Today in Comics History, February 24: Happy birthday, August Derleth!

Born on this day in 1909: writer, editor, and publisher August Derleth, the first book publisher of the works of H. P. Lovecraft and founder of the press Arkham House, but also known for important works that won't chill your very marrow to the core: his naturalist/conservationalist works about Wisconsin in the Sac Prairie Saga, creator and writer of the Solar Pons series (a uncanny pastiche of Sherlock Holmes) and the Mill Creek Irregulars childrens' book series. His own horror stories, while not as well known as Lovecraft's, are given high regard in the occult fiction field.

And look! He has an appearance in a comic book! Suitably, it's in Alan Moore's "the dark beasts are coming and will scare your pants off" Lovecraft homage Providence.


from Providence #11 (Avatar, November 2016), script by Alan Moore, pencils and inks by Jacen Burrows, colors by Juan Manuel Rodriguez, letters by Kurt Hathaway
Several of Derleth's spooky tales have been adapted for comics. Here's an example with gorgeous artwork by Esteban Maroto.



from "The Drifting Snow" in Vampire Tales #4 (Marvel, April 1974), script by Tony Isabella, pencils and inks by Esteban Maroto
Happy birthday, August Derleth, you nut, you crazy doomsayer you! See ya at the Dark Uprising!