lovecraft related stories. Lovecraftian monsters in each is only thing connecting them. Some of the stories take two issues others one. I made mistake by reading issues in order they were released. There is no need to do it because stories don’t have any connection to each others. If you read issues in order they were released you jump from story to story without any reason. There is a free preview comic which explains H.P. Lovecraft connection.
Infestation 2: This is main story with first and last issue of Infestation 2. It has preview comic in it. When the story starts you feel betrayed because it is not anywhere near as good as preview comic was. There is vampire special force which is trying to stop lovecraftian monsters coming to their reality. If I got it correctly these characters were from first Infestation. Don’t know if they have their own comic outside Infestations. This felt like short and cheap copy of B.P.R.D. It made me want to get back to reading B.P.R.D. I don’t want to call this main story because it has nothing to do with other stories. If we take free preview part away this was the worst story. You can skip this if you don’t want to read the complete thing.
Infestation 2 - Transformers: This is heavily influenced by Cthulhu and Shadows Over Innsmouth. Story would have been better without Transformers and Decepticons. Elder god Not-Cthulhu and Not-Innsmouth were good lovecraftian creations. Them having mind controlled Decepticons made no sense. Transformers and Optimus Prime took away the rest of the lovecraftian tone. Art and story were good outside Transformers. This happened 19th century. It didn’t matter. This could have been in modern day remote place if they changed Nikolai Tesla’s name. There was potential but Transformers took it away. Might be worth for Not-Cthulhu and Not-Innsmouth if you can endure Transformers.
Infestation 2 - Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeons & Dragons was turn for better after first two stories. I didn’t expect much from it but it turned out to be my second favorite story of Infection 2. This is detective story with elf Sherlock Holmes and dwarf Doctor Watson. They had different names but inspiration was too obvious and too much referenced. They investigate case of missing mental patient which lead into lovecraftian monster attacking their town. This was enjoyable ride and I liked the characters enough for the story. But if point was to make me read other Dungeons & Dragons comics it didn’t happen. It wasn’t same as Transformers where lovecraftian theme was only thing carrying the comic. These characters would become dull in long run. I don’t think you can get much more out of them in other stories. But they were enough for this two issue story.
Infestation 2 - Team Up: I am not sure what point of this story was. At least it was only one issue and had some ideas. Grey alien from Area 51 is taken to town which lovecraftian monster is attacking. Alien is so bored with all event comics but acts because monster tries to eat his new friend. Story is commentary against event comics in middle of event comic. Someone might have thought it was clever idea. There are tons of references to Marvel and DC. Little bit better than the “main story” but still bad parts bring it down from what it could have been. You can skip this if you don’t want to read the whole thing.
Infestation 2 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: In short this is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles meet Hellboy and lovecraftian monster. Haven’t read Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics before. Don’t know if their comics are this heavily inspired by Hellboy in story and art wise. Monsters attack New York and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles find lovecraftian monster in sewers. Story suffers to smaller extent the same problem as Transformers that story would be better without the main characters. Maybe it was so close to Hellboy that I kept thinking this could be decent Hellboy story. Turtles are not as wrong place as Transformers were in their story. Still one of the better stories thanks to heavy Hellboy influence in art and story.
Infestation 2 - G.I. Joe: This is better than it has any right to be. With same story and art but without G.I. Joes and Cobras this would have been great lovecraftian story. G.I. Joes don’t need to be there even if you keep the Cobra. They just come outside Cobra base to get some lovecraftian action. They have no agency in the story. Cobra has all the agency. Corporation’s or rich person’s science base would have made more sense that Cobra. Yes this would have been better story without guys whose name is in the cover. Making this Cobra fighting against monsters they released saves something. Main story happens inside Cobra base they locked down to stop spread of a song which turns sane persons into monsters. Insane are safe as are those who can control their minds well enough.
Infestation 2 - 30 Days of Night: 30 Days of Night is already dark horror. They don’t have characters which need to return from this unchanged. Easy to guess this was best story of Infestation 2. Adding lovecraftian monster to vampire story worked because both use same fear of unknown. This happens 1950’s. Time period is used to enhance the story unlike in Transformers. This is a good horror comic. It is only one issue long but more would have been too long for the story.
I was surprised how good some of these were. 30 Days of Night and Dungeons & Dragons were only ones without problems with main characters. In others having characters whose name was in cover caused some problems. With Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and G.I. Joe the problems weren’t that big. But for Transformers you have be ready for Transformers nonsense to enjoy the lovecraftian parts. The “main story” and Team Up are probably not worth of you time and money. You get best part of the “main story” in free preview comic. Fans of lovecraftian horror get something out of these. Not so sure about fans of main characters. Maybe that is why there isn’t Infestation 3 yet several years after Infestation 2. If this was supposed to make us read more from these characters it didn’t work with me. 30 Days of Night was already on my wish list and I will eventually check it. But I have no interest in others.
Here is little lovecraftian horror video for your Halloween enjoyment. It was inspirited by two Cthulhu tracts and stories of H.P. Lovecraft. Original plan was not to follow Cthulhu tracts' template where one person is telling other about the old ones to someone who doesn't believe them but I couldn't make dialog work without doing it.
If you want to know more about this video check my making of blog post here.