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Gou Tanabe's Adaptations of H.P. Lovecraft's Masterpieces
H.P. Lovecraft's 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.
First published in 1928, The Call of Cthulhu, rendered in chilling detail by modern manga horror master Gou Tanabe, is the most famous of all of H.P. Lovecraft's stories, and was the namesake of the acclaimed role-playing game system set within the Cthulhu Mythos.
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.
First published in 1928, The Call of Cthulhu, rendered in chilling detail by modern manga horror master Gou Tanabe, is the most famous of all of H.P. Lovecraft's stories, and was the namesake of the acclaimed role-playing game system set within the Cthulhu Mythos.
282 pages, Paperback
First published November 12, 2019
124 people are currently reading
900 people want to read
About the author
Gou Tanabe
61 books244 followersGou Tanabe is a Japanese creator of Manga.
Also known as 田辺 剛.
(Some prefer the spelling Gō Tanabe, but Gou Tanabe is used on his published books so far.)
Also known as 田辺 剛.
(Some prefer the spelling Gō Tanabe, but Gou Tanabe is used on his published books so far.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 284 reviews
June 11, 2023
The Call of Cthulhu, the manga adaptation in Chinese! What more can I ask for!?
I guess the reason why Lovecraft is so intriguing and up-to-date/timeless is that he just pointblank told you humanity is doomed and the future is hopeless.
Give the current state the world is in, I can only say he is right.
#StandWithUkraine
Well, the beginning part of the story is a bit less exciting, but things pick up once we hit the 1/3 mark.
The climax of the story is very well done, I'm once again impressed by the manga-ka's skills and how he managed to narrate the story in a way that makes it look less dry and wordy than the origin text. He also makes the characters a slightly bit more 3-dimensional than their novel-counterparts. Not to mention, he also managed to bring the Older Gods and the nightmarish scenes on the mysterious Isle fully back to life!!!!! Sugoi ne!
Oh nightmare, it's real and it's alive! What more can I ask for?
PS: Take my word, Gou Tanabe is the messiah for all the Lovecraft fans out there. XD
An introduction article about the newly published 2021 Taiwanese translation: https://gnn.gamer.com.tw/detail.php?s...
My review for The Color Out of Space manga adaptation: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review for the Shadow Out of Time manga adaptation and At the Mountains of Madness by the same author.
I guess the reason why Lovecraft is so intriguing and up-to-date/timeless is that he just pointblank told you humanity is doomed and the future is hopeless.
Give the current state the world is in, I can only say he is right.
#StandWithUkraine
Well, the beginning part of the story is a bit less exciting, but things pick up once we hit the 1/3 mark.
The climax of the story is very well done, I'm once again impressed by the manga-ka's skills and how he managed to narrate the story in a way that makes it look less dry and wordy than the origin text. He also makes the characters a slightly bit more 3-dimensional than their novel-counterparts. Not to mention, he also managed to bring the Older Gods and the nightmarish scenes on the mysterious Isle fully back to life!!!!! Sugoi ne!
Oh nightmare, it's real and it's alive! What more can I ask for?
PS: Take my word, Gou Tanabe is the messiah for all the Lovecraft fans out there. XD
An introduction article about the newly published 2021 Taiwanese translation: https://gnn.gamer.com.tw/detail.php?s...
My review for The Color Out of Space manga adaptation: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review for the Shadow Out of Time manga adaptation and At the Mountains of Madness by the same author.
August 9, 2025
This was excellent! I had’t read the source material though I had read The Shadow of Innsmouth and enjoyed it immensely. Having read this I am looking forward to reading more by Lovecraft and now I’ll be able to envision what he’s writing much better. I was surprised to recognize elements of the Monstress series by Marjorie Liu & Sana Takeda and realized they too were inspired by Lovecraft. I love when I’m able to make those connections. The art was amazing with the intricate detail I love, making Lovecraft’s imaginative cosmic horror visually, beautifully, realized. The story was layered and told as stories recounted from diaries and going back in time and back some more. This slowly revealed the mystery and the myth. Loved this so much that I immediately went and added all his other Lovecraft works to my wishlist on Amazon.
November 12, 2025
Second read:
I think having a feeling for the story structure here helped my enjoyment. Tanabe is so good, I can’t for him to make another volume!
First read:
Not quite reaching the heights that Tanabe found with H.P. Lovecraft's At the Mountains of Madness but I think that's more due to the source material. There's an awful lot of time just spent talking between archeologists and reading reports of the unusual cult of Cthulhu. I've always found Lovecraft stories to have a lot of overlap. I feel like so much of this material was already covered in At the Mountains of Madness, basically just another attempt at telling the same style of horror.
The ending is excellent and a really great payoff both story and art as Tanabe draws an amazing Cthulhu. I'll definitely keep reading more Lovecraft by Tanabe, I really feel like he's doing the definite adaptations with these books.
