Unspeakable Vault RSS http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/ The Rapid Stormy Seeder for unspeakable cultists. en-us Sun, 25 Feb 2024 12:18:21 GMT Sun, 25 Feb 2024 12:18:21 GMT cenotaphe Lazy Crew Sun, 25 Feb 2024 12:18:21 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/711 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/711 ]]> Vault reopens, after a long pause. Not unusual, but this time it was very long, but for some good reasons: I've taken the holidays that were canceled this summer, and brought back a severe dengue fever from the tropics, that left me quite tired after a month. A strip right now, including some kind of (late) whishes for 2024. Enjoy the Chaos, at least it's not boring. Talking about Yog's infamous kid and fun images, you should check latest entry of Deeper Cut, the Erudite Lovecraftian Blog from Bobby D. (UVoD corrector). Between my fever episodes, I've watched HBO's "30 coins", a series by Álex de la Iglesia, known to be a fan of Lovecraft and the Call of Cthulhu RPG. First season is a mixed bag: first episodes are very good, mixing serious lovecraftian references (There's even an apparition of Nyarlathotep in his bloody tongue shape) and judo-christian lore, and display some visual sparkles (the "spider baby", the "lamb-heads-room"). But it's too long for its own good, and is plagued with some poor acting and writing. Much shorter, it could have been a notable addition to the supernatural series hall of fame. Let's see where the second season is leading. I also watched last season's of HBO's "True detective - Night Country", set in Alaska. I'm a fan of the first season, and not a hater of S2/S3. First episode was suggesting strong links to season 1 and its Mythos background. Well, (SPOILER) there were all false tracks, and a relative deception. Last episode, thought quite unrealistic, avoids a complete failure, helped with good cast/acting (Jodie Foster is too rare) and interesting setting. But we're very far from Pizzolatto's visionary mood of the Bayou. Too bad. Xmas Blizzard Sun, 24 Dec 2023 17:35:23 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/710 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/710 ]]> The Mandatory Xmas Strip. Quick and dirty this time, as time is running short: I'm taking a long-awaited break, after my canceled summer holidays. At last; I was getting very tired after a difficult year, and this is clearly welcome. Happy unholy holidays, and see you in 2024 (quite late this time!). Cheers! The 20-years Milestone Mon, 11 Dec 2023 23:06:01 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/709 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/709 ]]> Here we are: The Vault was first published by the end of 2003. It's not important to know the exact date, as it took me weeks to finish this celebration strip. I'm quite exhausted by last year, and waiting for an upcoming break that will help me start 2024 in better shape. In fact most was said in the complete story of the Vault, published a few monthes ago. La vengeance est un plat qui se mange froid Sun, 29 Oct 2023 23:02:24 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/708 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/708 ]]> (zoomed version is added for clarity) Et pour les lecteurs français, petit rappel pour la convention Campus Miskatonic ce weekend a Verdun. Toutes les infos sont à retrouver ici. A vous y croiser. Old Vs Great Old Sat, 21 Oct 2023 22:42:32 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/707 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/707 ]]> It's not usual to get a strip in advance. Enjoy. Nucleosynthesis of Cosmical Foolishness Sat, 14 Oct 2023 22:05:29 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/706 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/706 ]]> Hubert Reeves is not very known outside France and Canada, but he played there a similar role to Carl Sagan. He was an astrophysicist (specialized in stellar nucleosynthesis), and a prolific science popularizer, in the 1980s. He was an early and accute environmentalist, understanding the danger of climate change and biodiversity loss long before media hype. He died yesterday, leaving a huge compendium of books and initiatives. I had to make this silly zathoth cameo, as his "Poussière d'étoiles" (stardust) book was just right to Sagan's "Cosmos", on my teenager shelf. Ceno Bites Wed, 04 Oct 2023 10:51:51 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/705 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/705 ]]> True Strip, a crossover this time. I've been a great fan of Clive Barker's works since the "Books of Blood" or "The Damnation Game". Hellraiser movie was an incredible visual shock, and Pinhead is now an obvious pop-culture Icon.I've been using this kind of morbid, bloody and sharp imagery for some past works, such as illustrations I made for the "Kult" RPG. Lovecraft was original because he "decentered" horror from humanity, creating something beyond the traditional "gothic" notion of sin. Barker came back to the traditional image of inner hell, but with his own twisted style. BangBang FishFish Wed, 27 Sep 2023 00:14:20 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/704 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/704 ]]> Today's strip is quite special: For the Chinese Edition (announced here), we needed a cuter Cthulhoo to design a "Wooden Fish". So here it is. It's sold here, along with other goodies. A new strip when they'll be available out of China, of Course! Though I'm not very productive for the Vault, I still work on more traditionnal pieces like this one: visible on Facebook, X or DeviantArt. Summer break 2023 Thu, 10 Aug 2023 23:58:56 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/703 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/703 ]]> well, still in some complex situations, without a lot of updates. I'm taking a very small break, it will not be much different though. Enjoy! Pages from the Eldritch Seas Tue, 18 Jul 2023 22:24:49 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/702 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/702 ]]> Some samples from the previously announced collection published by Portal Books/Cultural Development Press. Here's an other commercial link (it needs an existing account on Taoboa.) New Gods of the Eldritch Seas Thu, 13 Jul 2023 23:51:10 