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Boom Studios started publishing Cthulhu Tales as a series in 2008. The first time I came across these comics, a little over a year ago, I was pleasantly surprised to find that each story within an issue (of the ones I’ve read so far, at least) is contained and delightfully bizarre.

Issue #11, which came out in February of 2009, features four tales that range from the insanely funny to the apocalyptic. The first story — written by Christopher Sequeira, artwork by W. Chewie Chan — tackles the corporate world. In “Incorporation,” money-hungry and power-hungry Glenda can’t wait to start pushing people off of the ladder as she climbs her way up the ranks at her new employer, Wilcox-Gammell. She soon finds that the job is tougher than she thought and the perks aren’t exactly as advertised. The artwork is good. Nothing that really stands out, but it delivers the story well. There’s some creative use of the panels, especially toward the end. It’s a good read and not exactly the cautionary tale that it appears to be at first glance.

Writer Christine Boylan, artist Milton Sobreiro and colorist Felipe Sobreiro deliver an interesting, apocalyptic tale in “The Invention.” It features “HP” as a character, and it deals with the absolute destruction of mankind by man’s own hands. The art and the narrative compliment each other, and the characters and story are really in sharp focus.

In the middle of the issue is a short, humorous piece. “Selections from H.P. Lovecraft’s Brief Tenure as a Chocolate Sampler Copywriter” is vibrant and witty. Writer Luke Burns and artist Roger Langridge make the macabre selections seem strangely appealing.

The last story, “Where Am I? [Part 2],” written by Michael Alan Nelson, is a nice conclusion to the issue. The main character, Connor, finds himself in a lab, experimented on and lost. When he realizes what’s happened to him, he comes to the only “logical” conclusion. The artwork, done by Aritz, has a muddled, discombobulated feel, which works especially well for this story, which is a continuation from anthother Boom Studios series, Fall of Cthulhu: Godwar.

While the individual comic is out-of-stock at Boom Studios, you can still find the comics in Vol 4. Overall, Issue #11 is a fine, entertaining addition to the series.

Added note: Check out the review by Billzilla of Cthulhu Tales, Vol 1.

Review by Nancy Greene

Tags | boom studios, cthulhu, drivethrucomics