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Providence #issue 2
Providence #2
In this giant-size issue, Alan Moore's breathtaking epic PROVIDENCE continues to weave a complex tapestry of modern horror. With his artistic partner Jacen Burrows, they lead the main character Robert Black on the first leg of his exploration of the seedy underbelly of America. Moore has designed every cover, every single page, and every nuance of this work to create his most fully-realized vision to date. There are no ads, with all 40 pages written by Moore. Painstakingly researched, meticulously produced, this is a sequential masterpiece that will serve as important a call to the next generation of comic book writers as Watchmen did 30 years ago: this is a definitive demonstration of just how good a comic book can be.
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First published June 1, 2015
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92 people want to read
About the author
Alan Moore
1,576 books21.7k followersAlan Moore is an English writer most famous for his influential work in comics, including the acclaimed graphic novels Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell. He has also written a novel, Voice of the Fire, and performs "workings" (one-off performance art/spoken word pieces) with The Moon and Serpent Grand Egyptian Theatre of Marvels, some of which have been released on CD.
As a comics writer, Moore is notable for being one of the first writers to apply literary and formalist sensibilities to the mainstream of the medium. As well as including challenging subject matter and adult themes, he brings a wide range of influences to his work, from the literary–authors such as William S. Burroughs, Thomas Pynchon, Robert Anton Wilson and Iain Sinclair; New Wave science fiction writers such as Michael Moorcock; horror writers such as Clive Barker; to the cinematic–filmmakers such as Nicolas Roeg. Influences within comics include Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Kirby and Bryan Talbot.
As a comics writer, Moore is notable for being one of the first writers to apply literary and formalist sensibilities to the mainstream of the medium. As well as including challenging subject matter and adult themes, he brings a wide range of influences to his work, from the literary–authors such as William S. Burroughs, Thomas Pynchon, Robert Anton Wilson and Iain Sinclair; New Wave science fiction writers such as Michael Moorcock; horror writers such as Clive Barker; to the cinematic–filmmakers such as Nicolas Roeg. Influences within comics include Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Kirby and Bryan Talbot.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 15, 2023
Lovecraft and his works have been incessantly criticised on grounds of racism and misogyny. This volume of Moore's classic addresses those issues in a very Jungian manner. The story, duly accompanied by Black's journal and pamphlets, takes a distinctly psychosexual shape.
Recommended. In the meanwhile, let's move to the next issue.
Recommended. In the meanwhile, let's move to the next issue.
May 24, 2022
Review at the end of the series! :)
January 7, 2022
Fantastic continuation
There is so much to love here in this graphic novel series, of occult studies and lore, mixed with Lovecraftian horror.
There is so much to love here in this graphic novel series, of occult studies and lore, mixed with Lovecraftian horror.
March 21, 2020
Neste segundo volume de "Providence" acompanharemos a busca de Robert pela verdade por trás da alquimia de Kitab Al-Hikmah Al-Najmiyya. Com a ajuda de um detetive, Dan Malone, o jornalista chegara até Red Hook, encontrando o responsável pela tradução do texto árabe, Robert Suydam.
No conto "O Horror em Red Hook", de H. P. Lovecraft, o protagonista Thomas Malone tentará desvendar os segredos de Suydam, encontrando os horrorres escondidos em seu porão - algo que, aqui, se repetirá com Robert.
Descobriremos neste volume que, guiados pelo livro, 3 pessoas criaram a Ordem Stella Sapiente: o navegador Japeth Colwen, o cigano Etienne Roulet (que apareceu em "A Casa Temida", de Lovecraft) e a famosa feiticeira Hekeziah Massey (importante no conto "Os Sonhos na Casa da Bruxa").
Além de referenciar Poe e Dupin, também encontraremos menções à psicologia de Freud, os ensinamentos da Cabala e o mito de Lilith.
