Rat God

THE RICHARD CORBEN LIBRARY #9

by Richard Corben

Terrible things stalk the forests outside Arkham in this chilling original tale from comics master Richard Corben! An arrogant city slicker on a quest to uncover the background of a young woman from the backwoods finds horrors beyond imagining, combining Lovecraftian mutations with Native American legends.New from Eisner Award Hall of Fame inductee Richard Corben, the gold standard in horror comics for over 40 years!

Genres: Comics, Horror, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book, Fiction

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 27, 2015

About the author

American illustrator and comic book artist best known for his comics featured in Heavy Metal magazine. He won the 2009 Spectrum Grand Master Award. In 2012 he was elected to the The Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame.

Reviews

[Sam Quixote · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clark Elwood travels to the remote mountain town of Lame Dog to find his beloved Kito. But after he discovers that the place has a dark secret, will he survive the terrible Rat God?

This is the first comic I’ve read that’s written by Richard Corben - usually I read comics he’s only drawn - and Rat God isn’t a bad effort but it is an overly perplexing one.

There are a lot of Lovecraft references: Miskatonic University, Arkham, the Elder Gods, the gibbous moon, Yog Sothoth, C’Thulhu, not to mention our hero Clark looks a dead ringer for HP Lovecraft himself. But why? I have no idea! Corben’s a Lovecraft fan? Corben’s a horror artist and Lovecraft wrote horror so… ? Baffling.

The first issue is really confusing too. Kito is introduced as Native American, then later when she meets Clark she’s clearly white, then she becomes Native American again later on. Clark starts off white and then becomes gradually more darker skinned as the story progresses until he’s Native American too. But why? I have no idea!

Corben’s original character, Mag the Hag, who appears in a lot of his Poe adaptations, acts as narrator here for no apparent reason.

The story is very unsettling though thanks to Corben’s increasingly bizarre character designs. The characters are already oddly proportioned with massive heads and strange features to start with but those become even more pronounced as the story goes on (probably intentionally? Again no clue why!) and some of the imagery definitely creeped me out!

Inscrutable story choices aside (which did actually compel me on to find out what Corben was up to even if it’s not revealed at all), Rat God is an intriguing tale for the most part. The ending is a bit underwhelming but I thought it was mostly a fun horror yarn full of Corben’s unique artwork. Rat God is worth a look if you like yer horror comix.

[W.T.H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rat God, as a standalone story was adequate...basically Corben doing The Shadow Over Innsmouth, but again (as always) Corben's art will absolutely floor you. His panels, his compositions are nothing short of cinematic.

This particular edition not only had an introduction by Caitlin Kiernan, but reprints in the back of Corben's absolutely stellar adaptation of both The Rats In The Walls (both black and white AND full color versions are here. The black and white is MAGNIFICENT) and Herbert West: Reanimator Part 1: From The Dark. The inclusion of these two adaptations weren't mentioned anywhere I'd seen and absolutely elevated my feelings on this one from slightly underwhelming to enthusiastic.

[Orrin Grey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more than I did, because Corben, who is always phenomenal, has been doing some of the best work of his career lately (see Spirits of the Dead for a real good example), and this thing was often creepy and had at least one really great monster, but never really came together for me. I liked that it took on the racist and sexist elements of Lovecraft's writing in a way that felt almost like parody, but again, I don't know that it ever completely delivered on that take. As always, Corben can draw corpses and crumbling buildings and gnarled sticks better than pretty much anybody.

[José Nebreda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dibujo y narración gráfica buenísimo para un pastiche lovecraftiano un tanto cachondo e intrascendente. Pero Corben es Corben, a pesar de sus años.

[Jesse A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, somewhat creepy story with odd, uneven art.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this title! The artwork was unique and the story had me glued to the pages. Plus, to write and illustrate the book himself, Corben is very impressive.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was legitimately creepy, a really unique scary story. Apparently is inspired by Lovecraft tales, and I can see that, but this isn't your run-of-the-mill Lovecraft regurgitation. It's an original and smart story-- all Corben. His art exists somewhere between real life and the cartoon... it's hard to peg down. It is very unsettling. I mean, just look at that cover. In early 1900s New England, an obstinate white man falls for a Native American gal, who soon disappears. Allegedly, she is from a small village buried deep in the wilds of America. The story is about the man trying to track her down, and what he finds in the deep, dark woods... This is a great night read. One of my favorite horror comics of the past few years.

