The Lovecraftian Thing a Day (2018) No.158: Gahan Wilson’s 50 Years of Playboy Cartoons

The title of Gahan Wilson’s 50 Years of Playboy Cartoons may seem far removed from Lovecraft’s genteel asexualism; but as any good Lovecraftian worth their salt knows, Wilson has long been involved as an illustrator in the Lovecraft literary scene, producing art for a range of Lovecraftian works (including the interior illustrations for Roger Zelazny’s A Night in the Lonesome October) and, most famously, designing the ‘Howie’: the original World Fantasy Award, which took the form of a caricatured bust of H.P. Lovecraft.

Whilst 50 Years of Playboy Cartoons isn’t exactly a tome of Lovecraftian terrors, it is replete with enough ghouls, bug-eyed monsters, ghastly critters and betentacled things rendered in Wilson oddly quaint and charming style to warrant a place alongside other collections of weird art. And fear not - despite its title, there is nothing racy, titillating or downright pornographic in this lovely three volume set. Although knowing some of you, that will no doubt come as something of a disapointment.

Thanks to Matthew Carpenter of the Lovecraft eZine and editor at Ulthar Press for pointing me in the directin of this.