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.

 

[dave2008]

Here are some pictures from Wizids:

 

[TravDoc42]

Here are some pictures from Wizids:
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I love the leg tentacles! Looks very eldritch to me!

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

I like the clear dome, reminds me of the original xenomorph in Alien when you could see Kane's skull.

 

[Charlaquin]

The tentacle legs and the clear dome are very cool. I hate the wings and the weird musculature on the trunk. The arms I’m ambivalent about. They are theoretically cool, but it all comes together in a way that just looks awkward rather than eldritch IMO.

 

[Superchunk77]

That was not clear at all from your statement. Why bring up Paizo - for doing the same thing - then? Your messaging appears very confused from an outsider's perspective.

I mean, if that is your opinion, why not just say that to begin with?

Because Paizo did it well. Paizo was able to pull in the HP Lovecraft material seamlessly, fully supporting it with various setting books, bestiaries, and companions, and at least one full adventure path. All of that material slotted into their Golarion setting. They planned a place for that material in the setting and then executed successfully.

By contrast, WotC is taking the HPL material and cramming it into Ravenloft in a very haphazard fashion on the premise that both of the IP's are "horror" themed.

 

[Older Beholder]

I like the see-through cranium.
Good for reading minds. (OK, the joke is a little backwards)

I also like that it looks like a bunch of tentacles chaotically lumped together to form a somewhat humanoid form.

 

[Voadam]

Because Paizo did it well. Paizo was able to pull in the HP Lovecraft material seamlessly, fully supporting it with various setting books, bestiaries, and companions, and at least one full adventure path. All of that material slotted into their Golarion setting. They planned a place for that material in the setting and then executed successfully.

What were the setting books?

I know the AP and the Carrion Hill and the Carrion Crown modules and that Cthulhu and some others showed up in various bestiaries and in the pantheons but I don’t remember mythos setting books.

WotC had Cthulhu and others in 5e as warlock patrons from the beginning the same as Paizo had mentions of mythos gods from early Golarion.

 

[dave2008]

Because Paizo did it well. Paizo was able to pull in the HP Lovecraft material seamlessly, fully supporting it with various setting books, bestiaries, and companions, and at least one full adventure path. All of that material slotted into their Golarion setting. They planned a place for that material in the setting and then executed successfully.

By contrast, WotC is taking the HPL material and cramming it into Ravenloft in a very haphazard fashion on the premise that both of the IP's are "horror" themed.

The is a rather odd reply based on your comment:

"Mainly WotC recycling all this old stuff to jam it into their D&D IP rather than trying to come up with something new."

What you describe is exactly what Paizo did (at least by your description - I know little about PF and less about the Glorian setting). The only possible difference being that you claim Paizo did it well and your assuming WotC will do it poorly. I mean you don't even have the book to know that is jammed in there (whatever that means).

Of course TSR and WotC and have cosmic horror in their IP for decades so it hardly seems jammed into their IP.

Personally, I don't have an issue with Cthulhu and mythos monsters being in D&D (or Dread Domains specifically) - however I don't really care for them being darklords.

 

[...m...]

...i'm not a fan of sequestering horror into domains-of-dread theme parks in general...

 

[Remathilis]

Mainly WotC recycling all this old stuff to jam it into their D&D IP rather than trying to come up with something new.

Hobbits in the PHB? Why are they recycling all this old stuff to jam it into their D&D IP rather than trying to come up with something new?