Cthulhu: A Thing People Are Talking About

The Enigmatic Cthulhu: More Than Just a Monster?

By Leo Parks, Jape News Staff

Good evening, everyone. It seems the topic of Cthulhu has been... well, it’s been circulating quite a bit lately. It’s certainly generating a lot of buzz, and I felt it was important for us at Jape News to offer a basic overview for those who, like me, might not be entirely familiar with the subject.

So, what exactly is Cthulhu? According to sources, including TheCollector and Britannica, Cthulhu is a fictional creature created by the writer H.P. Lovecraft back in 1928. He first appeared in a story called "The Call of Cthulhu," which, I hear, is quite... intense.

The description, frankly, is quite striking. Cthulhu is portrayed as having a vaguely human shape, but also possesses an octopus-like head with these... feelers, a scaly body, claws, and even wings. Just imagining it is, you know, a bit unsettling. Apparently, just seeing him is said to be enough to affect a person’s sanity, which is, understandably, quite alarming.

It seems Cthulhu isn’t just a random monster, either. He's part of something bigger – the “Old Ones,” a group who came to Earth a long time ago, before humans even existed. They apparently went into a sort of dormancy, and their city sank beneath the Pacific Ocean. It’s all rather… fascinating, isn’t it?

There's even a cult that remembers and worships Cthulhu, which is… unusual. They apparently chant a phrase, “Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn,” which, I’m told, loosely translates to something about Cthulhu waiting in his house. It's a bit difficult to pronounce, to be honest.

The idea is that when the conditions are right, Cthulhu’s city will rise again, and he’s going to, well, take over. It’s all a bit dramatic, really.

Beyond the initial story, other writers have added to the lore after Lovecraft's passing, creating a whole "Cthulhu Mythos." He’s clearly had a significant impact on popular culture too, inspiring music, movies, and all sorts of games, from board games to video games. It's quite remarkable, really, the reach of this one fictional creature.

Hopefully, this provides a basic understanding for those of you who are, perhaps, newly interested in this... unique subject. It’s certainly given me a lot to think about, and I’m sure it will continue to be a popular topic for discussion.