Gou Tanabe and the Missing Adaptations: 5 Untranslated Lovecraft Manga Still Hiding Out

Along with what “Dreams” are made of, we look at what works of Gou Tanabe are currently out there that are graphic novel adaptations of the Cthulhu mythos. Our focus is on his untranslated Lovecraft manga.

Gou Tanabe's Call of Cthulhu untranslated Lovecraft mangaWhile organizing my collection of untranslated Lovecraft manga and graphic adaptations, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something essential was missing. There’s a handful of Gou Tanabe’s works that exist in French or Italian editions, yet still haven’t seen print in North America. When Zack Davisson mentioned they’ve remained untouched, it felt less like an if and more like a slow, deliberate waiting game. He translated the recent releases and is clearly eager to tackle what’s missing. That comment dates back over a year to Emerald City Comic Con, and as fans of this series, all we can do is wait, and hope it doesn’t drive us mad.

Continue reading “Gou Tanabe and the Missing Adaptations: 5 Untranslated Lovecraft Manga Still Hiding Out”

A Nerd’s Guide to the 2026 Victoria Film Festival

The 2026 Victoria Film Festival leans into ghosts, grief, food, memory, and absurdity. From haunted vacuum cleaners to intimate documentaries, this year’s lineup proves smaller festivals still take the biggest creative risks.

2026 Victoria Film Festival Current LogoNo new introduction is necessary for 2026 Victoria Film Festival as it continues to treat locals to a curated selection of films from around the world. Although the genre plate is not often full, there’s usually something curious worth checking out. This year, the focus is on tales of terror.

And padding out this list are other works of interest that should satisfy even a foodie. For those unable to make it to this corner of the world, keep an eye on your local arts theatres, many of these films are likely to travel. If I had to select only one must-see, it’s A Useful Ghost. Not for the romantic comedy angle or its Valentine’s Day slot, but because it sounds so absurd it demands to be witnessed.

The links below lead to additional information, spoilers possible, and ticket pages for those attending.

A Magnificent Life


A Magnificent Life 2025 movie posterThe Vic / 12-Feb / 3:00 PM

Sylvain Chomet is a filmmaker who loves paying tribute, not just to people, but to entire creative worlds. From his affectionate portrait of Jacques Tati in The Illusionist to his fascination with artistic spaces, his films often feel like handwritten letters set in motion.

Here, Chomet turns his attention to Marcel Pagnol. Outside France, Pagnol may not be a household name, but his influence across literature and cinema is immense. There’s a question hovering over the film, does this echo It’s a Wonderful Life in spirit? Whether that lands will depend on how modern audiences connect with a figure so deeply rooted in French cultural memory.

Continue reading “A Nerd’s Guide to the 2026 Victoria Film Festival”

The Mummy (2026) Trailer Analysis: Ancient Gods, Ritual Horror, and a Corrupted Afterlife

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy (2026) teaser hints at ritual horror, corrupted afterlife myths, and an unsettling procedural mystery rooted in Ancient Egyptian belief. This isn’t a nostalgic revival, but a darker reckoning with gods, death, and what should stay buried.

Lee Cronin's The Mummy (2026)After watching the teaser trailer for Lee Cronin’s The Mummy (2026) several times, there’s enough on screen to start forming a clearer theory beyond what’s been officially published. I’ve deliberately avoided forums and fan speculation, so this read comes purely from what the trailer itself is offering.

I’ve always had a soft spot for The Mummy as a concept. Even in its earliest versions, including the Hammer era, it functioned as a love story filtered through horror. That emotional spine gave the zombie myth a strange elegance. Stephen Sommers later pushed the material into camp and spectacle, turning it into pulp adventure. This new iteration appears to reject both approaches entirely. Sitting outside Universal’s legacy plans, it feels safe to assume Blumhouse has given Cronin the freedom to rebuild the myth from the ground up.

Continue reading “The Mummy (2026) Trailer Analysis: Ancient Gods, Ritual Horror, and a Corrupted Afterlife”

Cosmic Horror in 2026: The Ultimate Guide to Upcoming H.P. Lovecraft Films, Graphic Novels and More!

In the world of sequential art, Cosmic Horror in 2026 neverf goes out of style. Presented here is a preview of what’s currently on shelves and coming soon! Plus a handy checklist for your pull list.

Cosmic Horror in 2026There’s further Cosmic horror in 2026 that is sure to destroy! And as this genre never really goes out of style, just what one can find in the sequential arts make up part one of a three part series, where I dive deep into nearly everything that’s coming out!

I will begin with visual interpretations of the classics. Cinematically, they can be summed up with two releases–Iron Lung (limited theatre run beginning Jan 30) and Dreamlands. The former is about surviving the deep oceans and the other, well, the title speaks for itself. While the latter is a crowdfunded release and passion product, it’s tough to say if this work be ready for this year’s H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival.

In part two will be a look at Gou Tanabe’s slate of works and offer a checklist. Last will be the videogames to put fans of H.P. Lovecrafts works straight into the forefreont. After RailGods of Hysterra (review link) stalled due to some design issues, I’m still curious what other titles might pick up the pace.

In this preview, here’s what’s expected to roll out in 2026.

The Manga Master Returns:
Gou Tanabe’s The Dunwich Horror

The Dunwich Horror Japanese Edition

The Dunwich Horror Japanese Edition

For many of us, the gold standard for Lovecraftian art is Gou Tanabe. After his Eisner-nominated runs on At the Mountains of Madness and The Shadow Out of Time, Dark Horse Manga is expected to bring the English translation of “The Dunwich Horror” to North American fans in 2026. The news is not official, but that is what industry insiders are saying. Without this, Necronomicon cannot make its proper debut in Tanabe’s world of horror.

