It's interesting how prop interpretations of the Necronomicon have changed over the years. Right through the early 80s the go-to depiction was based on traditional grimoires - lots of iron hardware and tooled leather decoration. Then "Evil Dead" hit and the whole bound in human flesh/face on the cover thing started. Over the last few years that's generally fallen to the wayside. I credit that to an attack of sanity as fans realized how ridiculous the whole face thing usually looked. Unless you're a truly gifted artist there's no way to pull it off effectively.
Not to mention it's really hard to fit on your bookshelf.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm a traditionalist. If I were to ever make a Necronomicon (not likely since it, like Cthuhlu statues have been done to death) I'd prefer the old-fashioned musty leather tome to the 'book-with-a-face' design. Not to say that a spellbook covered in facial skin, with eye holes and lips sewn shut isn't interesting.