I've often thought that it might be interesting to do a mash-up of H.P. Lovecraft and Star Trek, given their radically different philosophical bents, but I kind of think that it would just be like...a normal episode of Star Trek.

Like, do you think that Tendi is going to go mad from the discovery of the city of the Star-Headed Old Ones deep underground in Antarctica, or do you think that she's going to have a great time doing science on a new archaeological site, maybe comment on how cute the mutant albino penguins are, and then figure out a way to make friends with the Shoggoth? It only works as horror if you're so arrogant that your own cosmic insignificance is a horrifying revelation to you and if you're too rigid in your assumptions about how reality is supposed to work.

AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS

by Brom

It's genuenly fascinating how Lovecraft, known xenophobe in it's truest sense, created this race of grotesque utterly inhuman alien creatures and the goes on at length describing with genuine respect and admiration how advanced and complex and admirable their culture and civilization was.

like, we are talking about these guys

and lovecraft is like "ah yes, their goberment was complex a probably socialistic...there was extensive commerece, the culture was mainly urban, in furnishing their homes they kept everything at the center of huge rooms leaving wall spaces for decorative treatments, lighting was probably accomplished by a device electro-chemical in nature"

is so strange how comfortable he is humanizing these creatures, treating them like any other culture worth of consideration. i really didnt expect this coming from this dude

It is still cold out there.

Stop it Ratchet, he loves penguins!

Shoggoth by Nottsuo - At the Mountains of Madness

H. P. Lovecraft - At the Mountains of Madness and Other Tales of Terror. New York : Ballantine Books, 1971. Cover art by Michael Whelan.

There is a giant 6 feet tall Penguin in one of Lovecrafts stories that jumpscares some scientists. The fact that no one seems to talk about this leads me to believe none of you have actually read Lovecraft, because I will never stop talking about it and the giant penguins minding their own business while two exploring scientists have a heart attack is the single funniest thing I've heard this week.

Bonus Penguin: The Albino Penguins were bred by the Elder Things long ago, but their purpose is unknown. They eventually lost their eyesight and pigmentation after moving to the subterranean ruins when Antarctica froze over.

At The Mountains Of Madness

Art by Brom

Dealer: Hey I’ve got this new strain called “At the Mountains of Madness”, it’ll have you zonked out of your gourd. Me: Yeah I feel nothing.

— Five Minutes Later —

Me: Dude I think I just saw a goo monster over there

My good buddy, Professor William Dyer, pacing: The Elder Things are lying to us

ASTOUNDING STORIES - FEB 1936

Cover art by Howard V. Brown

I animated A Shoggoth at work! Tekele-li! Tekeli!

Hildy....hildy russet i love you

Transformers Prime : At The Mountains of Madness AU

So...I suddenly got an idea of The Autobots encounter some Eldritch Horror from space. I haven’t read the whole original story yet because I’m waiting for a translation book (Lovecraft’s writing is HARD to read...) but I really like the setting and the monster origins in At The Mountains of Madness.

Plot summary : Optimus and Ratchet traveled to Antarctica after receiving a strange signal. At first, they believed it to be a Relic or another Autobots. They engaged in a fight with Decepticons until the ground crashed down. They all land in the odd location. Ratchet and Optimus discovered there was a secret and horror waiting for them as they were trying to find a way out.

At the Mountains of Madness illustration by Piotr Jabłoński