In 2008, Marvel did Haunt of Horror: Lovecraft with adaptations of the Old Gentleman from Providence. But this wasn’t Marvel’s first go at the Mythos. Perhaps the first was “The Thing at Chugamung Cove” (based on “The Shadow Over Innsmouth”) in Amazing Mysteries #32, May 1949. And then there were the Lovecraftianisms of the Doctor Strange comics. N’Gabthoth, the Shambler From the Sea, now that’s a mouthful! Frank Brunner and Sal Buscema’s rendition is not very convincing. This, sadly, will be the trend.
The 1970s brought the first true wave of Marvel adaptations in their anthology comics. “The Terrible Old Man” by H. P. Lovecraft appeared Tower of Shadows #3, January 1970. The script was provided by Roy Thomas and art by Barry Windsor Smith and Dan Adkins. No real monsters in this one.
Roy Thomas scripted again with “The Music From Beyond” (Chamber of Darkness #5, June 1970. Art by Johnny Craig. This is a version of “the Music of Erich Zann” by H. P. Lovecraft. Let’s admit it: it’s hard to make music creepy visually.
“Pickman’s Model” by H. P. Lovecraft appeared in Tower of Shadows #9, January 1971. Roy Thomas again, with art by Tom Palmer. Tom Palmer’s version of a ghoul is totally Marvel and completely silly. Rod Serling’s Night Gallery would be more accurate (if as unconvincing) on December 1, 1971.
Robert E. Howard poses a bit of a conundrum because he was influenced by Lovecraft but not everything is “Cthulhu Mythos”. I have only selected those stories I thought appropriate and interesting. (For more on Howard and Mythos look here.) “The Shadow Kingdom” Kull the Conqueror #2 (September 1971) script by Roy Thomas and art by Marie and John Severin. The Serpent Men are well represented here but I doubt the Severins were going for creepy. Still a great issue for Sword & Sorcery fans.
“The Shambler From the Stars” by Robert Bloch (Journey Into Mystery #3, February 1973) Script by Ron Goulart with art by Jim Starlin and Tom Palmer. An invisible bloodsucker is a bit of a challenge.
“The Thing on the Roof” by Robert E. Howard (Chamber of Chills #3, March 1973) script by Roy Thomas and art by Frank Brunner. Not one of Robert E. Howard’s best stories. Frank gives it a good try.
“The Haunter of the Dark” by H. P. Lovecraft (Journey Into Mystery #4, April 1973) had a script by Ron Goulart with art by Gene Colan and Dan Adkins. Gene Colan is a natural for any Lovecraft after years on Tomb of Dracula.
“The Valley of the Worm” in Supernatural Thrillers #3 (April 1973) is a classic scripted by Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway. Art is by Gil Kane and Ernie Chan. Kane’s giant worm and its hairy summoner are both well done.
“The Shadow From the Steeple” (Journey Into Mystery #5, June 1973) script by Ron Goulart with art by Rich Buckler and Frank Giacoia.
“Dig Me No Grave” by Robert E. Howard (Journey Into Mystery #1, October 1972) script by Roy Thomas with art by Gil Kane and Tom Palmer.
“The Worms of the Earth” by Robert E. Howard (Savage Sword of Conan #16, December 1976) featured a script by Roy Thomas with art by Barry Windsor Smith and Tim Conrad. This is a masterpiece of both Howard Sword & Sorcery and creepy Mythos. Smith and Conrad convey the Wellsian Morlockiness of the Worms wonderfully.
“The Slithering Shadow” (Savage Sword of Conan #20, July 1977) with a script by Roy Thomas and art by John Buscema and Alfred Alcala. Earl Norem’s cover gives it all away but what a great piece.
“People of the Dark” Marvel Treasury Edition #19, 1978 with script by Roy Thomas and art by Alex Nino. I am a Nino fan through-and-through and love when he does stuff that is against type. This story would normally have been done by Big John Buscema and inked by Ernie Chan, Alfred Alcala or Tony deZuniga. Alex Nino does his own kind of magic with it.
“The Footfalls Within” (Marvel Preview #19, Summer 1979) had Don F. Glut adapt the Howard story with art by Will Meugniot and Steve Gan.
“The Black Stone” Savage Sword of Conan #74 (March 1982) with script by Roy Thomas and art by Gene Day. Gene Day is a Call of Cthulhu rpg god so I was happy to see him here. Still, not my favorite rendering of the frog-like Servitor of the Outer Gods.
“The Stalker of the Snows” in Conan the Savage #2-4 (September-November 1995) was a late-in-the-day script by Roy Thomas (partly based on “At the Mountains of Madness”) with art by Mike Docherty and Ruby Nebres. Conan and Belit voyage to the Plateau of Leng and encounter a shoggoth.
By the time Conan the Avenger came out the hey-deys of Bronze Age Marvel were over. Sword & Sorcery and Horror comics would have a renaissance in the 2000s but that is another time and place. the establishment of H. P. Lovecraft’s reputation and familiarity with the Cthulhu Mythos would change everything. These examples here showed some people were in the know but Lovecraft for the most part was still a wonderful secret well hidden from most.
