Originally Posted by
skrilmps
Hi Pledge, thanks for the reply. It sounds like you have a good reading project underway! I too have undertaken something similar with literature. And speaking of Lovecraft, I went on an HPL reading binge a few years back and found myself wanting to know (as I often do, apparently) who and what his inspirations were. I then found myself reading Poe. And next, who were Poe's inspirations? And so on and so forth.
I think it's a very worthwhile enterprise to seek out and understand the influences of the works that you admire. Everything and everyone was influenced by something that came before. By seeking out and studying those influences I think it gives us a better sense of perspective and appreciation for the things we enjoy. At its heart it's essentially a study of history, and I think anyone benefits from the study of history, whether it's the history of literature, the history of comics, or the history of anything else.
Happy reading!