Apparently, this one-shot is based on a video game by the same name. Never heard of it, to be honest, but that stands to reason, as I rarely play video games. I have played Tomb Raider and Resident Evil games, and this strikes me as a cross between the two. It doesn't strike me, though, as the most original of stories. Alone in the Dark comes off as simply capable storytelling at best, and random and derivative at the worst.
A quartet of adventurers -- academics Aline Cedrac and Frank Stone, "businessman" Ganeesha and secret agent by the name of Carnby -- venture into the mountains of Nepal in search of the hidden city of Aggartha, where they hope to find an artifact known as the Crown of Ghengis. Each one has a different goal in mind, though, and it threatens not only the safety of all four of them, but the fate of the entire world.
Haley's and Briclot's artwork tells the story clearly. The action is easy to follow and the characters are easily distinguishable. On the other hand, there's little in the art that really grabs one's attention. The art is so clear that a creepy atmosphere never develops. Of course, the fact that the story gallops along doesn't help things either. Goussale's colors, like the art, are capable, but never contribute much to the story beyond that.
It makes sense that this book is based on a video game, as the plot developments and elements boast a random quality. At first, mercenaries are the problem. Then, the threat is a throng of Yetis. Then it's overgrown bugs, and finally, an energy field and a Lovecraftian monster. And then there are the characters. An Indian antique dealer/guide named Ganeesha? That's as silly as the mish-mash of history and myth that collides in the goal of the expedition.
To be fair, though, the Lofficiers can hardly be blamed for the random and uninspired quality of the story. They're working from a script, adapting a gaming medium -- one focused on visuals and interaction -- for one focused on storytelling. It just doesn't work. Without the interactivity, there's nothing to hold the viewer's attention, highlighting the derivative nature of the plot and a lack of characterization instead.