[Drew Canole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really nice to get a reprint of this later Corben work. Pretty similar in format to HP Lovecraft's The Shadow over Innsmouth. With enough twists and turns to keep it interesting.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird, pure Corben, amazing in places, yet unsatisfying.

[Toolshed · Rating 1 out of 5]

Keby som mal frontálnu lobotómiu alebo tak 5 rokov, možno by som naškriabal dve hviezdičky, lebo... no... predsa len muselo dať nejakú námahu to nakresliť. Však?

[Rodrigo Tello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gran pastiche Lovecraftiano del maestro de lo macabro, Richard Corben. En esta oportunidad también escribe el guión además del arte hermoso al que nos tiene mal acostumbrados, y la historia es una joyita pulp muy divertida, es como leer una vieja Weird Tales en formato comic. Esto es también horror rural y pagano. No decepcionará a propios ni extraños. Morbosamente divertida

[Dávid Novotný · Rating 3 out of 5]

O knew it probably won't be for me but I tried it anyway. Surprisingly, story got me hooked from first pages, and I was even able to overlook Corben's deformed characters and their horrible faces. It nicely uses Lovecraf's legacy, not stealing, just gently inspiring by it. And it has all things that I like, forgotten decaying town somewhere in the mountains, strange cults, mystery.... But somehow motivation of characters wasn't really clear, and whole thing ended before it could start. Good thing is, that despite the fact that Corben's art is mostly 'indigestible' for me, I found some panels and pages that I really liked (mostly ones without human characters) and that suited the atmosphere of the book nicely. But overall experience is somehow average.

[Sorcered · Rating 3 out of 5]

Corben deseneaza la fel de bine, desi a facut oarece concesii comerciale (cartea tot 18+ ramane, chiar daca a mai sters niste banane si scoici de ici, de colo). Povestea e distractiva: un student se duce pe coclauri ca sa-si convinga iubita ca, da, o iubeste chiar daca ea pozeaza nud. Oraselul natal al fetei e decrepit si descompus, populat de o secta de mutanti diformi care sacrifica oameni Zeului Sobolan. Soc, groaza, menage a trois si victoria binelui (oare?).
Tensiunea e bine dozata, imaginile socheaza exact cat trebuie, finalul are logica... si totusi, lipseste ceva. Corben pare "cumintit" in cartea asta.

[yo JP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rozloučení s Richardem Corbenem, který pro mě na stránkách Crwe2 od mých teenagerovských let byl jednou z největších inspirací: jeho styl, silné kontury, cit pro vyjádření lidských emocí, do posledních dní věnován stále brakovému žánru, nebo adaptacím Poea či Lovecrafta. RC je přesto vnímán jako jedna z absolutních a zásadních legend. A já se teprve nedávno doslechl, že minulý prosinec zemřel. Zvláštním způsobem se mě to dotklo, asi podobně jako když zemřel Kája Saudek, jenže u toho se na to tak nějak "už jen čekalo". ___ 'Bůh krys' pokračuje v lovecraftovské tradici adaptací, ale tentokrát jde o Corbenův vlastní scénář. Vypůjčuje si ale spoustu prvků (lovecraftovský motiv rasismu - ten ale zajímavě zakončuje opačným směrem; dále pak zdegenerované obyvatelstvo odstřižené od civilizace, obdobně jako v novele Dunwichská hrůza / Hrůza v Dunwichi). I kresba je poněkud zjednodušenější, než je obvyklé, jakoby autor docházel na svůj konec, ale ten výraznější minimalismus se pořád mísí s umem, zkrátka mistr, který protíná dvě linie. Nakonec jsem rád, že jsem si tohle nekoupil, protože, i když je to pořád Corben a je to rozloučení, protože je to po nějaké době zase něco, co bych si od něj mohl koupit, první věc od jeho smrti, a jedna z jeho modernějších prací posledních let, není to asi něco, co bych nezbytně nutně potřeboval vlastnit, jenže to se tak dá říct prakticky u všech jeho prací, je to hodně o samotném stylu. Nicméně 'Bůh krys' definitivně nedosahuje, i na slušném rozsahu 144 stran, kam by mohl, ve srovnání s některými dalšími Corbenovými kousky je to zkrátka o poznání průměrnější, ale to pořád neubírá nic na poutavosti a radosti z toho neopakovatelného stylu, jakým komponoval příběhy. Bude mi chybět.