I think having a feeling for the story structure here helped my enjoyment. Tanabe is so good, I can’t for him to make another volume!
First read:
Not quite reaching the heights that Tanabe found with H.P. Lovecraft's At the Mountains of Madness but I think that's more due to the source material. There's an awful lot of time just spent talking between archeologists and reading reports of the unusual cult of Cthulhu. I've always found Lovecraft stories to have a lot of overlap. I feel like so much of this material was already covered in At the Mountains of Madness, basically just another attempt at telling the same style of horror.
The ending is excellent and a really great payoff both story and art as Tanabe draws an amazing Cthulhu. I'll definitely keep reading more Lovecraft by Tanabe, I really feel like he's doing the definite adaptations with these books.
March 11, 2025
Probably the best graphic novel adaptation of a Lovecraft story I've read. The art is sublime, and especially the depictions of undescribable elements like R'lyeh's non-euclidian architecture are as well done as you can do in 2D, I think. The adaptation is well-paced, with that lovely creeping dread of Lovecraft's best work.
If I have one criticism, it is that halfway through we get a a diary in a lot of text, which you'd hope would have been more illustrated - especially because later on we get a fully illustrated diary. But that's a small gripe, this book is fantastic.
(Thanks to Dark Horse Books for providing me with a review copy through Edelweiss)
August 11, 2025
wow this was good!!! the illustration?? honestly impeccable, i loved the style and how haunting it was. i wish i had read the original story first, but i’ll get to it one of these days LOL. this was super compelling and enjoyable, my only personal issue was how tiny some of the text was while info dumping
November 15, 2023
Esta es la tercera vez que leo esta historia (amo a Cthulhu), primera en este formato de manga. Me gustó porque sirve mucho para seguirle el ritmo sin perderse (como suele ocurrirme ya que es un poco complicada de leer por el tema de historias dentro de otras historias) sin embargo, no me gustaron mucho las ilustraciones, costaban entenderlas y no lograron impactarme como deberían. Cthulhu se quedó chico… 🐙
3⭐️ de 5
3⭐️ de 5
April 2, 2023
No es mi historia favorita de Lovecraft y Tanabe sabe trabajar sobre ella para que funcione como un tiro. Especialmente la segunda mitad, el relato canónico de aventura en el mar durante el cual un barco llega a R'lyeh y despierta a Cthulhu. La representación de Tanabe, al igual que en Las montañas de la locura, juega bien en la frontera entre lo definido y lo indefinido; concreta el horror cuando es necesario a la vez que mantiene la textura pesadillesca de la sugerencia, la confusión... Mis dieses.
February 18, 2025
Gou Tanabe has done it again. He makes adapting Lovecraft for comics look easy. I am in awe of his ability to visualize things that HPL only hinted at.
A young man from Boston, Francis Thurston, is the executor of the late Professor Angell's estate. In going through his papers, he discovers that the Professor was investigating a bizarre cult, seemingly international in scope despite its obscurity, worshippers of something called “Cthulhu.” Francis promptly burns the papers and vows to forget about it altogether.
Ha ha! No. Actually, he launches his own investigation. What could possibly go wrong?
“The Call of Cthulhu” is probably H.P. Lovecraft's most famous story. It's a classic of horror that should be familiar to fans of the genre. Tanabe's adaptation drips with atmosphere and creeping dread. His visual of Francis Thurston shows perhaps a stronger manga influence than my mental picture has previously been, but that's hardly surprising. The story gets a little text heavy in places, but that's probably inevitable given the nature of the original–told through journal entries and news stories and the like.
I recall being unimpressed by Tanabe's first effort at adapting Lovecraft: The Hound And Others. But now I'm thinking I should reread that since his subsequent HPL books have been so stellar. It may turn out to be better than I'm remembering. I have definitely come around to the view that any Lovecraft adaptation by Gou Tanabe is a Must Buy. Highly recommended!
A young man from Boston, Francis Thurston, is the executor of the late Professor Angell's estate. In going through his papers, he discovers that the Professor was investigating a bizarre cult, seemingly international in scope despite its obscurity, worshippers of something called “Cthulhu.” Francis promptly burns the papers and vows to forget about it altogether.
Ha ha! No. Actually, he launches his own investigation. What could possibly go wrong?
“The Call of Cthulhu” is probably H.P. Lovecraft's most famous story. It's a classic of horror that should be familiar to fans of the genre. Tanabe's adaptation drips with atmosphere and creeping dread. His visual of Francis Thurston shows perhaps a stronger manga influence than my mental picture has previously been, but that's hardly surprising. The story gets a little text heavy in places, but that's probably inevitable given the nature of the original–told through journal entries and news stories and the like.