Aqui, os escritos de H. P. Lovecraft começam a ser descontruídos, levados para a realidade, e mostrados da maneira como eram: metáforas para o racismo do autor que sangrava por toda sua obra - enquanto no conto encontramos termos terríveis para designar os estrangeiros, aqui vemos que são apenas pessoas tentando construir sua vida.
Eu sou fascinada pela mitologia do horror cósmico criada por ele. No entanto, em momento algum devemos fingir que é algo diferente da verdade: analogias sobre monstros alienígenas que, na verdade, falam sobre raças, etnias e culturas que Lovecraft julgava e eram alvos de seus preconceitos.
Essa história continua, assim, a surpreender, a arrepiar, a instigar e a trazer reflexões importantes sobre literatura, linguagem, preconceito e sociedade.
Mais resenhas no instagram literário @livre_em_livros
No conto "O Horror em Red Hook", de H. P. Lovecraft, o protagonista Thomas Malone tentará desvendar os segredos de Suydam, encontrando os horrorres escondidos em seu porão - algo que, aqui, se repetirá com Robert.
Descobriremos neste volume que, guiados pelo livro, 3 pessoas criaram a Ordem Stella Sapiente: o navegador Japeth Colwen, o cigano Etienne Roulet (que apareceu em "A Casa Temida", de Lovecraft) e a famosa feiticeira Hekeziah Massey (importante no conto "Os Sonhos na Casa da Bruxa").
Além de referenciar Poe e Dupin, também encontraremos menções à psicologia de Freud, os ensinamentos da Cabala e o mito de Lilith.
Aqui, os escritos de H. P. Lovecraft começam a ser descontruídos, levados para a realidade, e mostrados da maneira como eram: metáforas para o racismo do autor que sangrava por toda sua obra - enquanto no conto encontramos termos terríveis para designar os estrangeiros, aqui vemos que são apenas pessoas tentando construir sua vida.
Eu sou fascinada pela mitologia do horror cósmico criada por ele. No entanto, em momento algum devemos fingir que é algo diferente da verdade: analogias sobre monstros alienígenas que, na verdade, falam sobre raças, etnias e culturas que Lovecraft julgava e eram alvos de seus preconceitos.
Essa história continua, assim, a surpreender, a arrepiar, a instigar e a trazer reflexões importantes sobre literatura, linguagem, preconceito e sociedade.
Mais resenhas no instagram literário @livre_em_livros
July 9, 2017
Oh the appendices!
September 3, 2019
Como siempre la parte final del cómic de Alan Moore te lleva más leerla que el cómic en si. Sin embargo la suma de ambas partes es lo bueno de la historia. Ambas de complementan.
October 3, 2020
Continuing their slow burn exploration of the works of H.P. Lovecraft, Alan Moore and Jacen Burrows turn up the mystery in this issue of “Providence” #2. Much like the first issue, this is a story which requires patience on the part of the reader. Moore is clearly a talented writer and is putting an emphasis on building a layered, character-focused narrative which means the bulk of this issue is dialogue scenes. The dialogue is crisp and engaging and the characters are rounded and realistic which helps this issue feel engaging. This slow pace captures the essence of the writings of Lovecraft much more than Moore and Burrows’ previous work, “Neonomicom”, which was already engaging in Fishmen orgies by this point.
Burrows does not use this focus on dialogue to slouch as an artist. His line work is immaculately clean and builds a lot of period-appropriate detail in the characters and the location. This style brings a realism of the world that grounds Moore’s writing even more. It feels like the kind of story you might find as a BBC drama except brought to life as a comic book. Burrows’ storytelling is clean, but a little stifled. Almost every page has four page-wide panels stacked on top of each other. This gives the storytelling a very measured pace, but never allows itself to break that pace. The closest it comes is a sequence where the horizontal panels change to four vertical panels per page for a few pages to showcase the character’s skewed state of mind. It’s a choice that makes the sequence feel startling and dreadful after the methodical pace of the previous pages and is a subtle sense of horror that will likely build throughout the series.
