I love Cthulu and the madness-drenched horror that’s spilled down from H.P. Lovecraft.  Add a Nazi twist, along with elements of a romantic adventure, and you’ve got The Secret Land.

Our undercover American scientist Kathrine has been working on a secret Nazi base, where strange experiments are being done. A machine is being built that, presumably, ripped a hole into Hell, and bloody bubbly creatures are springing forth. The Nazis are going mad, and Katherine has to stop it. Meanwhile, her lover – who presumed her dead – is quickly trying to get to the island… will he get there too late?

While the horror elements are definitely a plus, the plotting of the love story initially drew me in. There really aren’t very many love stories being told in comic books these days, especially not with genuinely romantic elements that are even a bit goofy in their lack of cynicism; however, there is nothing cynical about the love at the center of series. I’m really curious to see how the Lovecraftian elements will affect the two romantic leads. It could very well be a tragedy that I’m reading. Even the text is very romantic in nature.

I like the art in this, notably the textures and colors. The otherworldly blues and purples are incredible, especially with the battle scenes as airplanes drop bombs on the ships below in the open waters of the ocean. It’s only a couple of pages, but the imagery is hypnotic. The images of horror are also very interesting. This is one of those comics that normally might go a bit under the radar, but it’s definitely worth checking out if you get a chance. I quite like it.

Creative Team: Christofer Emgård (writer), Tomás Aira (art), Mauro Mantella (lettering), Dave Arshall (editor), Konner Nnudsen (assistant editor), Skyler Weissenfluh (designer), Adam Pruett (digital art technician)
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
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