I recall being unimpressed by Tanabe's first effort at adapting Lovecraft: The Hound And Others. But now I'm thinking I should reread that since his subsequent HPL books have been so stellar. It may turn out to be better than I'm remembering. I have definitely come around to the view that any Lovecraft adaptation by Gou Tanabe is a Must Buy. Highly recommended!
January 23, 2025
Another incredible adaptation from Tanabe. True to the spirit of the original and exquisite in every detail. One can only hope that Tanabe continues to adapt HPL's stories - especially "The Dunwhich Horror," "The Shadow out of Time," "Pickman's Model," and "Dreams in the Witch House."
October 22, 2025
“Cthulhu Fhtagn”. Tanabe’s excellent artistic adaptation of Lovecraft’s seminal stories in which various people and groups around the world go mad in the summoning of the horrific great Cthulhu. Tanabe’s pencil and ink work are splendid rendering the lost city of R’lyeh and the monster itself all tentacles, eyes, and wings.
January 28, 2025
Another fantastic Lovecraft adaptation by Gou Tanabe. His detailed art style captures Lovecraft’s story incredibly well.
December 1, 2024
I did not truly understand this story before reading this graphic adaptation. Stunning art.
September 30, 2023
Me ha pasado algo con esta adaptación al manga de Gou Tanabe que hasta ahora no me había ocurrido con las otras obras que he leído del autor, aunque me ha gustado, la historia no me ha enganchado como las otras, eso sí, no tengo palabras para describir las ilustraciones....
La historia comienza cuando un joven recibe en herencia todos las cosas de su tío abuelo que acaba de morir, y entre ellas descubre cómo comenzó su última investigación sobre el culto de Cthulhu y todo lo referente a ella....
La historia comienza cuando un joven recibe en herencia todos las cosas de su tío abuelo que acaba de morir, y entre ellas descubre cómo comenzó su última investigación sobre el culto de Cthulhu y todo lo referente a ella....
December 17, 2024
Це прекрасно у всіх сенсах, від оформлення до наповнення. Збільшений формат дозволяє нормально роздивитися ілюстрації, які чудові, та й сама історія передана перфектно.
February 19, 2025
"H.P. Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu"
Gou Tanabe
"What could be the meaning of this queer clay bas-relief and the disjointed jottings, ramblings, and cuttings which I found?"
"Здавалося, то був якийсь монстр, а чи символ, що передавав монстра, образ якого могла витворити лише хвора свідомість. Я не надто погрішу проти істини, якщо скажу, що моя дещо екстравагантна уява намалювала одночасно образи восьминога, дракона і потворної подоби людини. М’ясиста голова зі щупальцями вінчала гротескне і лускате тіло з рудиментарними крилами, а проте саме загальний контур цієї фігури робив її разюче жахливою."
Черговий шедевр від геніального Танабе.
На цей раз художник взявся за одну з найголовніших та найвідоміших робіт Лавкрафта - поклик Ктулху. Та все ж, якщо порівнювати цю адаптацію з усіма попередніми, то тут не так щоб багато екшну. Танабе більше концентрується на психологізмі та акуратному промальовуванні персонажів. Звісно що фінальні сцени з погонею Ктулху та явлення підводного Рльєху, виконані як завжди віртуозно та масштабно. ЧОго лише вартує апокаліптичне видіння Ктулху, що виникає з тьрох темних сонць.
А в підсумку, я вже вчергове переконався, що краще за Танабе воплотити видіння Лавкрафта у життя не зможе уже ніхто.
"я витворив його минулої ночі у своїх снах про дивовижні міста; у візіях, проте, давніших, ніж замислений Тір, чи занурений у себе Сфінкс, а чи оточений садами Вавилон».
"Він переповідав свої сни у надзвичайно поетичній манері, змальовуючи панорами жахаючого безмежжя похмурого грандіозного міста зі слизького зеленого каменю, — його геометрія, зачудовано казав хлопець, геть неправильна, — і змушуючи почути лячні звуки невловимого, напівтелепатичного поклику з глибин: Ктулху фгтагн, Ктулху фхтагн.
Ці слова були частиною того нечестивого ритуального звернення до мертвого Ктулху, що спить у своєму кам’яному склепі в Р’льєху, тож усе це неабияк мене схвилювало, попри мої раціональні переконання."
Gou Tanabe
"What could be the meaning of this queer clay bas-relief and the disjointed jottings, ramblings, and cuttings which I found?"
"Здавалося, то був якийсь монстр, а чи символ, що передавав монстра, образ якого могла витворити лише хвора свідомість. Я не надто погрішу проти істини, якщо скажу, що моя дещо екстравагантна уява намалювала одночасно образи восьминога, дракона і потворної подоби людини. М’ясиста голова зі щупальцями вінчала гротескне і лускате тіло з рудиментарними крилами, а проте саме загальний контур цієї фігури робив її разюче жахливою."