Overall, this issue was just as enjoyable as the first in that those with experience with Lovecraft’s writing will likely get the most out of it. I don’t need to tell anyone who good a writer Alan Moore is and here he is channelling the same drive for historical detail he showcased in “From Hell”. Jacen Burrows shares that same drive and brings the world of Providence, Rhode Island in the 1920s to life with stunning detail, even if I feel the choice in panel structure hampers the storytelling slightly.
Burrows does not use this focus on dialogue to slouch as an artist. His line work is immaculately clean and builds a lot of period-appropriate detail in the characters and the location. This style brings a realism of the world that grounds Moore’s writing even more. It feels like the kind of story you might find as a BBC drama except brought to life as a comic book. Burrows’ storytelling is clean, but a little stifled. Almost every page has four page-wide panels stacked on top of each other. This gives the storytelling a very measured pace, but never allows itself to break that pace. The closest it comes is a sequence where the horizontal panels change to four vertical panels per page for a few pages to showcase the character’s skewed state of mind. It’s a choice that makes the sequence feel startling and dreadful after the methodical pace of the previous pages and is a subtle sense of horror that will likely build throughout the series.
Overall, this issue was just as enjoyable as the first in that those with experience with Lovecraft’s writing will likely get the most out of it. I don’t need to tell anyone who good a writer Alan Moore is and here he is channelling the same drive for historical detail he showcased in “From Hell”. Jacen Burrows shares that same drive and brings the world of Providence, Rhode Island in the 1920s to life with stunning detail, even if I feel the choice in panel structure hampers the storytelling slightly.
May 13, 2017
If you're researching anything paranormal/vaguely occult, it's absolutely key that you do not do any of the following;
- Tell your work that you're taking a leave of absence and...well, leave.
- Meet up with randos that show you the local cults favorite hangout "just because"
- Trespass
- Decide to stay in a danky basement with a honest to god pentagram painted on the wall
- Decide to take it even deeper and explore the CAVE THAT'S UNDER IT
Because if you do all that ^ you'll be sure to encounter a glow-in-the-dark vulva and it won't be pretty.
- Tell your work that you're taking a leave of absence and...well, leave.
- Meet up with randos that show you the local cults favorite hangout "just because"
- Trespass
- Decide to stay in a danky basement with a honest to god pentagram painted on the wall
- Decide to take it even deeper and explore the CAVE THAT'S UNDER IT
Because if you do all that ^ you'll be sure to encounter a glow-in-the-dark vulva and it won't be pretty.
November 30, 2018
Continues to be an engaging series. This one borrows from The Horror at Red Hook, and while, not perfect, has nothing like the virulent racism in THAT. The main character even comments how much more interesting the neighborhood is, due to the variety in cultures and backgrounds represented. I kept expecting Black Tom to show up (from Ballad of Black Tom), but, no, this is a different reworking. Here, the underground ocean and glowing female-ish figure are attributed to hallucinations brought on by a gas leak (with enough wiggle room to drive a truck through).
January 16, 2022
Continues the horror story tribute to Lovecraft. Segments of this story are truly terrifying. The journal entries at the end and the pamphlet graphics are a nice addition. Burrows continues to impress on art. Recommended for fans of high end horror illustration and fans of Alan Moore.
March 13, 2023
I'm really hating those squinty hand written things at the end, and the brochure excerpt nearly did me in. Original rating was a two, and I kinda feel like I should go back to that, except that the part of the graphic that is a graphic is really good.
October 8, 2018
really not a fan of the style
July 27, 2020
Χμμμμ, καλά πάμε, καλά πάμε... να δούμε αν θα πάμε τόσο καλά ως το τέλος.
January 8, 2023
Zdecydowana poprawa po pierwszym rozdziale, ale wciąż jeszcze klimat nie jest na tyle lovecraftowski jak bym sobie tego życzył.
May 9, 2023
Continuing where part 1 stopped, this involved Colour out of space, Thing on the doorstep, Pickman's model and much more of the Dream cycle, and even a walk on part for HP himself. On to the finale.
