LOVECRAFT: THE CALL OF CTHULHU, by Zenescope Entertainment on 11/15/23, finds Keres delivering a diary to Lovecraft’s descendant hoping to learn about a weapon to defeat the Great Old Ones.
The Details
- Written by: Chas! Pangburn
- Art by: Juan Francisco Mota
- Colors by: Fran Gamboa, J.C. Ruiz
- Letters by: Carlos M. Mangual
- Cover art by: Caio Cacau (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover price: $5.99
- Release date: November 15, 2023
Is LOVECRAFT: THE CALL OF CTHULHU Good?
LOVECRAFT: THE CALL OF CTHULHU takes a trip into history when Keres visits Spencer Holmes and Henry Lovecraft to deliver a special gift. Chas! Pangburn’s Lovecraftian origin story gives the classic horror writer’s beginnings a fresh twist that lays the foundation for a globetrotting adventure on the horizon.
Pangburn’s script centers on famed writer H.P. Lovecraft’s humble beginnings as more than a writer with an overactive imagination. Henry, Lovecraft’s descendant, learns the startling truth behind Lovecraft’s visionary writings through a diary gifted to him by the Goddess of Death. Now, Henry, Spencer, and Keres learn from the past as the key to stopping a world-ending future.
For clarification, the issue is effectively one, extensive flashback depicting the true horrors H.P. Lovecraft faced. Very little story takes place in the present, but Pangburn neatly bookends the flashback to set up future adventures.
What’s great about LOVECRAFT: THE CALL OF CTHULHU? Pangburn’s “The Story Behind the Reality” take on H.P. Lovecraft’s life is thoroughly entertaining and should be a treat for Lovecraft fans. Zenescope went a long way (maybe too long) toward adapting Lovecraftian horror over the last year, but Pangburn’s turn feels like one of the fresher attempts at modernizing the Cthulhu lore.
What’s not so great about LOVECRAFT: THE CALL OF CTHULHU? The banter between Henry, Spencer, and Keres feels a little too jokey and personal, considering one of the trio is the Goddess of Death. They’re bickering banter undercuts the horror of Lovecraft’s ordeal. In fairness, Pangburn appears to be building camaraderie between the three for whatever comes next, but the tone of their banter clashes with everything else.
How’s the art? Juan Francisco Mota’s art looks great in LOVECRAFT: THE CALL OF CTHULHU. The monster designs are close enough to the source material to be recognizable, and the semi-realistic depiction of H.P. Lovecraft is on point.
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What’s LOVECRAFT: THE CALL OF CTHULHU About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with Keres appearing before Spencer Holmes and Henry Lovecraft with a gift – H.P. Lovecraft’s personal diary. The pages explain Lovecraft’s personal experiences that eventually led to his fanciful tales. Henry is shocked to find Lovecraft’s stories are based on visions and real-life experiences, giving the stories a new meaning as warnings instead of simply fiction.
The diary explains how Lovecraft experienced debilitating fear and anxiety over vivid, recurring dreams. When Lovecraft discovered his dreams matched reality, he traveled to the locations in his dreams to find the cults, artifacts, and rituals he envisioned. Eventually, Lovecraft found out that the rituals, and the monsters they call forth, are all too real.
We conclude the issue with a counteractive power, a special weapon, and the next clue.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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LOVECRAFT: THE CALL OF CTHULHU is an entertaining, novel take on historical fiction about the real-life monsters encountered by H.P. Lovecraft. Pangburn’s take on the fiction writer is a fresh addition to Zenescope’s brand of Lovecraft lore, and the art looks great.
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