His ability to draw the “indescribable” is unmatched in the manga world. Nearly everyyone is excited to see how the Whateley family will spring to life, and also depict what Wilbur will transform to. And along with the invisible terror of Sentinel Hill stalking the land, there’s plenty of expectations to craft in the minds of every reader.

A Dreamlike Departure:
The Last Day of H.P. Lovecraft

The Last Day of H.P. LovecraftComing early this year from BOOM! Studios, we have the conclusion of the English adaptation of The Last Day of H.P. Lovecraft. With this tale near compledtion (the last issue slated for Feb release), this isn’t a straight adaptation of a story, but a surreal, semi-biographical fever dream. Written by Romuald Giulivo with haunting art by Jakub Rebelka, the story follows a dying Lovecraft as he wanders through a visionary version of Providence, confronting his own creations. It is high-art horror at its finest.

IDW & Top Cow:
The Thing on the Doorstep

Top Cow The Thing in the DoorstepImage Comics and Top Cow are diving into the Cthulhu Mythos with a five-issue miniseries of “The Thing on the Doorstep,” starting February 11, 2026. Written by Simon Birks and illustrated by Willi Roberts, this adaptation promises to lean into the psychological body-horror of the original text. It’s a great entry point for those who want a more traditional “floppy” comic experience rather than a thick graphic novel.

The Masters of the Macabre
Bernie Wrightson & François Baranger

For those who prefer their horror with a “classical” dark aesthetic, 2026 offers two heavy hitters:

  • Creepy Presents: Bernie Wrightson (Dark Horse Comics): Releasing February 3, 2026, this collection is a must-have. While it spans several horror tales, it features Wrightson’s legendary adaptation of “Cool Air.” Seeing Wrightson’s meticulous ink work on high-quality modern paper is the closest thing to a religious experience a horror fan can have.
  • The Shadow Over Innsmouth (François Baranger): Following the massive success of his illustrated The Call of Cthulhu, French artist François Baranger is finishing his cinematic take on the fish-folk of Innsmouth. The English edition via Design Studio Press is expected in mid-to-late 2026. These are oversized volumes that feel more like “concept art for a movie that doesn’t exist” than a traditional comic.

Cosmic Horror in 2026 Checklist

  • January 14: The Last Day of H.P. Lovecraft #3 (BOOM! Studios)
  • February 3: Creepy Presents: Bernie Wrightson (Dark Horse)
  • February 11: The Thing on the Doorstep #1 (Image/Top Cow)
  • February 11: The Last Day of H.P. Lovecraft #4 (BOOM! Studios)
  • Late 2026: The Dunwich Horror (Dark Horse Manga)
  • Late 2026: The Shadow Over Innsmouth (Design Studio Press)

Which of these are you adding to your pull list? Let us know in the comments if you’re team Tanabe or team Wrightson!


Sources & Press Releases

Starfleet Academy’s Dilemma: Is It Star Trek or Saved by the Bell Set in Space?

Starfleet Academy wants to be a fresh doorway into Star Trek’s far future, but it can’t resist the gravitational pull of school-drama archetypes. The debut episodes hint at big franchise shifts after The Burn, then pile on teen dynamics, shaky lore checks, and a few welcome returns.

Star Trek Starfleet AcademyBroadcasting Thurs on Paramount+
Spoiler Alert

These days, the handlers of Gene Roddenberry’s creation, Star Trek, are no longer bound to his original vision. With Starfleet Academy, the franchise leans into new themes and familiar narrative shapes, recycling tropes that are usually left unspoken. After all, humanity has always been about boldly going somewhere new. This time, though, it might just be back to school. Whether the writers should lean into that idea is debatable. There are elements here that work, and others that stumble. Everything hinges on where the focus ultimately lands.

After finding Star Trek: Discovery very much not my cup of tea, I missed one important detail. The Federation is rebuilding. Following The Burn, when most of the galaxy’s dilithium was rendered inert, interstellar travel collapsed. Worlds became isolated. New wars erupted over developing new alternative power sources, or the promise of something better from individuals who try to deliver hope.

Continue reading “Starfleet Academy’s Dilemma: Is It Star Trek or Saved by the Bell Set in Space?”

Altered Turns Cyberpunk Eugenics Into a Quiet, Uneasy Family Drama

Director Timo Vuorensola trades spectacle for restraint in Altered, a mutant-versus-normal sci-fi drama led by a committed Tom Felton performance that keeps the film emotionally afloat.

Altered (2025) Starring Tom FeltonWell GO USA
Spoiler Alert

Tom Felton gives it his all in a cyberpunk eugenics drama about a fractured society where mutants and normals exist in constant tension. Altered marks a shift from what Timo Vuorensola, best known for Iron Sky, usually delivers. Instead of pulpy action excess, this film leans into a youth-focused formula, with Felton firmly at its centre. He plays Leon, a paraplegic mechanic who moonlights as a cat burglar while acting as a father figure to Chloe, played by Liza Bugulova.

Their bond is established quickly through necessity. She distracts, he sneaks, hacks systems, and steals crystalline energy sources that power advanced technology. Living outside the city, they survive by relying on each other in a world where people either fend for themselves or form uneasy alliances. The dynamic is effective, and their mutual dependence carries the film from beginning to end.

Continue reading “Altered Turns Cyberpunk Eugenics Into a Quiet, Uneasy Family Drama”