Minky Woodcock: The Girl Called Cthulhu by Cynthia von Buhler

Who exactly is Minky Woodcock? She’s the daring and stylish heroine of a noir-inspired comic book crime series created by the sensational writer and artist Cynthia von Buhler. A private investigator with brains, beauty, and a knack for uncovering dangerous secrets, Minky is no ordinary sleuth. The daughter of a famous gumshoe—whispers say he was the real-life inspiration behind Sherlock Holmes—Minky dives headfirst into cases that blur the lines between fact and fiction.

Cynthia von Buhler is a visionary graphic novelist and multimedia storyteller known for entwining historical facts with imaginative fiction. Her work doesn’t just flirt with the notion that truth is stranger than fiction—it fully embraces it, diving into the bizarre, scandalous, and often overlooked corners of early 20th-century history. With a signature flair for the theatrical and a penchant for resurrecting the so-called “living dead” of yesteryear, von Buhler injects fresh life into real historical figures, seamlessly integrating them into her darkly whimsical narratives.

Published by Titan Comics under the Hard Case Crime imprint, Minky Woodcock has already captivated readers in two critically acclaimed limited series, not to mention a theatrical adaptation that brought the pulp aesthetic to the stage. Each installment places Minky alongside some of history’s most intriguing figures—from escapologist Harry Houdini and author Arthur Conan Doyle to inventor Nikola Tesla and icon Josephine Baker—in thrilling, twist-laden tales of mystery, seduction, and scandal.

Now, the fearless detective returns in her third graphic novel, Minky Woodcock: The Girl Called Cthulhu—and this one’s dripping with occult horror. With a story inspired by a real World War II maritime operation and wrapped in layers of conspiracy, black magic, and dark myth, Minky finds herself confronting not just criminals, but eldritch horrors that defy reality. Picking up in the shadow of Harry Houdini’s mysterious death, Minky is drawn into yet another high-stakes investigation—this time by none other than infamous occultist and author Aleister Crowley. Accused of murder, Crowley pleads with Minky to help clear his name. What starts as a case of reputation rescue quickly spirals into something far more sinister. This new volume sees Minky embroiled in a shadowy plot involving satanic rituals, twisted men in power, and even a sensual sea creature born from ancient nightmares of Lovecraftian lore.

Minky Woodcock: The Girl Called Cthulhu unfolds like an elaborate burlesque performance—seductive, layered, and expertly choreographed. Each page peels away a layer of mystery, teasing the reader with secrets, revelations, and red herrings, all building toward a grand, provocative climax where the truth is finally—and tantalizingly—revealed. The journey to the denouement is a slow, delicious striptease of plot and character, with just enough danger and allure to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Throw Aleister Crowley into the mix, and the narrative takes a sharp turn into occult territory. Known for his real-life reputation as a dark mystic and ceremonial magician, Crowley becomes the perfect catalyst for chaos. In this twisted tale, he’s not just a suspect—he’s a symbol. As events spiral out of control, Crowley appears as both puppet master and potential scapegoat, a willing—or perhaps unwitting—sacrificial lamb in a ritual soaked with intrigue, conspiracies, and sinister devotion to shadowy forces.

Cynthia von Buhler’s lush, provocative artwork channels the macabre genius of H.P. Lovecraft and the mysticism of Aleister Crowley, blending erotic pulp and supernatural terror into a richly illustrated noir experience. Prepare for a journey into madness and mystery—because Minky Woodcock is back, and this case might just be her darkest yet.

At the core of this mesmerizing and erotically charged narrative lies the singular creative vision of Cynthia von Buhler. Her lavish, unapologetically provocative illustrations elevate each panel into a sensual feast for the eyes, immersing the viewer in a world where beauty and darkness entwine in an intimate embrace. Von Buhler’s unmistakable style channels the otherworldly dread of H.P. Lovecraft and the forbidden allure of Aleister Crowley, seamlessly fusing gothic horror, occult mysticism, and the sultry shadows of pulp noir.

Within her decadent visual universe, sexuality simmers just beneath the surface—raw, enigmatic, and inescapable. Dark rituals become acts of erotic transgression, while clandestine affairs crackle with perilous desire. Von Buhler crafts a hauntingly seductive world where the grotesque is rendered with a lover’s touch, and every page pulses with the heady tension of lust mingling with fear, inviting readers to lose themselves in a dreamscape where the sacred and profane collide.

In her latest and most harrowing adventure yet, Minky Woodcock plunges deeper into the abyss than ever before. Pushed to her limits and beyond, she enters a twisted web of occult ceremonies, government conspiracies, and cosmic terrors that defy reason. With every revelation, the stakes grow higher—and the shadows darker. Minky is locked, loaded, and ready to confront forces far more sinister than mere crime. Prepare for a headlong dive into madness, mystery, and the macabre. This time, Minky Woodcock isn’t just chasing criminals—she’s facing something far more terrifying and otherworldly.

Cynthia von Buhler is an American artist, author, playwright and animal activist hailed by the press as “multitalented and eccentric” (Boston Globe), a “creative genius” (Forbes), and “one of the top contemporary surrealists” (Art & Antiques). 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 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. Von Buhler has collaborated on art projects with Steven Spielberg, Neil Gaiman, Martha Stewart, 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. Von Buhler also writes, directs and produces immersive theater. In writing about her theater productions the New York Post wrote, “Von Buhler has the kind of family footnote any writer would kill for.” She has written and illustrated books for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Viking, Random House, Titan Comics and Dark Horse Comics. Von Buhler is also a traveling reportage journalist on animal and environmental issues.