Necronauts
Encyclopedia
Necronauts was a story that ran in the comics anthology
2000 AD, and was created by Gordon Rennie
and Frazer Irving
. It was this series that really brought Irving to public attention as his high contrast black and white artwork complimented Rennie's dark storyline.
, where Rennie had published White Trash, however:
The story formed part of a general push by editor Andy Diggle
to get more horror into the comic: "I commissioned Necronauts because I thought horror would work well in 2000 AD."
It eventually started in the 2000 AD end of year special in 2000, Prog 2001, and continued in issues #1223-1230.
that Sir Arthur is attending is attacked by a strange force that possesses the medium
. Sir Arthur travels to New York
to speak to Houdini, where they are attacked by Tcho-Tcho
s, summoned by The Sleepers' human minions (The Hidden Masters of the World: The Illuminated Ones
).
While Houdini and Lovecraft travel back into the spiritual plane, Fort and Sir Arthur must protect their bodies from the assembling dark forces. However, there is also a traitor in their midst, and one of their number will die.
by Rebellion
:
Comics anthology
Comics anthologies collect works in the medium of comics that are too short for standalone publication.- U.S. :- UK :British comics have a long tradition publishing comics anthologies, often weekly...
2000 AD, and was created by Gordon Rennie
Gordon Rennie
Gordon Rennie is a comics writer, responsible for White Trash: Moronic Inferno, as well as several comic strips for 2000 AD and novels for Warhammer Fantasy....
and Frazer Irving
Frazer Irving
Frazer Irving is a British comic book artist known for the 2000 AD series Necronauts. Irving studied art at the University of Portsmouth, England, after which he took various temporary jobs in London...
. It was this series that really brought Irving to public attention as his high contrast black and white artwork complimented Rennie's dark storyline.
Publication history
The outline for the story and was written in 1991 and was originally intended for Tundra PublishingTundra Publishing
Tundra Publishing was a Northampton, Massachusetts-based comic book publisher founded by Kevin Eastman in 1990.-Overview:Tundra was meant to provide a venue for high-quality work by talented cartoonists and illustrators. Its publications were noted in the trade for their high production values,...
, where Rennie had published White Trash, however:
The story formed part of a general push by editor Andy Diggle
Andy Diggle
Andy Diggle is a British comic book writer and former editor of 2000 AD. He is best known for his work on The Losers, Swamp Thing, Hellblazer, Adam Strange and Silent Dragon at DC Comics and for his run on Thunderbolts and Daredevil after his move to Marvel.-Career:Diggle took over editing 2000 AD...
to get more horror into the comic: "I commissioned Necronauts because I thought horror would work well in 2000 AD."
It eventually started in the 2000 AD end of year special in 2000, Prog 2001, and continued in issues #1223-1230.
Characters
- Charles FortCharles FortCharles Hoy Fort was an American writer and researcher into anomalous phenomena. Today, the terms Fortean and Forteana are used to characterize various such phenomena. Fort's books sold well and are still in print today.-Biography:Charles Hoy Fort was born in 1874 in Albany, New York, of Dutch...
, investigator of anomalous phenomena - Arthur Conan DoyleArthur Conan DoyleSir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle DL was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a milestone in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger...
, creator of Sherlock HolmesSherlock HolmesSherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
with a strong interest in the paranormal - H. P. LovecraftH. P. LovecraftHoward Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
, teller of dark tales - Harry HoudiniHarry HoudiniHarry Houdini was a Hungarian-born American magician and escapologist, stunt performer, actor and film producer noted for his sensational escape acts...
, escapologistEscapologyFor the Jessica Mauboy song, see Inescapable.Escapology is the practice of escaping from restraints or other traps. Escapologists escape from handcuffs, straitjackets, cages, coffins, steel boxes, barrels, bags, burning buildings, fish-tanks and other perils, often in combination.-History:The art...
and debunker of fraudulent Spiritualists - A mysterious evil flier, who while never named is clearly based on Charles LindberghCharles LindberghCharles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
.
Plot
In 1926, while practising a new trick, Houdini has a near-death experience, awakening the mysterious Sleepers. Meanwhile, Lovecraft is visited by a talking raven, and a séanceSéance
A séance is an attempt to communicate with spirits. The word "séance" comes from the French word for "seat," "session" or "sitting," from the Old French "seoir," "to sit." In French, the word's meaning is quite general: one may, for example, speak of "une séance de cinéma"...
that Sir Arthur is attending is attacked by a strange force that possesses the medium
Mediumship
Mediumship is described as a form of communication with spirits. It is a practice in religious beliefs such as Spiritualism, Spiritism, Espiritismo, Candomblé, Voodoo and Umbanda.- Concept :...
