Call of Cthulhu: The Coloring Book

Chaosium's Call of Cthulhu: The Coloring Book. Fond memories of favorite childhood pastimes combined with sanity destroying supernatural horror.

  • Overall: B B B B B
  • Quality: Q Q Q Q Q
  • Value:   V V V V V
  • Published by Chaosium, Inc. Artwork by Andrey Fetisov.
  • Price: $14.95 (DVD)
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Review by Darrell Tutchton

May 6, 2017

Chaosium Inc. has teamed up with the Russian artist Andrey Fetisov to bring you Call of Cthulhu: The Coloring Book. The book itself is 8.5 X 11 inches with a glossy cover, staple bound to hold 32 pages containing 28 color-ready images of Lovecraftian horror. There are 14 major illustrations displayed on the right hand page and a smaller piece of supporting art on the left. There is also a bit of text relating to the subject of the drawings. The illustrations are based on many of Lovecraft’s most famous stories as well as from scenarios of the Call of Cthulhu role playing game also by Chaosium Inc. The illustrations are straight black and white line work, no shading or hatching is used. Andrey Fetisov’s skill as an illustrator is evident. The compositions are dramatic and executed with an artistry that makes them interesting even without color.

This is not a beginners coloring book. The images are complex and detailed. Given their depictions of supernatural horror it is probably not for the very young. A crayon would not be the best choice to work on this book. Colored pencils work well, but keep a sharpener handy: the illustrations have some tight lines that require precision and a steady hand. The paper is robust enough to take some rather aggressive coloring without tearing, but is porous. Wet media is not recommended. Inks, watercolor and even markers will bleed through the paper. Since the images are double sided there is a risk of damaging the illustration on the reverse side.