1st Impression: ARCANE SECRETS - THE CURSE OF THE MOTTLED TENTACLE # 1

ARCANE SECRETS: THE CURSE OF THE MOTTLED TENTACLE # 1

Written by Angel A. Svoboda

Art by Angel A. Svoboda & Rafael Nieves
Amigo Comics

FLIPPING THROUGH:

            Our tale talks of our heroes Dr. Ment and Harry; two detectives that deal with the supernatural … many things deal with Cthulu and the like. Dr. Ment’s archenemy, the mob boss Salvatore Tamontti, sets lose a monster that once attacked by it will allow Salvatore to take over the victim’s mind; which is made obvious because suddently you grow plants on your head and body.

            Ment gets bitten so he sends in Harry after another tentacle monster to help ask someone by the name of Selma Pratchett for help; after Harry throws in said Selemite tentacle monster into the Unknown Zone. While in the Unknown Zone, Harry gets the help of a helioglobe named Elvis.  The two come back in time to go with Ment to see Selma. Meanwhile, Salvatore sends one of his most powerful men after someone else.

ART:

            I must admit; I was surprise. Svoboda’s art is nice and cartoon with an interesting versatility that makes monstrous things still look threatening while the overall cute factor is still there. The line work is nice and clean. The detail is simple yet distinct enough to tell who is who and what is what.
            Svoboda’s characters have a great style that can be mimicked for television show. The monsters in this were both gross and horrifying while still retaining a little bit of cute. Svoboda has some great backgrounds that work for the book; giving it a nice fusion of dark and mysterious with fun and adventurous.

WRITING:

            Svoboda does a great job in giving a packed story. The plot was easy to follow but did not insult your intelligence. The characters were definitely living up to cartoony or children’s show tropes but in a good way which made them entertaining. Svoboda creates a dynamic plot which ends up taking our heroes to interesting places … the Unknown Realm being one of them. The nods to Lovecraft and Cthuluian works were nicely sprinkled throughout the entire piece.
            Svoboda made Lovecraftian monsters fun but still somewhat scary … well, most of them anyway. It definitely will be something children can find entertaining.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:
           

            This was pretty good for a children’s book. It did not insult readers intelligence but definitely played to its demographic. It was interesting, multi-layered in story but still easy to follow. The characters were entertaining. The situations ridiculous and all fit for what I believe the book wanted.


RATING:

            It’s a fun book. Kids will love it. Adults, maybe not so much. But overall, a great book. I give Arcane Secrets: The Curse of the Mottled Tentacle # 1 an 8 out of 10.