When Futaba, an up-and-coming idol, learns that pet idols are all the rage, she decides to adopt one—receiving an octopus from a strange man, Futaba names it Cthu-pi. While it may seem like an ordinary cephalopod, Cthu-pin is the infamous eldritch god Cthulhu. And Hilarity Ensues.
Gyaru and Cthulhu is a lighter take on the Cthulhu Mythos written by H. P. Lovecraft along with other contributing authors and is written and illustrated by Pontogotanda. It began serialization in 2022.
The manga provides examples of:
- Adaptational Heroism: Cthulhu, while still worshiped as a dark god, is shown genuinely caring for Futaba so much so, he was willing to perform human sacrifices when she collapsed on stage.
- Comically Missing the Point:
- Futuba witnesses Cthu-pin growing tentacles over five times the length of his tiny body, reaching for human food, and using human utensils. She just thinks he is a really exceptional octopus as she reads octopi can learn to open jars.
- Kazuma Oda, a school friend of Futuba's, learns that her pet and Ayame's pet are not normal animals but sentient and have some magical powers. However, he fails to realize they are the true Cthulhu and Hastur, and so wonders how Yog-Sothoth, who is disguised as a parrot, produces the "hamster" Hastur.
- Good Is Dumb: Futaba is a very kind character. However, she is also incredibly simple-minded and naive.
- Lighter and Softer: While the series still incorporates characters becoming insane by the gods' influence, for the most part, Great Old Ones such as Cthulhu and Hastur does not seem interested in laying waste to the world.
- Mind Rape: Cthulhu and Hastur have the ability to corrupt the minds of mortals often using this ability in the interest of the idols they are assisting.
- Papa Wolf: Cthulhu greatly cares for Futaba and even tries to fight off Lavinia's behemoth of a brother not knowing that Yog-Sothoth was empowering him.
- Rich in Dollars, Poor in Sense: Ayame is better off in comparison to Futaba, but when she decides to step out of that life of luxury, she finds herself incompetent at performing mundane tasks.
- Rivals Team Up:
- Futaba and Ayame start off as rivals, but over time grow closer together and become an idol team.
- Because of the closeness of their human "owners", Cthulhu and Hastur join together to help each other despite their rocky relationship.
- Sibling Rivalry: Hastur antagonizes his half-brother Cthulhu but often buries the hatchet with him when they have a common enemy.
- Summon Bigger Fish: Hastur knows when it comes to facing Yog-Sothoth's human idol, he and Cthulhu will need help, so Hastur obtains an audience with his mother Shub-Niggurath and asks that she block his father's access to his otherworldly powers. She agrees.
