Gou Tanabe’s acclaimed manga reimagining of H.P. Lovecraft’s classic horror tales continues with The Call of Cthulhu. What links together two bands of worshippers, one deep in the Arctic snows, one hidden in the bayous of Louisiana, is more than their shared practice of blood sacrifice. It is the inhuman phrase they both chant: Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn – “In his house at R’lyeh dead Cthulhu waits dreaming.” Now these nightmares will disturb the sanity of Francis Thurston, a young man pursuing an investigation into the cult of Cthulhu that leads to the most forsaken spot in the vast Pacific… and to Earth’s supreme terror, the risen corpse-city of R’lyeh.
The original Call of Cthulhu is regarded as an all-time classic piece of horror and fantasy that was praised by Lovecraft’s contemporaries like Robert E. Howard as a masterpiece. The story has influenced countless other writers and has left undeniable mark on literature. Cthulhu is what springs to mind to many people when one thinks of Lovecraft and is undoubtedly his most famous creation. The monstrous cosmic entity has inspired several similar monsters, a role-playing game (also titled The Call of Cthulhu) and cults both fictional and real.
Tanabe’s previous manga adaptations of Lovecraft’s classics have been some of the best horror manga of recent memory. His reverence for the source material and his highly detailed art style makes him the perfect creator for these stories. His adaptations have earned him several major comic award nominations including both Eisner and Harvey awards. Now he finally arrives at Lovecraft’s most famous work, and you can tell he is having the time of his life.
Tanabe once again nails the time period with the fashion, architecture and general aesthetic all on point. But it is the tension and horror that he manages to build across each page and panel where he truly shrines. The contrast between Thurston’s office and the demonic monoliths that he finds himself among in his nightmares is just one example that makes a big impact. It is this continuous shift between the normal and paranormal that makes this story so gripping. Tanabe’s twisted depiction of Cthulhu’s followers and the monster itself are the stuff bad dreams are made of, but even things you wouldn’t expect to be as frightening such as the clay tablet that gives Thurston his first glimpse of the beast gives the work an ominous feel that isn’t easy to shift.
This is another feather Gou Tanabe can add to his cap as he has more than done justice to Lovecraft’s most famous work. Lovecraft fans owe it to themselves to give this manga a read as does anyone who appreciates traditional horror.
H.P. Lovecraft’s The Call of Cthulhu (Manga) is out now from Dark Horse (9781506741406, p/b, £18.99)
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