Providence, Act 1

Let me be clear: This is a FIVE STAR story. Not only am I an Alan Moore fan, like many of you reading this, but I have been following this storyline since it began in The Courtyard back in the day. And yes, Neonomicon was disturbing, but incredibly compelling. I was thrilled and am utterly satisfied by the story told so far in Providence.But I am giving this hardcover presentation of the first 4 issues of Providence THREE STARS for a couple reasons that have nothing to do with the story, script, or artwork.My concern is the hype in the solicitation, that this is "limited edition" and that it won't be collected again until the "far distant future." Because of that, what is a $20 book released on May 3 2016 is currently solicited between $40-$100 on May 27 2016 because Amazon at this time has sold out of their copies. I am hoping to save some people from being scalped.Folks, this is a great story, but it's only 4 issues of a 12 issue series. There is no bonus stuff of any sort. None of the variant covers are re-printed. No script notes, annotations, introductions, nothing to warrant paying more than $20. Yes, it has the backmatter included with the single issues, but the backmatter is crucial to the story. The solicitation hypes that this is "limited" to 6,666 books. But come on. That's about par for the course for most independent publishers, and Avatar is no exception.If you have the single issues, then wait. If you don't have the single issues and can get this for $20, buy it. Anything more than this? I think you're better off waiting for the inevitable collected edition.On a personal note, another reason to wait for the collected edition is this story is so compelling that you'll be frustrated that only 4 issues are in here. I would rather wait until the collected omnibus but the shipping schedule for the 12 issues mini series has been inconsistent, so who knows when the story will be completed? This is a painful wait.One more aside: Whoever wrote the "about the author" note on this Amazon page has the wrong Alan Moore. They wrote "Alan Moore has designed and created everything from books to businesses. He has a unique grasp on the forces that are reshaping our world and how to creatively respond to them. Working on six continents, Alan has shared his knowledge in the form of board and advisory positions at companies such as Hewlett Packard, Microsoft and The Coca Cola Company, workshops and speaking as well as teaching in institutions as wide ranging as MIT and Reading University s Typography Department, Sloan School of Management and INSEAD. He is the author of four books on creativity, marketing and business transformation including 'No Straight Lines: making sense of our nonlinear world' (2011). He still works as an artist. He tries everyday to lead a life as beautifully as he possibly can."WRONG ALAN MOORE!!EDIT ON 6/1/2016Only five days after I wrote this review the prices have skyrocketed. Aside from Amazon's reasonable price -- pity that they are out of stock -- the cheapest copy available for sale is a Used-Good edition for $132.99. And the highest price for a New edition is $2,342.74. Give me a break.

This book is exactly what it says it is - HP Lovecraft by way of Alan Moore! Can't go wrong there. I've always liked the ideas and concepts in Lovecraft's horror to be more interesting than his actual writing - secret occult societies, horrible truths too insane to believe, the notion that reality is much more than what we can see. These were central themes in Alan Moore's From Hell, which I think is my favorite book ever, so there is a natural synergy between author and source inspiration here.If this is indeed the final printing for this volume you have to get it. A great addition to any collection at a low price.EDIT - After reading through this volume my 5 star review stands, but with the recommendation that you find a blog or something that elaborates on all the connections between what's happening here and in other Lovecraft stories. You really need a PhD in all things Lovecraft to understand this, it seems. Some connections are more like references or riffs - for example chapter 3 is similar to Shadow Over Innsmouth but not literally the same - while others appear to involve real characters and plot points from other stories that, unless you know those stories really well, you'd completely miss. For example - chapter 4 is apparently a prologue to the Dunwich Horror. I admit that I don't have nearly the level of Lovecraft knowledge to catch these on my own, but it only adds to my appreciation for Moore's work to see more clearly just how complex this project was.

Alan Moore with artist Jacen Burrows have produced one of the finest horror comics ever committed to paper. "Providence" is at once a tribute and an examination of HP Lovecraft's work and of the period in American history in which it was produced. One of the themes of Lovecraft's oeuvre was of outside forces working their influence on our perceptions. "Providence" uses this idea by making the story's main character Robert Black an outsider living among us and his story and the increasingly bizarre events he encounters are told simultaneously. As Black uncovers the reality behind banal appearances so too do his secrets haunt him. One wonders what the greater horror is: what monsters could do to us or what we do to ourselves. Jacen Burrows uncluttered artwork and seamless storytelling adds to the atmosphere of dread and mystery. I'll say no more save this: this is a work that is worthy of support. I strongly recommend that you read "Neonomicon" by Moore and Burrows before going to "Providence".

