Line #46 Webcomic/LovelyLovecraft


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/2final.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:''Lovely Lovecraft'' Volume One]]
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4	Mysterious scholar Randolph Carter disappeared after he was accused of murdering his friend Harley Warren, and now Carter's abandoned house in Arkham, Massachusetts, is up for grabs. The only ones willing to rent it are the cash-strapped (and slightly dotty) widow Mrs. Lovecraft and her troubled young son Howard Phillips Lovecraft. Howard soon discovers that Carter owned a strangely damaged copy of the Necronomicon, and he accidentally uses the book to summon a beast called a Night Gaunt, who claims to be a servant and friend of King Randolph Carter. Meanwhile, a very strange substitute teacher arrives at nearby school of the supernatural Miskatonic University, and a patient with no past causes trouble in an asylum. These three tales soon become tangled, with Howard and his new Night Gaunt friend Phil diving into the Dreamlands, struggling to understand why the cruelest of the Outer Gods is seemingly trapped in a mortal body, and above all, seeking Randolph Carter and the answers he might know.
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6	This webcomic, by Deviantart contributor Sara Bardi, is ongoing. It can be read both online at Deviantart and in a published compilation. A homage to Franchise/CthulhuMythos creator Creator/HPLovecraft, the webcomic features a fictional child version of Lovecraft himself as protagonist, and other characters and creatures are drawn from stories such as The Statement of Randolph Carter, Literature/TheDreamQuestOfUnknownKadath, Pickman's Model, Literature/AtTheMountainsOfMadness, and others.
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8
9	!! This webcomic provides examples of:
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11	%%* ABoyAndHisX: Howard and Phil are developing into a Boy and his Night Gaunt.
12	* AdaptationalAttractiveness: The real Howard Phillips Lovecraft was not considered handsome. ''Lovely Lovecraft'' shows him as a somewhat good-looking adult and a downright adorable kid.
13	* AdaptationalBadass: In Lovecraft canon, Abdul Alhazred was mostly human, albeit with an uncommon insight into the horrors of the world around him, his book being merely a compendium of knowledge and spells. In Lovely Lovecraft, the necronomicon is significant enough to attract the attention of the Outer Gods themselves, and is inherently magical. Supplementary art also implies that Abdul himself might be NotQuiteDead.
14	* AdaptationalNiceGuy: Real life Lovecraft may not have been an outright villain, but he was extremely xenophobic, even for the time. The comic version of him shows few to none of those tendencies.
15	* AdmiringTheAbomination: [[spoiler:Noyes]] calls the [[spoiler:shoggoth trapped at Miskatonic]] a "glorious beast."
16	* AffectionateParody: Although ''Lovely Lovecraft'' has its share of serious moments, it is also a funny but reverent take on the works of H. P. Lovecraft (with occasional homages to other Cthulhu Mythos authors).
17	* AllThereInTheManual: Bardi’s comments and extra artwork (available in [[https://www.deviantart.com/malakialagatta/gallery/41335008/Lovely-Lovecraft her Deviantart gallery]]) give more information on characters and plot elements.
18	* AmbiguouslyBrown: Noyes has brown skin with Caucasian features and golden eyes, giving him a somewhat Middle Eastern look [[spoiler:appropriate for the human incarnation of Nyarlathotep, who Lovecraft described as an Egyptian of the old native blood, resembling a Pharaoh]]. Nobody in-story comments on his ethnic traits (strange, given that the story occurs in the early 20th century, a relatively more racist time that might have prevented Noyes from teaching at a respected university, although Middle Easterners were more accepted than black people).
19	* ArbitrarySkepticism: [[https://www.deviantart.com/malakialagatta/art/LL-Evil-Forces-Pag-18-465592927?ga_submit_new=10%253A1404493452 Sybilla Mason]]. She's a descendant of famed witch Keziah Mason, she studies at Miskatonic University, a semi-magical school with an official oath to fight the forces of darkness, and she (presumably) lives in thoroughly mysterious and creepy Arkham. She somehow still manages to dismiss strange disappearances as lovers eloping, mocks the University oath, and refuses to acknowledge Keziah's witchcraft.
