Cthulhu is finally coming to the world of Rick and Morty, paying off the iconic monster's longtime but unexplained appearance in the series' opening credits, where Rick, Morty, and Summer flee a winged, octopus-headed being while clutching what appears to be its baby. Rick and Morty has long dabbled in the same kind of cosmic horror that's synonymous with the Cthulhu Mythos, and now in Rick and Morty vs Cthulhu, they're finally taking on H. P. Lovecraft's mind-bending monstrosity.The Cthulhu Mythos began with Lovecraft's writing and his larger invention of the Great Old Ones - cosmic horrors greater than humanity can fathom, of which Cthulhu has become the most iconic representation. Lovecraft's works delve heavily into themes of cosmic nihilism and the cruelty of an unknowable universe - themes which Rick and Morty likewise takes as the core of its tragi-comic depiction of the Smith Family. Now, the two will officially meet, as Rick and Morty becomes the latest pop culture phenomenon to put its own spin on Lovecraftian horror.Coming December 7 from Jim Zub, Troy Little, Leonardo Ito, and Crank!, the four-issue Rick and Morty vs Cthulhu will be published by Oni Press and see the Smith family take on beings from across H.P. Lovecraft's writing, including Cthulhu itself. This clash will finally pay off the credits' promise of a scientist who knows everything there is to know about the universe going up against Lovecraft's unknowable abominations. The comic was announced on Twitter by writer Jim Zub, who has handled the franchise before with Rick and Morty vs Dungeons and Dragons. Shared by Previews World, the summary for the issue hints at references to various Lovecraft works, including 'The Color Out of Space,' 'The Shadow Over Innsmouth' and of course 'The Call of Cthulhu.'
What could be worse than an off-planet sugar deal gone wrong? Tripping through a Lovecraftian hellscape with the Smith family as they fight, uh, cosmic sentient color and racist fish-people? That can't be right...
Rick is Taking on Lovecraft (Not Just Cthulhu)
The reference to "racist fish-people" hints that Rick and Morty vs Cthulhu won't just parody Lovecraft's iconic Cthulhu Mythos, but the deep-seated prejudices present in the writer's work. This sets up a similar concept to Alan Moore and Jacen Burrows' Providence, which likewise explores both the enduring popularity of Lovecraft's creations and the way his racism, homophobia, and other hateful beliefs shaped his work. Of course, Rick and Morty vs Cthulhu is likely to be different in tone, and cover art shared by editor Bess Pallares shows it will revel in the unique aesthetic of the mythos created by Lovecraft and evolved by countless writers since.
Rick and Morty's visual inventiveness and its title character's cosmic despair and destructive nihilism make it the perfect match to crossover with the Cthulhu Mythos, which - as its opening credits show - has always been an entry on the show's long list of inspirations. As with all its media references, fans can expect that Rick and Morty will bring the most fun and creative aspects of the Cthulhu Mythos to the fore while mercilessly tearing apart its tropes, clichés and the problematic beliefs of its creator.
Rick and Morty vs Cthulhu will release December 7 from Oni Press.
Sources: Jim Zub, Previews World, Bess Pallares