Черговий шедевр від геніального Танабе.
На цей раз художник взявся за одну з найголовніших та найвідоміших робіт Лавкрафта - поклик Ктулху. Та все ж, якщо порівнювати цю адаптацію з усіма попередніми, то тут не так щоб багато екшну. Танабе більше концентрується на психологізмі та акуратному промальовуванні персонажів. Звісно що фінальні сцени з погонею Ктулху та явлення підводного Рльєху, виконані як завжди віртуозно та масштабно. ЧОго лише вартує апокаліптичне видіння Ктулху, що виникає з тьрох темних сонць.
А в підсумку, я вже вчергове переконався, що краще за Танабе воплотити видіння Лавкрафта у життя не зможе уже ніхто.
"я витворив його минулої ночі у своїх снах про дивовижні міста; у візіях, проте, давніших, ніж замислений Тір, чи занурений у себе Сфінкс, а чи оточений садами Вавилон».
"Він переповідав свої сни у надзвичайно поетичній манері, змальовуючи панорами жахаючого безмежжя похмурого грандіозного міста зі слизького зеленого каменю, — його геометрія, зачудовано казав хлопець, геть неправильна, — і змушуючи почути лячні звуки невловимого, напівтелепатичного поклику з глибин: Ктулху фгтагн, Ктулху фхтагн.
Ці слова були частиною того нечестивого ритуального звернення до мертвого Ктулху, що спить у своєму кам’яному склепі в Р’льєху, тож усе це неабияк мене схвилювало, попри мої раціональні переконання."
August 12, 2025
I really hope Gou Tanabe continues to adapt more of H.P. Lovecraft‘s stories into a visual medium. After the release of Call of Cthulhu, I’m really craving more. And with what’s presented in a tankōbon format, I can’t wait to see what the inevitable deluxe edition will look like. That’s because to marvel at the details put into showing off the city of R’lyeh can mean I can put away those magnifying glasses. Even though my digital copy allowed me to zoom in to marvel at the fine lines and strange hieroglyphs, that did not mean I found Easter eggs.
What makes this release work is that most readers know the basics of this story. Francis Wayland Thurston needs closure following the death of his grand-uncle. He left behind some curious artefacts, including a strange statue of some hybrid octopus and humanoid creature, to his next of kin. But when curiosity gets the better of the young man, I swear he should have died at least five times over! When he goes globetrotting to discover more of these statues exist, there’s a conspiracy that he must get answers to. However, that doesn’t get far when a sailing expedition to locate a tribe gets interrupted and he finds an uncharted isle and unwittingly unleashes some giant-sized amorphous inhabitant!
Just how this individual survives is a mystery. It’s easy to surmise another sailing ship found him struggling to stay afloat, he clearly has no memory of it, and I don’t blame him for forgetting the last few hours. But the fact he’s not out of the woods at all means he’ll have to go underground, lest his dreams murder him instead.
When reading this story again, finding passages of Lovecraft’s original prose along with the art made reading this story easier than ever. The prose Howard set down almost a century ago doesn’t age well. All of his wordy anachronisms are just that, and the difference between various published interpretations lies in how well the dialogue flows. When translated over to a new medium, a lot of that can disappear, and Zack Davisson, who handled translating the dialogue from the Japanese edition to English did a great job at modernising everything so a Millennial reader can enjoy the story.
Although bits of the tale are not the same as Lovecraft intended, the flow is much better, and the art is why anyone wants to buy this edition. Not only are those mind-bending moments concerning tesseract architecture rendered to great effect, but Cthulhu isn’t just some slobbering orthopod oozing out of his cage and into the sea. I always thought giving this Great Old One a humanoid shape was too mundane. Rendering the bipedal form decrepit and having it move about resembling that of a spider stalking its prey would make it more terrifying.
However, what Tanabe does better is in showing how each massive tendril operates like an individual whip, ready to strike, if not sting, its prey. As bodies crumple it conveys a sense of merciless death, as it is crushed under the massive weight.
Ultimately, what this work does best is deliver the shock and awe that a visual adaptation of Call of Cthulhu must do. If someone else had drawn it, I’m not sure it would’ve been successful. But in what Tanabe delivers, is everything I ever dreamt of, and much more at where it counts. After this treatment, I doubt I can look at other artistic treatments again.
What makes this release work is that most readers know the basics of this story. Francis Wayland Thurston needs closure following the death of his grand-uncle. He left behind some curious artefacts, including a strange statue of some hybrid octopus and humanoid creature, to his next of kin. But when curiosity gets the better of the young man, I swear he should have died at least five times over! When he goes globetrotting to discover more of these statues exist, there’s a conspiracy that he must get answers to. However, that doesn’t get far when a sailing expedition to locate a tribe gets interrupted and he finds an uncharted isle and unwittingly unleashes some giant-sized amorphous inhabitant!