. Sir Arthur travels to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to speak to Houdini, where they are attacked by Tcho-Tcho
Tcho-Tcho
The Tcho-Tcho, or Tcho-Tcho people, are a fictional human-like race in the Cthulhu Mythos.-Appearances:The Tcho-Tcho are first mentioned in August Derleth's 1933 short story "The Thing That Walked on the Wind", in which a character refers in passing to "the forbidden and accursed designs of the...
s, summoned by The Sleepers' human minions (The Hidden Masters of the World: The Illuminated Ones
Illuminati
The Illuminati is a name given to several groups, both real and fictitious. Historically the name refers to the Bavarian Illuminati, an Enlightenment-era secret society founded on May 1, 1776...
).
While Houdini and Lovecraft travel back into the spiritual plane, Fort and Sir Arthur must protect their bodies from the assembling dark forces. However, there is also a traitor in their midst, and one of their number will die.
Collected editions
The story has been reprinted as a trade paperbackTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
by Rebellion
Rebellion Developments
Rebellion is a British computer games company, based in Oxford, who are most famous for the first Aliens vs. Predator computer game. It has published comic books since 2000 and launched its own book imprint, Abaddon Books, in 2006.-History:...
:
- Necronauts (64 pages, December 2007, ISBN 1-904265-09-X, February 2008, ISBN 1-905437-71-4)
- Tharg's Terror Tales Presents Necronauts and Love Like Blood (collects Necronauts and A Love Like Blood, 128 pages, October 2011, ISBN 1-907992-51-0)
Awards
- 2000 Eagle AwardsEagle AwardsThe Eagle Award is a series of awards for comic book titles and creators. They are awarded by UK fan voting for work produced during the previous year. Named after the UK's Eagle comic, the awards were set up by Mike Conroy, Nick Landau, Colin Campbell, Phil Clarke and Richard Burton, and launched...
, Favourite Comic Strip to Appear in a UK Magazine or Comic (runner-up) - 2001 National Comics AwardsNational Comics AwardsNational Comics Awards are given out on an annual basis for comic book and related material published in the United Kingdom the previous year.-History:...
, Best New Talent (Tied win): Frazer Irving for Necronauts - 2004 Diamond Comics Awards, Graphic Novel of the Year
See also
- Fort: Prophet of the UnexplainedFort: Prophet of the UnexplainedFort: Prophet of the Unexplained is a Dark Horse Comics comic book limited series created by writer Peter Lenkov and artist Frazer Irving. It should not be confused with the 1971 biographical study Charles Fort: Prophet of the Unexplained by Damon Knight, which apart from the title has no...
, another comic starring Fort and Lovecraft also illustrated by Irving - The Searchers, another comic featuring Fort and Doyle
- The ArcanumThe Arcanum (novel)The Arcanum is a 2005 novel by Tom Wheeler. Set in 1919 it concerns the last case of occult-busters; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Harry Houdini, H. P. Lovecraft, and voodoo queen Marie Laveau.-Origins:...
, a novel by Tom WheelerTom WheelerTom Wheeler is an American television writer and producer. He served as the executive producer and show runner for the NBC superhero series The Cape.- Television work :...
, which also teams Doyle, Houdini and Lovecraft - Cthulhu Mythos in popular cultureCthulhu Mythos in popular cultureThis article provides a list of cultural references to the work of author H. P. Lovecraft. These references are collectively known as the Cthulhu Mythos. For works that are stylistically influenced by Lovecraft, see Lovecraftian horror.- Film :...
External links
- Necronauts Tells A Dark History, Comics BulletinComics BulletinComics Bulletin is a website with an emphasis on the American comic book industry, updated daily with news, reviews, interviews, and editorial content. Coverage ranges from mainstream to independent/small press comic book and graphic novel publishers.-History:...
Reviews
- Trade review, Comics BulletinComics BulletinComics Bulletin is a website with an emphasis on the American comic book industry, updated daily with news, reviews, interviews, and editorial content. Coverage ranges from mainstream to independent/small press comic book and graphic novel publishers.-History:...
, November 9, 2003 - Review of the trade paperback, October 19, 2006