Fans of Rick and Morty are very familiar with Rick and his encounters with cosmic Lovecraftian beasts (especially with Rick, Morty, and Summer being chased by a Cthulhu-like creature in the title sequence of every episode), but now, Rick is actually becoming one of those monsters he so regularly encounters–all while paying tribute to a surprising Marvel Comics hero.

Warning: contains a preview of Rick and Morty vs Cthulhu #1!As a franchise, Rick and Morty is known for its nihilistic perspective and biting comedic style, which leaves no science fiction franchise or trope unskewered. Now, in a new preview for Rick and Morty vs Cthulhu #1, the cynical scientist is winkingly tearing his own franchise to the ground.

H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos and Rick and Mortyhave a lot in common, from bizarre monstrosities to cosmic nihilism. The show even tips its hat to that fact with the joke in the show’s opening credits that depicts Rick Sanchez - along with Morty and Summer Smith - fleeing from a Cthulhu-like monster while in possession of its offspring. Now, with the Rick and Morty vs Cthulhu comic series, the writers have a chance to explain that famous opening sequence... but they really shouldn’t.

The Rick and Morty vs Cthulhuwill have to overcome a major Lovecraft problem in order to succeed in marrying the two franchises without one totally swallowing the other. The problem comes from Rick Sanchez's unique perspective on the universe and the way in which it clashes with the themes of cosmic horror that define Lovecraft's work and especially his Great Old Ones - the eldritch horrors Rick and Morty will battle in the series.

The recent announcement that wrapping has concluded on a new movie based on a body-swapping story by HP Lovecraft has brought to mind the many other movies which have been based on the twisted tales from one of the 20th century’s foremost horror writers. In fact, Lovecraft had a unique ability to explore areas in his writing that were often avoided by others writing in the genre.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Ghost Reaper Girl chapter 33!

While it may not seem clear at first, the mythos of Batman within DC Comics is inexorably linked to that of H. P. Lovecraft's seminal works of horror fiction, and comics artist Christian Ward recently posted an eldritch rendition of Batman honoring that legacy by merging him with the monstrous Cthulhu. Batman is no stranger to horror, not only do many of his most iconic books take place in the shadows while battling horrific villains like the Joker, but there have also been several DC Black Label series that are explicitly horror.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Ghost Reaper Girl chapter 32!

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Ghost Reaper Girl chapter 30!