Just how this individual survives is a mystery. It’s easy to surmise another sailing ship found him struggling to stay afloat, he clearly has no memory of it, and I don’t blame him for forgetting the last few hours. But the fact he’s not out of the woods at all means he’ll have to go underground, lest his dreams murder him instead.
When reading this story again, finding passages of Lovecraft’s original prose along with the art made reading this story easier than ever. The prose Howard set down almost a century ago doesn’t age well. All of his wordy anachronisms are just that, and the difference between various published interpretations lies in how well the dialogue flows. When translated over to a new medium, a lot of that can disappear, and Zack Davisson, who handled translating the dialogue from the Japanese edition to English did a great job at modernising everything so a Millennial reader can enjoy the story.
Although bits of the tale are not the same as Lovecraft intended, the flow is much better, and the art is why anyone wants to buy this edition. Not only are those mind-bending moments concerning tesseract architecture rendered to great effect, but Cthulhu isn’t just some slobbering orthopod oozing out of his cage and into the sea. I always thought giving this Great Old One a humanoid shape was too mundane. Rendering the bipedal form decrepit and having it move about resembling that of a spider stalking its prey would make it more terrifying.
However, what Tanabe does better is in showing how each massive tendril operates like an individual whip, ready to strike, if not sting, its prey. As bodies crumple it conveys a sense of merciless death, as it is crushed under the massive weight.
Ultimately, what this work does best is deliver the shock and awe that a visual adaptation of Call of Cthulhu must do. If someone else had drawn it, I’m not sure it would’ve been successful. But in what Tanabe delivers, is everything I ever dreamt of, and much more at where it counts. After this treatment, I doubt I can look at other artistic treatments again.
January 2, 2025
Ah, what a way to start the year.
I would rate this 93 out of 100.
Have you read Lovecraft's Call of Cthulhu, the birth of lovecraftian horror? Do you think is low pace and a bit confusing? Then read\watch this. It's slow pace but the last part really compensates for the first part. The images that Tanabe show us are amazing. Would love to watch a full colour one but unfortunately that doesn't exist.
You won't get much more from this than from the actual prose of Lovecraft but it's amazing. They didn't shine out of putting some stuff that nowadays snowflakes would get trigger by. If you don't want to be trigger go read Winnie-the-Pooh. Society is slowly on a decay path were people get trigger by anything and everything - even the new movie with the witch had to have a trigger warning for the green people - WTF? Does Shrek & Hulk get offended by it?
Oh well I am going away with my rant. Read it if you want a good Lovecraftian tale. It may be a bit confusing since it's a person who is investigating and then there are all of these recollections where other characters appear and you may get a bit lost. more on the prose format than this one. I will purchase if the... price.. is right the other tales by him. (it was a pun, hope you get it...) Will have to read it again... it has been millennia since I last read it.
I would rate this 93 out of 100.
Have you read Lovecraft's Call of Cthulhu, the birth of lovecraftian horror? Do you think is low pace and a bit confusing? Then read\watch this. It's slow pace but the last part really compensates for the first part. The images that Tanabe show us are amazing. Would love to watch a full colour one but unfortunately that doesn't exist.
You won't get much more from this than from the actual prose of Lovecraft but it's amazing. They didn't shine out of putting some stuff that nowadays snowflakes would get trigger by. If you don't want to be trigger go read Winnie-the-Pooh. Society is slowly on a decay path were people get trigger by anything and everything - even the new movie with the witch had to have a trigger warning for the green people - WTF? Does Shrek & Hulk get offended by it?
Oh well I am going away with my rant. Read it if you want a good Lovecraftian tale. It may be a bit confusing since it's a person who is investigating and then there are all of these recollections where other characters appear and you may get a bit lost. more on the prose format than this one. I will purchase if the... price.. is right the other tales by him. (it was a pun, hope you get it...) Will have to read it again... it has been millennia since I last read it.
December 3, 2024
4 stars!
It shouldn't be any surprise that we have another winner from Gou Tanabe. His art style remains perfect for capturing the immensity of Lovecraft's worlds along with the eldritch nature of his creations.This praise also extends to his depiction of the human characters. There is an unnerving energy to the panels focused on people's horrified expressions, and the action here is very fluid. The Call of Cthulhu is a short story that follows various people's accounts. With this being a visual medium the constant switching to different POVs did feel more noticeable compared to the original. It did lack the singular focus that made The Shadow Over Innsmouth more intense. That being said if you are a Lovecraft or Tanabe fan The Call of Cthulhu is another must read! Those last couple of pages were haunting. Cataclysmic is too small of a word to describe the inevitable destruction that awaits sleeping in the city of R'leyh but I'd say that Tanabe's pen still remains up to the task of depicting it.