20	* AuthorAppeal: Bardi admits that H. P. Lovecraft is her favorite author, and she describes Lovely Lovecraft as a tribute to his work.
21	* BadassBookworm: Howard himself (and Randolph Carter, viz. [[https://www.deviantart.com/malakialagatta/art/LL-The-Dreamlands-Page-22-711318148 his encounter with the moonbeast]] in "The Dreamlands."
22	* BadassInANiceSuit: [[spoiler:Noyes/Nyarlathotep]] wears a series of rather sharp suits, and he is rapidly established as a threatening villain.
23	* BedlamHouse: [[spoiler:Azalea and Hildred]] are inhabitants of an early 20th-century asylum full of dark, grimy corridors, padded rooms, and straitjackets. However, the head doctor Willett takes a personal interest in Azalea and genuinely seeks to help her.
24	* BigBad: [[spoiler:Noyes/Nyarlathotep]] is shaping up to be this.
25	* TheBlank: Night Gaunts lack faces in their true Dreamlands forms, but they gain faces in [[https://www.deviantart.com/malakialagatta/art/LL-The-Statement-of-Randolph-Carter-Pag-14-435963179 their Earthly forms]]. Their Dreamlands appearance is consistent with the real H. P. Lovecraft's tales, although he makes no mention of them appearing differently in the waking world.
26	* BroughtDownToNormal: Not ''normal'', but certainly on a semi-human level. Something happened to the Outer Gods that forced them into human shapes without their vast powers. Even Azathoth is little more than a madwoman in an asylum (she's actually worse off than the others, since she's too insane to actually try to ''do'' anything about it). Nyarlathotep apparently had to make a deal with the Mi-Go just to get himself into Miscatonic.
27	* CloudCuckooLander: Azalea. [[spoiler:[[https://www.deviantart.com/malakialagatta/art/LL-The-Book-Thief-Page-35-773518813 She asks]] her kidnapper if she can help him draw, [[https://www.deviantart.com/malakialagatta/art/LL-The-Book-Thief-Page-36-785597851?ga_submit_new=10%3A1550156600 playfully buzzes]] at the Mi-go, and generally seems oblivious and unconcerned about her plight (appropriate behavior for Azathoth’s human incarnation).]] Iranon is also rather flaky, trying to give Howard a tour of Ilek-Vad and requiring some sharp words before he can become serious.
28	* CombatTentacles: The [[spoiler:shoggoth]].
29	* CreepyGood: The Night Gaunts and ghouls are frightening to look at, but they aid Howard and serve Randolph Carter. See also DarkIsNotEvil.
30	* CreepyShadowedUndereyes: Howard has dark circles around his eyes, although their level of noticeability shifts (sometimes darker, sometimes lighter).
31	* Crossover: Lovely Lovecraft is primarily based on the works of H. P. Lovecraft, but some characters and elements from other Mythos creators, such as Robert W. Chambers, appear.
32	* DarkIsNotEvil: The ghouls and Night Gaunts are dark and frightening in appearance, but they serve Randolph Carter and aid Howard. See also CreepyGood.
33	* DeadpanSnarker: Both Howard and Phil, and they usually turn their wit on each other.
34	* GenderBender: One of Nyarlathotep’s forms [[https://www.deviantart.com/malakialagatta/art/LL-Torn-to-Pieces-Pag-40-541801884 is female]].
35	* DismantledMacGuffin: Carter's copy of the Necronomicon, which is split into two pieces.
36	* DotingGrandparent: Howard's deceased [[https://www.deviantart.com/malakialagatta/art/LL-The-Statement-of-Randolph-Carter-PAG-12-426565759 maternal grandparents]] were extremely close to him, encouraging his interests and forming a relationship of mutual adoration. His mother is less close to him, and she laments her inability to live up to her parents' example.
37	* DreamWalker: Anyone who enters the Dreamlands. Prominent examples include [[spoiler:Carter, Howard, and Hildred]].
