Near-Perfect H.P. Lovecraft Horror Is Returning, And We Have The Chilling First Look

Howard Phillips Lovecraft only lived until he was 46 years old (he died in 1937), and during his career as a professional writer (which was roughly 11 years), he "only" wrote about seventy short stories. However, those seventy short stories have become some of the most influential pieces of fiction in the entire 20th Century.

Almost 90 years since he passed away, Lovecraft's work is not only still influencing the works of many modern horror legends, but it is also still being adapted, and Image Comics will be releasing a five-issue miniseries adapting the Lovecraft story, "The Thing on the Doorstep," which Lovecraft wrote for the pulp magazine Weird Tales, in 1933 (published in 1937), one of the last stories ever published by Lovecraft before his death. CBR has a first look at the first issue of the series, arriving in February 2026, which is adapted by writer Simon Birks (Antarctica, One More Year, The Shadow Over Innsmouth) and artist Willi Roberts (Antarctica, The Dark, The Blood Below), along with letterer Rob Jones.

How does Image Comics describe the series?

In Image Comics' press release announcing the new series, the story is described:

The Thing on the Doorstep draws readers into the shadowed labyrinth of friendship warped by forces not meant for human witness. Daniel Upton and Edward Derby have been bound together since youth—until the day Daniel puts a bullet in his closest companion within the bleak walls of Arkham Sanitarium. Though all evidence damns him, Daniel claims innocence, hinting at horrors that mock reason itself. Within these pages, readers uncover the terrible truth: the birth of a doomed relationship and Edward Derby’s gradual surrender to realms of dread that lie just beyond the fragile veil.

In 2009, Library America did an anthology of horror short stories, American Fantastic Tales: Terror and the Uncanny from Poe to the Pulps. and "The Thing on the Doorstep" was the only Lovecraft story included in the collection, speaking to its reputation all these years later.

What do the creators behind the adaptation have to say about the project?

Quoted in the press release announcing the comic, Birks notes, “I’m thrilled to bring The Thing on the Doorstep to life with Top Cow and Image Comics. Lovecraft’s original tale has always fascinated me, and in adapting it, I wanted to explore not only the classic cosmic horror but also the human relationships and psychological tension beneath it. This story delves deeper into the characters and adds a whole new dimension to Lovecraft’s mythos—one that I think both longtime fans and new readers will truly appreciate.”

Marc Silvestri, the iconic comic book creator, and also Image Comics and Top Cow CEO, added, "Simon Birks has an incredible ability to craft tension and emotion in equal measure. His writing pulls you in and doesn’t let go. We’ve been fans of his storytelling for a long time, and I’m confident readers are going to love what he’s done with The Thing on the Doorstep. It’s haunting, heartfelt, and utterly unforgettable.”

The Thing on the Doorstep #1 is due out on February 11, 2026

Source: Image Comics