I was not a fan of Moore's Neonomicon, but this series more than makes up for it by bringing Lovecraft's world to life in a fascinating and chilling retelling. The whole series is going to be 12 issues and as it stands it's succeeding in Moore's goal of 'bringing the horror back to Lovecraft."

Alan Moore can seem something of an enigma, being widely acknowledged as one of the most talented writers ever to work in the medium of comics, yet increasingly choosing to distance himself from the medium. Evidence of his talent is abundant, including early works like Miracleman and V For Vendetta, a superb run on DC’s Swamp Thing, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Watchmen, From Hell, Promethea and others. With such a stellar back catalogue, some of his more recent comic book offerings have felt a little like going through the motions. The last couple of entries in the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen saga were good, but not great. Neonomicon was also something of a disappointment, being thinner on ideas than I had come to expect from Moore. For these reasons, I approached Providence, the writer’s latest foray into H. P. Lovecraft territory, without particularly high expectations. The first two-thirds of this first volume of the trilogy did little to dispel my concerns. By the end, however, I realised that Moore is going for a slow burn with this one, taking his time, fleshing out characters more fully, giving them more back story. While this slows down plot momentum somewhat, it does start to pay off by the end of the book. In volumes 2 and 3 it pays off amply.The central character is that classic literary figure, the innocent abroad. As readers, we are always at least one step ahead of him. Moore’s mastery of the medium is regularly on display as he uses multiple perspectives, most often giving us an outsiders view of what’s happening, then allowing us to see what the central character thinks and feels about what is happening to him. The two views are often at variance and Moore plays with this knowingly and entertainingly.He is more than ably assisted by artist, Jacen Burrows, whose intricately detailed drawings are a joy to behold, reminding me of the engravings that illustrated 19th century newspapers before the advent of photography. They perfectly compliment the early 20th century setting of the story. His interiors are amazing, carefully rendering each spine on shelves full of books, a lace hanging, or the complex pattern on a carpet. He also excels in delineating characters, their distinctive clothing and facial expressions.Providence is billed as a horror story and takes place during Lovecraft’s lifetime, in Lovecraftian locations, in which dwell Lovecraftian characters. There is, however, much more going on here than simple horror, including elements of historical fiction, detective fiction, psychology, magic and more, including something absent from some of his recent work, Moore’s sly sense of humour.All these elements come together in the course of the trilogy, and first emerge in this volume, making it a shame that it has become so expensive. The reason is that Alan Moore insisted on a limited print run of 6,666 copies of the trilogy. People who collect comics as an investment always buy first issues, so volume 1 sold out very quickly. Moore then allowed the company to produce another limited run of volume 1 so that people who actually buy the books to read had another opportunity to get all three volumes. This too sold out quickly. Not having heard of the series until it had been out for about a year, I managed to pick up the second and third volumes for about £16 each, roughly the published price. This volume, however, was already selling at £80 or more. About 9 months after buying the other two, I finally picked up a copy of volume 1 from an Oxfam shop for £40. While still around double the publisher’s price, this at least means I can now read all three.Was it worth the wait and the expense? Well, since this is Moore’s best work since The Black Dossier, my favourite of the League of E G books, I’d say yes, but I’d have been much happier with an omnibus edition that brought together all three volumes at a sensible price. Ah well...

I love Alan Moore, so maybe I had too high expectations coming in. V for Vendetta and Watchmen are two of my all time favourites, and I am a fan of HP Lovecraft, so this sounded like match made in heaven. Unfortunately it isn't. It's still a good book, but does not come close to his best work I'm afraid.

An expensive luxury but I'm glad I picked it up. Unsettling and beautifully crafted it reminds me of...can you hear that scratching? Like it's coming from the walls...can it be... no, I must be imagining it...Oh MY GOD THE WALLS THE RATS IN THE WALLS........

Great Book! a little strange in places and i found the (long..) diary-type sections a bit tedious after a while but the main story was very good. Will probably buy the next volume.

Read “Neonomicon” and if you like that then this is even better.