38	* DudeLooksLikeALady: [[https://www.deviantart.com/malakialagatta/art/LL2-The-Dreamlands-Pag-6-581767508?ga_submit_new=10%253A1451691338 Iranon to the hilt]]. He's slender, has long flowing hair [[FlowersOfFemininity with flowers stuck in it]], and wears colorful robes that drape over one shoulder and expose the other in a feminine fashion.
39	* EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: Howard.
40	* EldritchAbomination: It's a Lovecraft-inspired story, so these abound. Notable cases are [[spoiler:Noyes, AKA Nyarlathotep, and Azalea, AKA Azathoth]].
41	* ExpressiveHair: Noyes appears to have this, as the spiky portions of his hair are once shown drooping in [[https://www.deviantart.com/malakialagatta/art/LL-Evil-Forces-Pag-24-477905693?ga_submit_new=10%253A1408919948 a moment of distress]].
42	* ExtraEyes: [[spoiler:The shoggoth]].
43	* EvilRedhead: [[spoiler:Hildred]] has auburn hair.
44	* FacialMarkings: Iranon has a number of dots underneath his eyes.
45	* FishPeople: The Deep Ones are mentioned, and the bus driver at the start is a [[https://www.deviantart.com/malakialagatta/art/LL-The-Statement-of-Randolph-Carter-pag4-404241062?ga_submit_new=10%253A1380571089&ga_type=edit&ga_changes=1&ga_recent=1 fishy-looking Innsmouth resident]] (and likely a Deep One hybrid).
46	* FoeRomanceSubtext: [[spoiler:Noyes]] [[https://www.deviantart.com/malakialagatta/art/LL-Torn-to-Pieces-Pag-39-541142785 claims]] that he and [[spoiler:Randolph Carter]] "had so much fun together" and describes [[spoiler:Carter]]'s "utterly excited screams". [[invoked]][[WordOfGod The author]] commented in her notes that the double entendre was "TOTALLY intended".
47	* {{Foil}}: According to [[invoked]]WordOfGod, Noyes is designed to look similar to Howard, while Yog-Sothoth looks like Armitage.
48	* GenderBender: One of Nyarlathotep’s forms is female.
49	* GiantFlyer: Night Gaunts in the Dreamlands are roughly nine feet tall.
50	* GlamourFailure: [[spoiler:Noyes']] hand [[https://www.deviantart.com/malakialagatta/art/LL-Evil-Forces-Pag-21-470224236 oozes green goo]] when he touches a medallion decorated with the Elder Sign, nearly betraying his inhuman identity.
51	* HalfHumanHybrid: Presumably, the [[https://www.deviantart.com/malakialagatta/art/LL-The-Statement-of-Randolph-Carter-pag4-404241062?ga_submit_new=10%253A1380571089&ga_type=edit&ga_changes=1&ga_recent=1 bus-driving Innsmouth denizen]] in the first few pages is a human/Deep One hybrid.
52	* HeroOfAnotherStory: Randolph Carter. Armitage briefly touches on Carter's investigations with Warren (a story drawn directly from The Statement of Randolph Carter), and Iranon summarizes portions of Carter's adventures from Literature/TheDreamQuestOfUnknownKadath. However, Carter has not physically appeared in the main storyline of Webcomic/LovelyLovecraft.
53	* HighPriest: Atal.
54	* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Howard, obviously, as well as his mother Mrs. Phillips.
55	* HolyBurnsEvil: [[spoiler:Noyes, AKA Nyarlathotep]] injures his hand by touching the Elder Sign (although strictly speaking, "Holy" and "Evil" are both concepts that don't truly apply within Lovecraft's canon).
56	* HornedHumanoid: Night Gaunts in their Dreamlands forms.
57	* HumanityEnsues: [[spoiler:Nyarlathotep and Azathoth, as well as the other Outer Gods,]] have been forced into humanoid bodies and mortal existences for reasons as yet undiscovered. [[spoiler:Nyarlathotep]] [[HumanityIsInfectious appears to be taking on some human traits]], or at least is growing interested in human concepts such as trust and compassion.
58	* HumanoidAbomination: [[spoiler:Noyes and Azalea.]]