"A thing from the stars has ruled this world since ancient times. And its ministers still bellow and prance and slay...heeding the call of Cthulhu."
It shouldn't be any surprise that we have another winner from Gou Tanabe. His art style remains perfect for capturing the immensity of Lovecraft's worlds along with the eldritch nature of his creations.This praise also extends to his depiction of the human characters. There is an unnerving energy to the panels focused on people's horrified expressions, and the action here is very fluid. The Call of Cthulhu is a short story that follows various people's accounts. With this being a visual medium the constant switching to different POVs did feel more noticeable compared to the original. It did lack the singular focus that made The Shadow Over Innsmouth more intense. That being said if you are a Lovecraft or Tanabe fan The Call of Cthulhu is another must read! Those last couple of pages were haunting. Cataclysmic is too small of a word to describe the inevitable destruction that awaits sleeping in the city of R'leyh but I'd say that Tanabe's pen still remains up to the task of depicting it.
"A thing from the stars has ruled this world since ancient times. And its ministers still bellow and prance and slay...heeding the call of Cthulhu."
July 7, 2025
yk what? hell yeah.
September 2, 2025
This was another excellent manga adaptation from Gou Tanabe. This is probably Lovecraft's most famous story, and while not my personal favorite, it is pretty cool and creepy. Great read for Lovecraft fans.
October 7, 2025
5 ⭐️
This was as amazing as I had hoped it would be. I’ve always been fascinated by stories of Cthulhu. I belong the illustrations were amazing. They depicted the ominous presence of Cthulhu wonderfully. A perfect read for anyone also fascinated by stories of Cthulhu.
This was as amazing as I had hoped it would be. I’ve always been fascinated by stories of Cthulhu. I belong the illustrations were amazing. They depicted the ominous presence of Cthulhu wonderfully. A perfect read for anyone also fascinated by stories of Cthulhu.
February 16, 2025
Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn
January 24, 2021
Encore une fois, Gou Tanabe réussi à illustrer l’indescriptible. R’lyeh n’as jamais été aussi terrifiante.
October 21, 2024
Gou Tanabe's adaptation of The Call of Cthulhu is another stellar demonstration of H.P. Lovecraft's brand of eldritch horrors brought to the visual medium. Lovecraft's works have often been cited as challenging to adapt into visual mediums, and that assumption has typically held true. But with respect to comics, Tanabe has a strong track record of adding chilling illustrations to develop the story visually without loss of faithfulness to the original text. While I still consider Tanabe's adaptation of
At the Mountains of Madness
to be the gold standard, The Call of Cthulhu is still another great showing from the mangaka. Similarities exist across Lovecraft's works, so undeniably those same similarities will bleed through to Tanabe's adaptations. The culmination of the narrative is the reveal of the nightmare corpse-city of R'lyeh, which some readers will find very comparable to approach to the mountains in At the Mountains of Madness. Tanabe does a good job differentiating these settings visually, though a fleeting familiarity does remain.
Perhaps the bigger criticism I have for this take on The Call of Cthulhu is that Tanabe does peel back the curtain a little too much in the third act. The narrative in the text is solely delivered from the account of the anthropologist Francis Wayland Thurston, who is sifting through other sources. The discovery of R'lyeh comes from the testimonial of Norwegian sailor Gustaf Johansen who takes a commandeered pirate vessel into uncharted waters. Tanabe shifts entirely to Johansen's first-hand perspective, but Lovecraft retains a certain degree of obscurity. This part remains my least favorite part of Tanabe's adaptation here, but everything up to Johansen's approach into R'lyeh was perfection otherwise.
And that's simply because Gou Tanabe knows how to draw horror. The Call of Cthulhu is all about the build up, and though the first two thirds of the book is fairly devoid of action, Tanabe sets the stage well with some fairly creepy interactions between Thurston's grand-uncle, Professor George Gammell Angell, and the troubled art student Henry Wilcox. At the core of the story is a mysterious bas-relief sculpture depicting a scaly creature, rumored to have originated from a cult worshipping an enigmatic entity. There's a slow, methodical pace to the narrative that Tanabe captures effectively, all paying off with the grandiose reveal of R'lyeh. The eerie, haunting design of the towering spires amidst a barren landscape will remain vividly engrained in my memories for quite some time. Though he does show a little too much towards the end, the actual ending is delivered excellently. Just yet another masterclass in visually depicting Lovecraftian horror from Gou Tanabe, one of the best to ever do it.
