Reviews

Providence Compendium by Alan Moore

l0calh05t's review

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I liked the graphic novel parts a lot (alone? 4 to 4.5 stars), but I found the very long, handwritten journal entries between chapters long-winded and often very difficult to stay focused on (partially due to them lacking real flow, repeating parts of the chapter before, and being somewhat harder to read than normal printed text), so it took ages to finish it for me

lukes_ramblingwritings66's review

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

I'm not entirely sure what to make of this graphic novel. It was recommended to me by a friend I work with and after finishing it, I am left with not only satisfaction from a narrative standpoint, but also with contemplation from everything else in the book. Alan Moore somehow took the fiction of Lovecraft's work, and made it into a fantastical reality that is interwoven with the human world and presents itself only when a specific time is nigh. Much like Watchmen, each chapter is divided with additional exposition written by the main character of the story. But at the same time, and what feels like a deliberate choice, our "main character" Robert Black, doesnt really feel like a main character, more of a vehicle that takes us through the narrative of Providence as strange occurrences unfold from the deep confines of Lovecraftian imagination. 

All that said, I thoroughly enjoyed this as I am a fan of Lovecraft's stories (not his personal views) and will be looking forward to revisiting this in the future when I get the chance. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Racial slurs, Homophobia, Suicide, and Gore

omnibusone's review

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

boseags's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5