#BookReview ‘Minky Woodcock-The Girl Called Cthulhu’ by Cynthia Von Buhler

The plucky detective returns in her thrilling third graphic novel, this time with an occult horror twist!

Sensational artist Cynthia von Buhler melds her glorious illustrations with the eldritch elements of HP Lovecraft and Aleister Crowley.

Inspired by a true WWII maritime operation, shocking satanic events, monstrous men, and one salacious sea creature, this volume tells the tale of Minky’s encounter with legendary horror writer H.P. Lovecraft, creator of the dreaded Cthulhu.

Following the death of Harry Houdini, Minky is approached by the occultist and writer Aleister Crowley to help vindicate him from an accusation of murder. This throws Minky into an occult underworld and leads to a much bigger investigation involving a missing man and Britain’s secret service. Meanwhile, Lovecraftian horrors plague her dreams, and it’s up to Minky to discover the connections between the two writers and the mysterious death of her mother. Based on an actual WWII maritime operation inspired by a detective novel, Minky discovers how writers, including Ian Fleming, helped end WWII.

From the mind of lauded artist, author, and playwright, Cynthia von Buhler, this third installment in the gumshoe detective series takes the thrills and twists to new heights!

Hugest of thanks once more, to Julia at Titan Comics for my gifted review copy of the superbly named, ‘Minky Woodcock-The Girl Called Cthulhu’ , which was published in glorious hardcover in July 2025.

The Hard Case Crime series is one I was familiar with, but I was intrigued to see how this aesthetic would translate to a graphic novel format.

The first difference is that it is an original story, melting fantasy with fiction, and a cool gaze at the glories of the female form.

Minky spends quite a bit of time unclothed, so this is not a novel for the faint hearted, it starts with her in a naked embrace with Harry Houdini, and does not let up with this to the very last page.

Sensuality and sexuality are explored in connection with the ongoing story, it is not an exploitative facet of the tale, it is just who Minky is. She starts off as a companion of Houdini, through whom she catches the attention of Aleister Crowley as she is dragged into a Nazi nightmare where the enemies of the free world are using supernatural means to try and win the war.

Minky is a private detective by trade and a damned good one even if her own father does not recognise her skills (he still has …and SONS on the glass door to his office!)

This is what makes her so good, not only does she have an eye for details, she uses her looks to distract and ply secrets out of others with a keen grasp on the nature of the quest at hand.

It reflects the time where women were seen and not heard, but in the places where they are, their views and actions are taken very seriously-for example, this book starts with Houdini , moves through devil worship, onto Ian Fleming and Operation Mincemeat, where Minky plays a vital role.

What I loved about this story is the joy of celebrating women-my daughters have often asked me why women are mostly naked on the covers of Hard Cover Crime books, and I have asked them , what makes you assume they are painted/made by women . And why would they think because the women are almost naked , that they aren’t powerful?

It was a great conversation -btw my daughters and husband read this novel before I did, being intrigued by the cover , which for me is a win, because that is 1 husband and 3 daughters who read a book they otherwise wouldn’t have!

Definitely want to read Books 1 and 2, hopefully there will be a Book 4, please Titan Comics!!

Cynthia von Buhler is an American artist, performer, playwright and author. Hailed by the press as “multitalented and eccentric” (Boston Globe), a “rising star” (NY Arts), and “one of the top contemporary surrealists” (Art & Antiques), Cynthia von Buhler has made a name for herself as an award-winning and critically acclaimed fine artist, author, and illustrator

. Her illustration work has won awards from the Society of Illustrators and has repeatedly appeared in American Illustration, Communication Arts and the Society of Illustrator annuals of the best illustration in America. Von Buhler’s stunning, three-dimensional paintings have been displayed in galleries and museums around the world, and have been featured in books, newspapers and magazines from Rolling Stone to The New Yorker.

The New York Times has written four features on her in the last five years. Von Buhler has collaborated on art projects with Steven Spielberg, and Clive Barker. She has illustrated book covers for Harry Turtledove, Scott O’Dell, Jane Yolen, Elizabeth George Speare and Lawrence Block

Her sculptures have appeared on NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, she and her work were profiled in Mary Magdalen: An Intimate Portrait on the Lifetime Network, and she was a recurring character on Discovery Channel’s Oddities. Von Buhler also writes, directs and produces immersive theater

In writing about her theater productions, Forbes called her “a creative genius” and the New York Post wrote, “Von Buhler has the kind of family footnote any writer would kill for.” Von Buhler was the lead singer in two seminal Boston bands, The Women of Sodom and Countess, the latter garnering her a development deal with MCA Records.