[Pavel Pravda · Rating 4 out of 5]

K Corbenovi si stále ještě hledám cestu. Myslím si ale, že směr mám správný. Rozhodně nemám problém s jeho scénáři. Ty mají vždy svoji velmi specifickou atmosféru. Scénář “Boha krys” mě chytil prakticky už od začátku. Je příjemně odlehčený a jeho děj odsýpá velmi rychle. Těch 144 stran uteče jako nic, jako by to byla krátká povídka. Jedna věc mi však neseděla. Jak se hlavní hrdina, bílý árijský aristokrat lovecraftovskými hrůzami dosud nepolíbený, může už od začátku při klení dovolávat starých božstev a Cthulhu? Navíc když později odsuzuje rouhačské, krvežíznivé a pohanské divochy. Ale to je jen drobnost. Jinak scénář funguje.

To, s čím mám stále trošku problém, je Corbenova kresba. Hlavně tedy jeho kresba obličejů. Možná mám problém s tím, že je často hutný hororový děj vyprávěn směšně až hloupě působícími obličeji. Ale protože zde je ten děj trošku odlehčen humorem, tak to pro mě bylo celé mnohem stravitelnější. Ba co víc, když jsem si na ten styl zvyknul, tak mě ta kresba docela bavila.

[Tabaco y Tinta · Rating 4 out of 5]

"El Dios Rata" es una excelente opción para cualquier fan de Lovecraft. El talento de Corben le da ese toque único que vincula lo mejor del cómic con la ficción de los escenarios poblados de dioses primigenios. Los cinco capítulos que componen la obra transcurren como las aguas de un río oscuro que poco a poco va revelando sus misteriosos secretos.

[Morrigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Unai · Rating 4 out of 5]

No se si es que Corben nos tiene ganados a mucho desde siempre y eternamente, por algún pacto con los viejos dioses, pero raro es que dejemos pasar oportunidad de echarle el ojo a cualquiera de sus cómics, ya sean de su propio guion y dibujo, como es el caso que comento, o cuando adapta a grandes de la literatura.

Tampoco es algo que deba "vender" sobremanera, los fans ya le conocéis, los que no le tengáis en buena consideración, pues os dará igual. Esta vez nos propone, dentro de ese mundillo lovecraftiano en el que tan a gusto se encuentra, la mezcla de dichos mitos con los propios de los nativos americanos. Así tenemos a este estudiante de Miskatonic que descubre por culpa de las oscuridades del amor, un pueblo perdido lleno de sectarios híbridos que adoran cosas imposibles. Por y para fans y como viene siendo habitual, en Dark Horse.

[Bogdan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A graphic novel by Richard Corben is an unique piece of art.

Even if this volume isn`t one of his Best, the estetique of his drawings makes him a truly GrandMaster of this Art.

The horrors depicted here are inspired from a Lovecraftian story and they really looked that way.

For all the fans out there of the writer Lovecraft or the "painter" Corben this is a must read.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Siendo uno de los mejores artistas asociados al fantástico, sci-fi y, sobre todo, terror, del comic USA. El que Richard Corben se acercase de una u otra forma a la narrativa de H. P. Lovecraft, es algo más que esperable. Y este El Dios Rata se presenta como una historia enmarcada en un sinfín de referencias más o menos directas al imaginario Lovecraftniano. Desde partir de la ciudad de Arkham a que el personaje protagonista no deje de aludir a deidades Primigenias al punto de ya rayar lo paródico. Pero lo más relevante es que en términos claros, la propuesta de El Dios Rata se antoja a una revisión de La Sombra sobre Insmouth "de montaña". Una región de la américa rural más ligada a la sociedad nativa hostigada y represiva, oculta una conexión más perturbadora con un extraño culto a una aparente deidad roedora que ha influido en una apariencia similar para los lugareños más endogámicos del lugar.