59	* LongHairedPrettyBoy: Iranon.
60	* MadArtist: Richard Pickman while he was [[spoiler:still human]], as shown in extra materials [[https://www.deviantart.com/malakialagatta/art/LL-Richard-Upton-Pickman-578861443 portraying him]] in his youth (a characterization which matches Pickman's Model).
61	* MadScientist: In [[https://www.deviantart.com/malakialagatta/art/Extracurricular-Activities-426875819 backstory material and extras]], Herbert West attempts to use science to resurrect the dead. This is consistent with his origin story in Literature/HerbertWestReanimator.
62	* NiceGuy: Dr. Willet averts the BedlamHouse one would expect from an early 1900s asylum and actually wants to help Azaela.
63	* NightmareFetishist: [[spoiler:Noyes]], who admires the [[spoiler:shoggoth at Miskatonic]]. This is of course fitting, given his real identity as [[spoiler:the Crawling Chaos]].
64	* NightmareFuelStationAttendant: Howard to some degree. He is relatively unfazed by Phil and [[spoiler:Pickman]], remaining calm enough to identify them as a Night Gaunt and a ghoul respectively. He's also self-aware as a "rational guy" who's scientifically detached enough to scoff at the idea that a night-gaunt could appear in the waking world, especially one that appears to be just a "weird looking little purple critter" who is "almost cute."
65	* TheOlderImmortal: [[https://www.deviantart.com/malakialagatta/art/LL-Yog-Sothoth-534640265 Yog-Sothoth]] is described as the oldest of the Outer Gods, and second only to Azathoth in power.
66	* OurGhoulsAreCreepier: [[spoiler:Pickman]] is the only ghoul seen up close thus far, but judging by his appearance, ghouls in this webcomic are largely consistent with their portrayal in Lovecraft's original works: greenish or grayish clawed humanoids with dwellings in the Dreamlands. The main differences from Lovecraft's original ghouls are their faces (more humanoid and less doglike than Lovecraft describes) and their habit of wearing loincloths instead of going naked.
67	* OverlyLongName: Phil'Gwhanach, Leader of the Night Gaunt Legion, Hero of the Battle of the Nameless Rock and Sentinel of [[spoiler:Ilek-Vad]]. He goes by Phil.
68	* PaintingTheMedium: This [[https://www.deviantart.com/malakialagatta/art/LL-Torn-to-Pieces-Pag-36-535337257 happens]] [[https://www.deviantart.com/malakialagatta/art/LL-Evil-Forces-Pag-29-522198661?ga_submit_new=10%253A1427165599 occasionally]], but occurs most often when [[spoiler:Noyes]] [[https://www.deviantart.com/malakialagatta/art/LL-Evil-Forces-Pag-30-523317964 channels]] a bit of his true identity as [[spoiler:Nyarlathotep]].
69	* PointyEars: [[spoiler:Noyes and Azalea]] both have these, but other characters don't remark on them in-story.
70	* SealedEvilInACan: The [[spoiler:shoggoth]] imprisoned at Miskatonic University.
71	* SealedInsideAPersonShapedCan: [[spoiler:The Outer Gods, most notably Nyarlathotep and Azathoth,]] have mysteriously been trapped on Earth in humanoid bodies.
72	* ShiningCity: [[spoiler:Randolph Carter's city of Ilek-Vad.]]
73	* SupernaturalGoldEyes: [[spoiler:Noyes]] has golden eyes, an unusual trait hinting at his true identity as [[spoiler:the Outer God Nyarlathotep]].
74	* WasOnceAMan: [[spoiler:Richard Pickman]], as in Lovecraftian canon.
75	* WingedHumanoid: Night Gaunts.
76	* WiseBeyondTheirYears: Howard, who introduces himself as an amateur astronomer, chemist, and aspiring novelist. He soon comes to wield [[spoiler:the Necronomicon]] to cast spells and debates dreams and responsibility with Iranon. Adult characters remark favorably on his calmness and understanding even in comparison to his elders.

Context Webcomic / LovelyLovecraft