The Me You Love In The Dark #3: Eldritch Boyfriend Material

While The Me You Love in the Dark’s ad copy compares it to the works of Stephen King, the story (crafted by Skottie Young, Jorge Corona, Jean-Francois Beaulieu, and Nate Pikekos) has much more in common with another horror creator: Guillermo del Toro. As its cover implies, the comic’s third issue pulls the “love” element of the title into sharp focus. When faced by an incomprehensible eldritch monstrosity, the comic’s artist-protagonist Ro ultimately doesn’t run away. Rather, she decide’s he’s perfect boyfriend material. 

The Me You Love in the Dark #3 is intimate, funny, and — there’s no other way to put it — horny. In a charming montage that lasts most of the issue, the odd couple watch Richard Curtis movies and make love. It’s a classic tale of girl/boy-meets-monster reminiscent of The Shape of Water and Venom: Let There Be Carnage.  Corona frames scenes so that spaces feel small, but due to both the romantic situations and Beaulieu’s soft and warm lighting, the story feels cozy rather than claustrophobic. 

Corona’s lanky, skeletal character design for the Eldritch Boyfriend is itself reminiscent of the monsters in del Toro films, and truthfully the only major “horror” element of the comic. It’s possible to argue that Ro’s passion for her new beau feeds her procrastination, but it also seems to feed her inspiration. Really, he seems to present no real threat to Ro’s wellbeing. In fact, he asks for consent, supports her, and generally respects her boundaries. The much more significant threat narratively moving the comic towards its fourth issue is the demanding gallery owner, who feels amusingly less human than Ro’s Eldritch Boyfriend. For now, however, it’s wonderful to savor every page of this less-than-traditional romance.