Comic Review: Cthulhu Tales Omnibus: Delirium

Issue: Cthulhu Tales Omnibus: Delirium
Release Date: August 24, 2011
Author: Mark Waid, Casey Grey, Michael Alan Nelson, Johanna Stokes, John Rogers, Andrew Cosby, Hans Rodionoff, Henry Alonso Meyers, Kevin Church, Brendan Hay, Jim Pascoe, Tom Peyer, Steve Niles, Eric Calderon, Christine Boylan, William Mesner-Loebs, Todd Lepre, Glen Cadigan, Keith Giffen
Artist: Chee, Mark Badger, Andrew Ritchie, Filip Sablik, Andy Kuhn, Lee Carter, Tim Hamilton, Chris Lie, Joe Abraham, Andre Coelho, Unai, Jay Gunn, Sherard Jackson, Sunder Raj, Shane Oakley, Jon Schnepp, Eduardo Ferigato, Milton Sobreiro, Clint Hilinski, Ben Roman
Colors: Andrea Barreto, Sunder Raj, Pam Rambo, Rans of Imaginary Friends, S. Steven Struble, Joyce El Hayek, Ben Hunzeker, Dan Bigelow, Pablo Quiligotti, Renato Faccini, Felipe Sobreiro.
Letters: Marshall Dillon, Mark Badger, Terri Delgado, Felipe Sobreiro
Publisher: BOOM! Studios

Dear Readers,

I implore you, look only upon the title of this cursed book so that you know to avoid it and the terrors that reside within! Cthulhu Tales Omnibus: Delirium is not a collection to be taken lightly. When you cast a glance upon this 224-page collection of over twenty-six blood chilling tales, in your friendly neighborhood comic book store, you might think it couldn’t hurt just to pick it up and take a peek inside. But be strong, and pass over this macabre tome for something lighter and far safer.

You see, gentle reader, I too thought I was in for a fun read — a collection of over twenty-six tales, all carrying the theme of the Old Ones, set in a modern light. How delightful, I thought naïvely. Oh, was I ever so wrong.

The volume starts out innocently enough with Mark Waid’s uplifting tale, “In the Pi of the Beholder”. But that is how the book lures you in, with hope and triumph. By the time you reach Michael Alan Nelson’s chilling tale, “For You”, it is too late to turn back, dear reader. You are now at the agonizing, merciless will of the book. You fight it, you try to put it down, turn your gaze away from the gut wrenching nightmare pictures that Andrew Ritchie, Joe Abraham, Tim Hamilton, and Chee have created to haunt your waking and sleeping moments. You will fight, yes, and you will regret not listening to my words. So, please, for your own sanity, avoid this book.

I do not care if your friendly neighborhood comic book seller slips it into your weekly pulls, like the antagonist does in Hans Rodionoff’s “Pull of Insanity”. Resist the urge to purchase, to read, even if he or she gives you a money back guarantee.

I was once like you, sane, calm, naïve. If I had known thirty-six hours ago how my life would turn upside down by the reading of Cthulhu Tales Omnibus: Delirium… if only.

But, if you must insist, if you must dismiss my words as the thoughts of a madman, a drama queen looking to pull in readers, then I can think of no better way to go insane.

So go ahead, forget what I have said. Yes, yes, this is just a really well written comic book, full of twenty-six tales written and drawn by some of today’s best in the comic industry. You are certain to enjoy them all, especially the sneak peek into the next volume, Cthulhu Tales Omnibus: Madness due out in October. If you are a fan of Lovecraft, My Little Cthulhu, or just a good scary story, this is a good pick for you. There is nothing to fear here. Nothing at all… Ia! Ia! Cthulhu! F’thagn!

Rating: 4 / 5 Stars