Rick Meints 2,873 Posted February 18 Report Share Posted February 18 On Halloween 1981 The Chaosium debuted our Call of Cthulhu RPG on an unsuspecting world. The rulebook cover featured the now iconic picture of Cthulhu rising out of the ocean, as drawn by Gene Day. Until this month, what I didn't know was that Gene did not draw this for our project. It was created for an earlier unknown publication. Perhaps the following clues will allow one of you to help me figure it out. Here's what I know: In early 1979, Shadow Press (of Canada) published a special edition collection of Gene Day's art called All Things Dark and Dangerous. They printed 950 numbered copies, each signed by Gene. It has a general list of the publications all the art first appeared in (see photo), but not on a piece-by-piece basis. So which one was the Cthulhu picture originally in? More than likely, it is from something published between 1973-1978... ps: lots of early Gloranthan and Lords of the Middle Sea art is also featured in the book. 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trystero 208 Posted February 18 Report Share Posted February 18 Is there any chance the piece was commissioned for the Dark Worlds game that was cancelled in favour of Sandy's Call of Cthulhu design? 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DreadDomain 354 Posted February 19 Report Share Posted February 19 Nothing to contribute except to say that I always loved Gene Day's work. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grimmshade 103 Posted February 19 Report Share Posted February 19 I used every Google-fu trick I know and nothing. I love that artwork though! I'll try more tomorrow. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rick Meints 2,873 Posted February 19 Author Report Share Posted February 19 15 hours ago, trystero said: Is there any chance the piece was commissioned for the Dark Worlds game that was cancelled in favour of Sandy's Call of Cthulhu design? No. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Psullie 505 Posted February 19 Report Share Posted February 19 (edited) Or as the last line suggests, appearing in this selection for the first time. It’s also odd that Gene didn’t date the Cthulhu pic like he did the others Edited February 19 by Psullie Update 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grimmshade 103 Posted February 19 Report Share Posted February 19 4 hours ago, Psullie said: Or as the last line suggests, appearing in this selection for the first time. It’s also odd that Gene didn’t date the Cthulhu pic like he did the others Agreed. Do we know for a fact this Art Book wasn't the original source of the art? More searching today has turned up nothing. Cross referencing all the sources listed and also image searching. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kross 50 Posted February 19 Report Share Posted February 19 Could this have been something done for one of the black and white horror comic zines from the era (Creepy, Eerie, Vampirella, Psycho, etc.), or even Savage Sword of Conan or the like? Did Day have any credits from those mags? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rick Meints 2,873 Posted February 19 Author Report Share Posted February 19 Chances are, if the Cthulhu picture was published prior to when this book came out in 1979 it would have been in one of the following: Dark Fantasy V4, #14, September 1977 for the R'Lyeh Rises article. Weirdbook #11, page 49. or Weirdbook #12, page 34, or Weirdbook 13, page 76. Pickman's Portrait (HP Lovecraft portfolio), which I can find very little info on. Of course, I fully concede that the Cthulhu pic may be one of the few unpublished ones. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nick Brooke 1,768 Posted February 19 Report Share Posted February 19 This looks like actionable intelligence. Possibly too mainstream for @scott-martin, but you never know, the man has hidden depths. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scott-martin 1,398 Posted February 19 Report Share Posted February 19 26 minutes ago, Nick Brooke said: This looks like actionable intelligence. Possibly too mainstream for @scott-martin, but you never know, the man has hidden depths. Well, it's a strange aeon. And these are gorgeous! I'll consult the Weirdbooks and I think I have that Dark Fantasy. Will edit in results. 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grimmshade 103 Posted February 20 Report Share Posted February 20 Someone on MEWE suggested contacting Sandy Peterson. Would he know? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rick Meints 2,873 Posted February 20 Author Report Share Posted February 20 19 hours ago, Grimmshade said: Someone on MEWE suggested contacting Sandy Peterson. Would he know? I chatted with Sandy about this very topic yesterday afternoon. Unfortunately, he came on board as a Chaosium employee after the artwork had been done. He wrote the CoC manuscript as a freelance writer working from home. Other people at Chaosium had done the art direction. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pepperdrop 2 Posted February 23 Report Share Posted February 23 (edited) I can tell you as a librarian that the two libraries I'm seeing globally that have a copy are the University of South Australia and Libraries and Archives Canada Best bet is to contact their reference areas and see if you can get scans or if they'll give you any information on those pages. I can attempt to do further digging if that leads to blockades on your end. I looked into both and will try reaching out to Canada first. Seems far more likely based on their system. Edited February 23 by pepperdrop More info 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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