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midnightcomets's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
If this had trigger warnings and no fatphobia, it would probably slay. I do appreciate the turn of eldritch horrors into comic form though, and I loved the different art styles one could see gathered in one volume. Many of the stories did need more exposition, though, and unfortunately they fell flat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Forced institutionalization, and Gore
Moderate: Suicide, Infidelity, and Fatphobia
otterno11's review
2.0
I read this as a Halloween treat, but unfortunately it turned out to be another graphic novel interpretation of the works of H.P. Lovecraft I did not really care for. “Cthulhu Tales” is a collection of 18 short comic interpretations of the Cthulhu Mythos by a variety of writers and artists, original stories often set in the modern day featuring Cthulhu. Sadly, for me, the visions the authors present of Lovecraft’s concepts are a bit tired and forced, lacking much of the cosmic dread and academic mystery of the original source material. Perhaps it is just difficult to capture “indescribable” horror in a graphic format? Whether due to the constraints of telling a story within a few limited pages or the artist’s own puerile takes on the genre, most lack all subtlety and are just excuses to indulge in “shocking” sex and violence. The disturbing reuse of the theme of male characters murdering women or women transforming into hideous monsters were reused in almost half the stories, making me wonder if the contributors could not think of a different twist.
There was a standout, though; my favorite was definitely “The Art of Noises” by Kevin Church and Joe Abraham, following a music critic’s theories about music both opening and closing the influence of Cthulhu, involving Gustav Mahler’s 3rd Symphony and the increasing tempo of modern music. No tentacle beasts show up in person in this story and have no need to, simply an unhinged man in a bar sharing his knowledge with the reader that actually made me want to look up more about Mahler, a nice bonus!
There was a standout, though; my favorite was definitely “The Art of Noises” by Kevin Church and Joe Abraham, following a music critic’s theories about music both opening and closing the influence of Cthulhu, involving Gustav Mahler’s 3rd Symphony and the increasing tempo of modern music. No tentacle beasts show up in person in this story and have no need to, simply an unhinged man in a bar sharing his knowledge with the reader that actually made me want to look up more about Mahler, a nice bonus!
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