En sí, El Dios Rata debería jugar en favor del músculo gráfico de Corben. Caracterizado por ese brutalismo de escenarios y personajes que reman mucho a favor para que se magnifique todo elemento y potencial de terror. Pero puede que el apartado de la narrativa fuera del ámbito visual le pese cuanto menos en esta historia que parece querer enmarcarse todo lo posible en la tradición "Lovecraftniana". Por lo que incide mucho en los narradores. Desde uno que aparece físicamente y narra al lector, a la propia narración interna del protagonista u sumándole otra a mayores. Además, los propios personajes verbalizan mucho, lo que hace renquear el desarrollo bastante parco en situaciones y resolución de una historia que parece existir para rematar en ese aspecto endogámico de ese pueblo que se incide de forma de puro morbo antes de ese aparente intento de fondo más sardónico en cuanto a su apuesta folk horror en cuanto enfrentar el urbanismo y "pureza" social del protagonista a esa región supeditada a la Naturaleza y otras fuerzas telúricas de puro primitivismo.

[Doug Downing · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find Rat God to be one of Corben's most enjoyable late-period works. I've read it multiple times and continue to find it entertaining. It's full of messy contradictions—intentional or otherwise, making it nearly impossible to work out exactly what's going on with 100% certainty. There are a lot of great set pieces, and they flow together well (though a bit cheesy by the end, where things wrap up in an almost slapstick manner). The art builds, getting better by issue 3 (that cover!) before gradually settling back down, in sync with a satisfying five-issue story arc.

There's always something to pick at, something to ponder, beneath the smooth surface: Achak and Mak-Kitoto; Chuk and Kito; Zedon, Damon, and Zachariah Peck; the panther; the rat and the blue fungus; Grandmother Makki. Not to mention: The full-on, rat-headed dude at the costume party. Why did Peck hire Kito as his life model? Why did Kito vow never to return and then insist on returning by the story's end? (Was it simply the racism of Arkham that drove them all back?) Who took over Peck's art class in his absence?

Above all, the book excels at creating a sense of disorientation and distrust. We're never quite sure whether the characters we just met are the same as the characters we're now meeting. (They're not, but may as well be.)

[Fernando · Rating 3 out of 5]

Acabo de entrarme ansia por revisar algunas obras de Richard Corben y me ha dado por empezar por este "dios rata", un pastiche de inspiración lovecraftiano; lo recordaba mucho menos interesante que cuando lo leí en su tiempo. Ha sido complejo volver a conseguirlo, ya que ahora no está muy accesible y perdí el mío en alguna mudanza.
Aunque no es de sus obras más destacables, toda la vibrante coreografía de elementos desbordados anatómicamente te sumerge en ese espíritu, esperpéntico y onírico, tan propio y brillante de este ilustrador. Es asombroso cómo consigue resaltar los edificios, el alma de los personajes, las expresiones y, por supuesto, las criaturas monstruosas que pueblan sus páginas. Rozando en ocasiones la caricatura deformada, te transmite absolutamente todo en viñetas que son como un cañonazo.
La historia, como antes he dicho, no deja de ser un pastiche muy entretenido, muy bien contado, incluso con subtramas que sabe cerrar perfectamente. Recoge los elementos más obsesivos de Lovecraft añadiendo un erotismo perverso jamás presente en el escritor de Providence. Otros temas candentes como la xenofobia, el clasismo y la herencia genética, así como la amenaza de encontrarse en un lugar extraño, con ecos a ese famoso Innsmouth (algunas escenas casi calcadas), proporcionarán una enorme diversión a todos los aficionados a las viejas historias pulp.
En resumen, un tomito muy entretenido y bien editado en tapa dura de cuyo precio no puedo hablar (el mío es segunda mano) pero sin duda compensa.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Art is brilliant of course, due to Corben’s inimitable style of sculpted forms and cartooned heads and figures. Very nice landscapes as well. Storytelling, pacing and atmosphere are also excellent.

The story combines elements of shadow over innsmouth, pickman’s model, the festival, and the thing on the doorstep to create an unusually effective evocation of Lovecraft. Very faithful to the master’s sensibilities, particularly in the slowly mounting sense of dread, the long motor trip through the wilderness, and the exploration of the isolated town of lame dog.