Perhaps the bigger criticism I have for this take on The Call of Cthulhu is that Tanabe does peel back the curtain a little too much in the third act. The narrative in the text is solely delivered from the account of the anthropologist Francis Wayland Thurston, who is sifting through other sources. The discovery of R'lyeh comes from the testimonial of Norwegian sailor Gustaf Johansen who takes a commandeered pirate vessel into uncharted waters. Tanabe shifts entirely to Johansen's first-hand perspective, but Lovecraft retains a certain degree of obscurity. This part remains my least favorite part of Tanabe's adaptation here, but everything up to Johansen's approach into R'lyeh was perfection otherwise.
And that's simply because Gou Tanabe knows how to draw horror. The Call of Cthulhu is all about the build up, and though the first two thirds of the book is fairly devoid of action, Tanabe sets the stage well with some fairly creepy interactions between Thurston's grand-uncle, Professor George Gammell Angell, and the troubled art student Henry Wilcox. At the core of the story is a mysterious bas-relief sculpture depicting a scaly creature, rumored to have originated from a cult worshipping an enigmatic entity. There's a slow, methodical pace to the narrative that Tanabe captures effectively, all paying off with the grandiose reveal of R'lyeh. The eerie, haunting design of the towering spires amidst a barren landscape will remain vividly engrained in my memories for quite some time. Though he does show a little too much towards the end, the actual ending is delivered excellently. Just yet another masterclass in visually depicting Lovecraftian horror from Gou Tanabe, one of the best to ever do it.
February 29, 2024
Obra molt fidel al text original de Lovecraft. A nivell artístic és tot genial. A més, facilita molt la comprensió d'un text que, en narrar històries dintre d'històries i dintre d'històries (una mica inception), es fa una mica enrevessat de llegir.
October 11, 2020
Une tuerie, comme à chaque fois pour les adaptations de Lovecraft par Gou Tanabe, c'est beau, détaillé, fidèle, en plus d'un livre objet de superbe qualité et qui a de la gueule avec sa couverture gravée en simili cuir.
L'histoire de l'appel de Cthulhu on la connait, je ne reviendrai pas dessus, c'est culte et si vraiment vous ne connaissez pas je vous invite à lire la nouvelle de Howard Phillips Lovecraft avant toute chose.
Les dessins son magnifiques, fins et remplis de détails sans que cela devienne brouillon.
J'ai passé un moment magique mais trop rapide vu que j'ai dévoré les 300 pages en très peu de temps, tellement happé dedans. A relire plus calmement donc pour en apprécier encore plus les détails. C'est une claque, un coup de cœur, j'ai qu'une hâte, c'est qu'une autre nouvelle soit adaptée, même pleins d'autres, voir toutes tant qu'on y est.
Franchement, foncez !!!
https://unbouquinsinonrien.blogspot.c...
L'histoire de l'appel de Cthulhu on la connait, je ne reviendrai pas dessus, c'est culte et si vraiment vous ne connaissez pas je vous invite à lire la nouvelle de Howard Phillips Lovecraft avant toute chose.
Les dessins son magnifiques, fins et remplis de détails sans que cela devienne brouillon.
J'ai passé un moment magique mais trop rapide vu que j'ai dévoré les 300 pages en très peu de temps, tellement happé dedans. A relire plus calmement donc pour en apprécier encore plus les détails. C'est une claque, un coup de cœur, j'ai qu'une hâte, c'est qu'une autre nouvelle soit adaptée, même pleins d'autres, voir toutes tant qu'on y est.
Franchement, foncez !!!
https://unbouquinsinonrien.blogspot.c...
December 26, 2023
Gran adaptación y experiencia súper inmersiva.
February 18, 2024
Après avoir fouillé un peu du côté de Junji Ito, je continue mon exploration du manga horrifique en allant cette fois vers l’œuvre de Gou Tanabe, principalement connu pour ses adaptations de HP Lovecraft (en tout cas en Occident, j’ignore totalement ce qu’il en est au Japon). Il faut dire aussi que ses mangas en grand format avec couverture de cuir sont particulièrement attrayants !
Gou Tanabe s’attaque ici à l’une des plus célèbres œuvres de Lovecraft, L'Appel de Cthulhu – le genre d’œuvre tellement intégrée à la culture populaire et qui a donné lieu à tant d’adaptations et de réinterprétations que j’ai l’impression de la connaître par cœur, même si (à ma grande honte) je ne l’ai toujours pas lue…
Une des grandes difficultés pour adapter Lovecraft, c’est que l’horreur qu’il met en scène est principalement basée sur la suggestion, ce qui la rend difficile à exprimer visuellement. Mais l’auteur s’en tire admirablement bien et ses scènes en pleine page révèlent une maîtrise technique à couper le souffle. (J’avais éprouvé une impression semblable à la lecture de La cité oblique, de Christian Quesnel, dans un style toutefois complètement différent : cela m’invite à nuancer légèrement ma position et à me dire que l’horreur lovecraftienne s’adapte sans doute très mal en prises de vue réelles, mais qu’elle peut être visuellement très intéressante à travers le filtre d’un illustrateur…)
Côté scénario, par contre, je ne peux pas comparer avec la nouvelle d’origine, mais l’ensemble m’a paru un peu académique, comme si l’auteur s’efforçait de coller le plus possible au texte de Lovecraft sans trop se donner de libertés. Une impression peut-être accentuée par le fait que j’ai lu cette œuvre peu après celle de Junji Ito, qui s’aventure sur des terrains beaucoup plus… bizarres.
