Check out D&D's version of Cthulhu, via WizKids' new miniature for Ravenloft: The Horrors Within

WizKids has provided retailers with a first look at the Dungeons & Dragons version of Cthulhu as it appears in the upcoming book Ravenloft: The Horrors Within. WizKids will be releasing a new Cthulhu figure that ties into the upcoming Ravenloft book, with the book due for release in June. The new figure sits on a 100 mm base and comes with a special iridescent paint scheme that makes it look perennially wet. The painted version of the figure will cost $79.99, while an unpainted version costs $69.99. Both versions of Cthulhu are due for release in October 2026.

This version of Cthulhu looks significantly different than classic depictions of the elder god, with Cthulhu sporting multiple wings and tentacles in place of traditional limbs. Notably, Cthulhu's head is also semi-translucent, with its brain visible underneath a rounded flap of skin. It appears that this version of Cthulhu drew heavy inspiration from an octopus. You can take a look at Cthulhu down below:

Wizards confirmed that Cthulhu, the classic elder being created by HP Lovecraft, will be featured in Ravenloft: The Horror Within as a Darklord. Innsmouth, a New England town featured in multiple Lovecraft stories, will also appear as a new Domain of Dread. Of course, Cthulhu has a long history with D&D, having appeared in early versions of the game before being pulled due to a license issue tied to rival game Call of Cthulhu. Now that Cthulhu and Lovecraft's other works are in the public domain, Wizards has decided to bring the eldritch being back into D&D canon.

 

[jayoungr]

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but am I the only one who's a little tired of Cthulhu being added to every fantasy? I just don't get the fascination.

 

[Sossij]

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but am I the only one who's a little tired of Cthulhu being added to every fantasy? I just don't get the fascination.

I do think there's an obsession with HP Lovecraft as the template for all cosmic horror, when stuff like The Willows is right there. And I would say Cthulhu isn't even his best creation, but that's just, like, my opinon, man.

 

[Stormonu]

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but am I the only one who's a little tired of Cthulhu being added to every fantasy? I just don't get the fascination.

Smash Up had it right with their "Obligatory Cthulhu Expansion" - it seems to end up in anything fantasy or sci-fi at some point.

But Cthulhu has been a part of D&D since the start of the '80s, and stand-ins after the issues in L&L.

Like you, I'm not too keen on Cthulhu himself ending up in Ravenloft. D&D had a whole raft of cosmic horror stuff already and this feels like it was done to help sell the book to those who already had it by putting something "popular" in it that was a must-have. IMHO, they just should have revamped Bleutspur instead and gone with Thoughts of Evil having been a long, long time ago and things have changed since then (or ignored it ever existed - that'd work for me too).

 

[Voadam]

But Cthulhu has been a part of D&D since the start of the '80s, and stand-ins after the issues in L&L.

The first time he shows up as an explicit part of D&D that I know about is 1975 in 0e Supplement I Greyhawk, so over 50 years now.

All you needed was his name and a gate spell, and you could have a 95% chance of summoning him.

Gate: Employment of this spell opens a cosmic portal and allows an ultra-powerful being (such as Odin, Crom, Set, Cthulhu, the Shining One, a demi-god, or whatever) to come to this plane. It is recommended that the user of this spell have a highly valid reason for summoning such aid. The name of the being desired must be called when the spell is cast. There is a 95% chance that the called being will come, 5% chance for some other being coming instead. There is also a 5% chance that whatever shows up will simply return immediately after observing the situation.

 

[Clint_L]

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but am I the only one who's a little tired of Cthulhu being added to every fantasy? I just don't get the fascination.

Welcome to the world of public domain IP.

 

[jayoungr]

Welcome to the world of public domain IP.

Lots of things are public domain but not so ubiquitous.

 

[humble minion]

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but am I the only one who's a little tired of Cthulhu being added to every fantasy? I just don't get the fascination.

Dracula says hi.

 

[Clint_L]

Lots of things are public domain but not so ubiquitous.

Yes, but few things are as iconic to nerd culture as Lovecraftian horror, so of course everyone jumped in as soon as it became freely available.

It’s kind of like why dragons are everywhere. They’re cool and nobody owns the idea.

Incidentally, I feel about Dracula the way you feel about Cthulhu, so I get it.

 

[dead]

Well, if you ever want a Cthulhu “mini” quite literally the size of a toddler, CMON made one for Cthulhu: Death May Die. One can still find them floating around on eBay from time to time.

It looks like a corpulent toddler, too. I prefer the Wizkids one. Even if he is a little fella.

 

[MGibster]

Yes, but few things are as iconic to nerd culture as Lovecraftian horror, so of course everyone jumped in as soon as it became freely available.

It wasn't so long ago that there were serious arguments discussions on this very board about the appropriateness of listing H.P. Lovecraft's works as suggested reading for one of the many influences on D&D. I'm kind of getting whiplash over how quickly this stopped being an issue.