Clark Elwood is a charming character — a respectable, square-jawed gentleman of delicate temperament, who nonetheless doesn’t shy from fisticuffs with the local thugs, nor relent his investigations, no matter the danger. He even looks like Lovecraft.

So I would say it’s 90% great. There are too many deus ex machinas, too many times where Elwood is rescued. The ending falls flat, leaving many mysteries unexplained. The rat god and its high priest are vanquished by a simple can of gasoline (not even wielded by Elwood). Not believable for an elder abomination and the happy ending is not consistent with Lovecraft.

[Nate]

Rat God is the first book written by Richard Corben that I’ve read. I love his art from other comics, and when I saw my library had a copy of Rat God I figured I’d give it a shot. With that cover, how could it not be good? Well, in several ways it turns out. The first issue is very confusing, as we’re thrown into a chase of sorts with cryptic exposition. When the main character – H.P. Lovecraft in all but name – is introduced, he’s completely unlikable and I had a tough time caring about his journey (I know there’s a character arc, but still). So yes, this is a Lovecraftian story; it takes place in New England with references to Arkham and Miskatonic University, as well as several Elder Gods. The plot also concerns not-Lovecraft confronting his racism/fear of the “other.” A cool set-up, a cool world, but the execution is clunky. That’s my main criticism really, the bizarre storytelling choices. Corben’s art is appropriately creepy, especially in the second half where his disturbing designs come to the forefront. Overall though, this could have been better.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Corben creates a genuinely creepy tale of a weird community worshiping a bizarre mutant rat creature. It's a moody tale, told against the backdrop of a Lovecraftian world, although that is only incidental to the main narrative. Instead, the book focuses on the adventures of Clark Elwood, a young college student determined to rescue the woman he loves from her small backwoods town, whatever horrors he must face... and he must face quite a few. In a lot of ways, this book reads almost like an extended EC Comics horror tale, with a twist at the ending and a creepy narrator, and I mean that in the best possible way. Highly recommended for readers looking for something weird, macabre, and a little bit squishy.

[Donyae Coles · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art on this was the real star even though it had some inconsistencies. The story was interesting but really disjointed and could have been tightened up. I get that this was a Lovecraftian piece, maybe even a little satire of it? but it sort of fizzled for me on that stage. If I'm being honest, the story could have used some tightening up for me.

My main question is what was going on with Kito's skin?? She was CLEARLY Caucasian colored in the first part and then she was much darker at the end. Was she using powder? What was going on there? Still, this artist can draw some horror, I give him that. And that's ultimately what pushed this rating up for me. The art, especially the horror parts, was very good.

[Rick Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off pretty strong. A self-important, arrogant man seeks a remote town from which a woman he's romantically interested in is from. The mysterious townfolk have some weird rituals. The first couple issues have a fairly strong hook, and Corben steeps the story in Lovecraftian references in spades.

The story unfortunately unfolds into something less interesting as it progresses. Corben's art does a great job - but as a big Corben fan, I did find this to be one of his more uneven outings.

It's a decent horror comic, and recommended for those who enjoy Corben's works.

[Rex Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

An arrogant college student on a quest to uncover the background of a young woman from the backwoods finds a decaying town ruled by a vile cult, combining Lovecraftian cults with Native American legends. Richard Corben continues his fine tradition of horror comics with a Lovecraftian bent and, as usual, his artwork is supreme. It is filled with creepy visuals, nudity and violence.The story seems a little rushed at the end, but I found it satisfying.

[Otto Hahaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Corbenin uusista jutuista olen tykännyt tästä eniten. Lovecraft-maailmassahan tässä eletään, mutta vähän postmodernisti siihen suhtaudutaan. Loppuratkaisu on Lovecraft-tarinaksi hiukan (hyvin hiukan, jos ollenkaan, olihan Lovecraftillakin vähän tällainen loppuratkaisu) edistyksellinen, mutta samalla vähän (tai oikeastaan aika paljon) teinihimokkaan sovinistinen. Mutta kuvat kauniita.

[Luke Shea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am of two minds about Corben. On the one hand, he's a full blown artistic genius with an iconic style who influenced my favorite mediums and genres for decades. On the other hand: too horny, and sometimes feels a liiiiiiiitle racist. There's good shit in here, but let's just say it's maybe doing TOO good of a lovecraft impression? I don't know. Mixed bag. Gorgeous, though.