Cthulhu Is Hard to Spell

Gr 8 Up–Ancient gods and unknowable cosmic horror are the stuff of nightmares and amusement in this graphic novel anthology inspired by the stories of H.P. Lovecraft and the shared Cthulhu mythos. The 20 stories vary in tone and approach, from comedic to chilling, making it jarring for readers. For instance, an amusing parody of a crab god fighting the Devil, drawn in a similar juvenile art style as Dav Pilkey, is sandwiched between much darker stories featuring a demon-summoning ritual that includes sexual assault and an allusion to suicide during a world-ending catastrophe. Among the strongest entries are Sarah Anderson and Lloyd Ladera’s darkly atmospheric “Slumber,” a nearly wordless tale of a spacefaring passenger waking from cryosleep to discover the presence of a deadly sleeping god. Another standout is Heather Kenealy and Brianna Gilmartin’s “Song of the Harbinger,” about a Jack Kirby-esque singing planet that brings doom to any civilization that hears its song. Both entries would fit comfortably in an adult anthology. A foreword by the editor makes a compelling case for the relevance of stories about unknowable malevolent elder gods during times of great fear and unrest. However, the open-ended approach of the anthology muddles an overall theme or impression of Cthulhu, with many of the shorter entries landing flat. There is no mention of Lovecraft’s biographical details, including his notorious racism, which seems like a missed opportunity in introducing young readers to this influential and complicated writer’s shared universe.