Other Cthulhus

Cthulhu's depiction is always changing in art. However, there's one particular type that's become pretty standard: the two-eyed, octopus headed, winged, lizard bodied, and rather sleek God like Cthulhu. This model was a divergence from the very beginning. If one looks back at H.P. Lovecraft's amateurish sketch of the entity, they will find multiple eyes--something rarely incorporated into the anthropomorphic Cthulhu seen today. More than his squid-lizard-God form, Cthulhu is meant to be alien above all other things. This is why Lovecraft selected such a bizarre amalgamation of features to begin with. Even with the host of beautifully ominous Cthulhus today, it seems this theme has been lost.

But nothing is entirely distorted in either art or literature. As these alternate depictions of Cthulhu prove, at least a handful of artists haven't forgotten the original alien aspect of Azathoth's High Priest, and actively work to bring it out. These are the "other" Cthulhus, which are strangely more likely to be in line with Lovecraft's original vision.


This Cthulhu strongly recalls H.P. Lovecraft's multi-eyed monstrosity. Even better, it brings out an amphibian aspect rarely seen in standard Cthulhu art. The wings, too, are enlarged, and look more suitable for underwater movement. Cthulhu may be multi-dimensional, but coming out of R'lyeh, he is a creature of the sea. This artist recalls those facts well, and combines them to make a Cthulhu that's both logical and creative.


The Cthulhu above is a living nightmare. Its insectoid legs and wings, alongside the long neck and bulbous head make for a truly outre combination of features almost as revolutionary as Lovecraft's original combination of animal parts. Cthulhu the reptillian insect, because it is new and unusual, brings new waves of chills to the viewer. The seemingly intentional apocalyptic green fog barely obscures a complete image of the thing, preserving the arcane mystery of Cthulhu.


This sketch does a good job of liquefying the normally recognizable features of Cthulhu. This Cthulhu appears melty more than anything else. And while it might sound stupid, the effects of a malformed Cthulhu are still unsettling. It almost suggests the amorphous qualities of a Shoggoth, which double the horror of this particular Cthulhu.


Believe it or not, this is an alternative imagining of Cthulhu. Here, Cthulhu is absolutely alien. There are just vague references to the original creature conceived by Lovecraft and "mainstream" Cthulhuvian artists. Cthulhu is extraterrestrial, insect, and sea creature united into something entirely new and terrible. This one surely would have given Lovecraft himself tremors of fright.

-Grim Blogger