Gou Tanabe s’attaque ici à l’une des plus célèbres œuvres de Lovecraft, L'Appel de Cthulhu – le genre d’œuvre tellement intégrée à la culture populaire et qui a donné lieu à tant d’adaptations et de réinterprétations que j’ai l’impression de la connaître par cœur, même si (à ma grande honte) je ne l’ai toujours pas lue…
Une des grandes difficultés pour adapter Lovecraft, c’est que l’horreur qu’il met en scène est principalement basée sur la suggestion, ce qui la rend difficile à exprimer visuellement. Mais l’auteur s’en tire admirablement bien et ses scènes en pleine page révèlent une maîtrise technique à couper le souffle. (J’avais éprouvé une impression semblable à la lecture de La cité oblique, de Christian Quesnel, dans un style toutefois complètement différent : cela m’invite à nuancer légèrement ma position et à me dire que l’horreur lovecraftienne s’adapte sans doute très mal en prises de vue réelles, mais qu’elle peut être visuellement très intéressante à travers le filtre d’un illustrateur…)
Côté scénario, par contre, je ne peux pas comparer avec la nouvelle d’origine, mais l’ensemble m’a paru un peu académique, comme si l’auteur s’efforçait de coller le plus possible au texte de Lovecraft sans trop se donner de libertés. Une impression peut-être accentuée par le fait que j’ai lu cette œuvre peu après celle de Junji Ito, qui s’aventure sur des terrains beaucoup plus… bizarres.
August 12, 2025
Ok I feel like this could be a real thing. Not Cthulhu itself but like the cult, or at least based off a true story. Cuz be so fr there’s a cult for everything. Also the guy who narrated literally ate it up. His voice was so perfect for this book, a little old, lil gravely, and almost sailor-like.
The only reason it’s not 4 stars is because they used the word “queer” in a negative way MULTIPLE times, like ik it’s an older book but u couldn’t find ANNYYY other words?? Also used a word similar/synonym to the n-word. Again it’s back in ye olden days but still.
"The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far. The sciences, each straining in its own direction, have hitherto harmed us little; but some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the deadly light into the peace and safety of a new dark age."
The only reason it’s not 4 stars is because they used the word “queer” in a negative way MULTIPLE times, like ik it’s an older book but u couldn’t find ANNYYY other words?? Also used a word similar/synonym to the n-word. Again it’s back in ye olden days but still.
"The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far. The sciences, each straining in its own direction, have hitherto harmed us little; but some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the deadly light into the peace and safety of a new dark age."
May 5, 2025
Le style lugubre de l'auteur rend bien, même si j'ai pas ressenti le même malaise qu'à la lecture du livre.
En revanche, je trouve que ça manque d'exposition des motivations autour des believers du culte de Cthulhu et sa mythologie, ce qui le fait pencher + vers le monstre. C'était grave pas nécessaire d'importer le racisme de l’auteur original dans le manga, les sauvages sont toujours dépeints comme foncés et pour faire intervenir une horreur "venue d'ailleurs" ça passe par le vaudou...
C'est le premier truc que je lis de Gou Tanabe et je vois bien son potentiel, mais j'crois que j'ai pas la vision, je préférerais une adaptation qui prend de bonne liberté sur le medium original (surtout que bon c'est un trope qui date aujourd'hui ça aurait pas été si grave de le détourner).
J'aurais bien voulu voir Cthulhu rattaché au réel à travers une exploitation totale du medium du manga (en modifiant la forme des cases, le style de dessin etc...).
En revanche, je trouve que ça manque d'exposition des motivations autour des believers du culte de Cthulhu et sa mythologie, ce qui le fait pencher + vers le monstre. C'était grave pas nécessaire d'importer le racisme de l’auteur original dans le manga, les sauvages sont toujours dépeints comme foncés et pour faire intervenir une horreur "venue d'ailleurs" ça passe par le vaudou...
C'est le premier truc que je lis de Gou Tanabe et je vois bien son potentiel, mais j'crois que j'ai pas la vision, je préférerais une adaptation qui prend de bonne liberté sur le medium original (surtout que bon c'est un trope qui date aujourd'hui ça aurait pas été si grave de le détourner).
J'aurais bien voulu voir Cthulhu rattaché au réel à travers une exploitation totale du medium du manga (en modifiant la forme des cases, le style de dessin etc...).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 284 reviews