August 25, 2015
Alan Moore continua con esta historia a través de la mitología de Lovecraft, en este número ya podemos ver más o menos el esquema
que seguirá cada uno. En general, será la búsqueda del protagonista de información para su libro a lo largo de locaciones relacionadas
con algún cuento de Lovecraft, conociendo a algunos de sus personajes. Así mismo se deja ver toda la investigación que se ha realizado
ya que se relacionan hechos ficticios(Creados por Moore) con hechos reales que a su vez son asociados con personajes, lugares, artefactos y mitología propia de
los cuentos de Lovecraft.
La trama en general va de que después del suceso del final del número 1, Black se va de Manhattan para dedicarse de lleno a escribir su
novela, buscando primeramente al Robert Suydam con la ayuda de Tom Malone ( Estos últimos personajes de la historia: The horror at Red Hook).
Una vez que encuentra a Suydam, conversa con el acerca de ocultismo y cosas paranormales, y posteriormente Black tiene un encuentro con un
ser para nada benévolo ni "terrenal".
La historia sigue muy bien y esto pinta para ser del nivel de Watchmen sin duda. El contenido que da cada número hace que lo leas en al menos
45 minutos(ya que además de las veintitantas páginas del cómic cuenta con unas 15 páginas de prosa entre el diario del protagonista y panfletos de ocultismo de Suydam) y buscar las referencias así como leer los cuentos relacionados lleva mucho, mucho tiempo más.
que seguirá cada uno. En general, será la búsqueda del protagonista de información para su libro a lo largo de locaciones relacionadas
con algún cuento de Lovecraft, conociendo a algunos de sus personajes. Así mismo se deja ver toda la investigación que se ha realizado
ya que se relacionan hechos ficticios(Creados por Moore) con hechos reales que a su vez son asociados con personajes, lugares, artefactos y mitología propia de
los cuentos de Lovecraft.
La trama en general va de que después del suceso del final del número 1, Black se va de Manhattan para dedicarse de lleno a escribir su
novela, buscando primeramente al Robert Suydam con la ayuda de Tom Malone ( Estos últimos personajes de la historia: The horror at Red Hook).
Una vez que encuentra a Suydam, conversa con el acerca de ocultismo y cosas paranormales, y posteriormente Black tiene un encuentro con un
ser para nada benévolo ni "terrenal".
La historia sigue muy bien y esto pinta para ser del nivel de Watchmen sin duda. El contenido que da cada número hace que lo leas en al menos
45 minutos(ya que además de las veintitantas páginas del cómic cuenta con unas 15 páginas de prosa entre el diario del protagonista y panfletos de ocultismo de Suydam) y buscar las referencias así como leer los cuentos relacionados lleva mucho, mucho tiempo más.
January 8, 2016
Alan Moore never disappoints for me. I am stunned at the thoroughness of his work. This one is no exception. Issue #1 was good, but kind of light for him. This one works, especially for the end material, which is an enhancement of the comic text. Moore has learned not to clutter the story, but offer extensive material in the end which is inventive. The Commonbook was added in the beginning to enhance what was going on in the storyline. The material sold to the main character is offered in the second supplement, in part, and done with thought.
Absolutely worth reading if you are not just a graphic novel reader, but a reader in general. This is definitely world-building here.
Absolutely worth reading if you are not just a graphic novel reader, but a reader in general. This is definitely world-building here.
September 10, 2015
To put it simply:
ANYONE WHO GAVE THIS ISSUE LESS THAN 5 STARS IS ELSE RETARDED OR HAS PAID ATTENTION TO THE DRAWINGS ONLY.
ANYONE WHO GAVE THIS ISSUE LESS THAN 5 STARS IS ELSE RETARDED OR HAS PAID ATTENTION TO THE DRAWINGS ONLY.
December 8, 2016
It's a really good build up and I'm buying the next as soon as I've finished the current.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews