Lovecraft's writing, both creepy and cosmic, was not celebrated during his life (far from it -- he died of cancer in his native Rhode Island at age 46, a broken man hovering near poverty) but his ancient-evil concepts and complex mythologies have resonated mightily in recent decades with devotees as diverse as Joyce Carol Oates, Stephen King, Metallica, Jorge Luis Borges, Mike Mignola and Neil Gaiman.
Still, the author remains a vague brand name to most genre fans. That may change in the seasons to come. In March, Universal and Imagine Entertainment announced plans to adapt "The Strange Adventures of H.P. Lovecraft," a graphic novel from Image Comics that weaves a supernatural tale into a fictionalized life story of the author. Brian Grazer is producing with Ron Howard, who may also direct, suggesting that he may have enjoyed his immersion into spooky antiquities with "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels & Demons."