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/701 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/701 ]]> An original strip to celebrate the publication of the Unspeakable Vault in Chinese! This uncanny adventure started a long time ago and was slowed by some unusual world events. But the book was eventually finished this year and is now on sale here. More news (and may be goodies) about this very soon. Update will be scarce during the summer, as I'm still in some complex times. A Sea Titan's Night Craving Mon, 26 Jun 2023 10:37:17 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/700 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/700 ]]> Yes, bad taste joke today. Not the first, not the last, Irony is a b*tch.Reality clashes with the "Deep Explorer" series of strip in an implosive blast. For french cultist, the conference about my vision of the Necronomicon is now online here. Tactics of Madness Fri, 16 Jun 2023 12:37:14 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/699 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/699 ]]> This weak strip (losely related to this one) was absolutely not inspired by a 15 years old teenager living under my roof.... Currently I'm in some chaotic dimension, so udates are scarce, but I won't take my annual break as planned,so get ready for some upcoumming announcements. For french readers ("listeners" would be more appropriate): I'll animate an online conference about my works around the Necronomicon for the Miskatonic Campus Midsummer on June 22d at 9.00PM Dans le cadre des Conférences Midsummer du Campus Miskatonik, j'animerai une conference online sur la thematique du Necronomicon sur youtube/Twitch le jeudi 22 Juin à 21h: Site du Campus Chaine Youtube Live Chaine Twitch Live Automated Devotions Wed, 12 Apr 2023 23:43:03 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/698 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/698 ]]> Silly strip, to be connected to this one. The Five-Limbed Monstrosity Sun, 19 Mar 2023 20:32:08 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/697 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/697 ]]> Again, some laugh and tears about AI art, asnews about new developments are comingat faster pace. It shows that there are no limits to this technology, as long it finds enough material to study from. Art(or any image)displayed on the internet is the raw, free and quasi-infinite material to feed those incredible engines. The next step will be generalized interactive tools to edit images in real time, and then graphic artists will really be entering in the extinction zone (not only illustrators, but also photographs, models, designers or all related jobs). Some publishers have expressed some choice not to use AI-based images, but it's a desperate move against the coming tsunami. I recently worked on aposterjust like any AI, browsing hundreds of pulp covers, selecting and copying some elements, in a very specific graphic style. It took me days, when a public program would output dozen of images in minutes (and certainly with a better quality). Any "clever" client would quickly choose between my hourly rates (reflecting years of studies) or a cheap annual subscription allowing an unlimited number of images to choose from, except to protect a dying breed. As noted inthis tweet(it's about unfolding/layouting UVs, a long and boring process needed to "paint" maps on complex 3D models), AI would be needed for some complex and time-consuming tasks. BUT unlike art, finding the material to learn from is not as easy, and professionals in the fields like me won't share this kind on specialized datas to the world. Training AI would then require time and money, for this kind of specific jobs. So we have now today's engines, based on the pedant artists'weakness: showing their art to the world. I don't pose myself as a modernluddite, as I'm not fightinga tool. A tool doesn't come with needed raw material AND final product in a single cheap bundle, giving you the fake impression you're in complete control. My career as illustrator/comic creators does not feed me, and don't feel "threatened," but I can't help being depressed for younger generations trying to enter the graphic creation world, which was an already tough and competitive universe. We'll check the assertion "AI is a shoggoth" later. An Obituary Wed, 15 Mar 2023 23:49:47 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/696 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/696 ]]> March 15, 1937, HPL died of cancer in Providence.A quick reminder of his poor condition at that time, when no one would imagine his influence on litterature(may be excepted some of his faithful correspondents). Weird & Pulps Mon, 06 Mar 2023 13:31:53 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/695 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/695 ]]> Not really a strip today, but a poster for an upcoming convention, centered around Lovecraft,but with a special focus on the Pulps era, for the 100 years of Weird Tales. With Great Cthulhoo, of course. And some lamely copied investgators, too... more on the convention once official program is published! Deities and Full Gods Thu, 16 Feb 2023 00:39:16 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/694 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/694 ]]> I think I played my last D&D session more than 20 years ago, and never went further than the good'old "Advanced" set of rules, and witnessed the infamous "OGL war" from distance. But I was asked to make a strip by some cultists. Art G., a very mad Cultist, carved the Great Cthulhoo from the UVoD Munchkin extension on his own flesh! May the Great Old Ones have mercy on his soul. It's visible on the Guest Art Gallery. The Haunter, GoPro version Mon, 30 Jan 2023 22:05:25 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/693 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/693 ]]> It's been a long time I wanted to make this strip (so long that Spliter Cell was up the charts at that moment). The Haunter of the dark is my favorite HPL's story, and a rare one that have induced a genuine terror. It needed this kind of lame tribute. The Coming Scourge Thu, 26 Jan 2023 15:08:56 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/692 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/692 ]]> An other AI-centered Strip, sorry. Rebooting the Art machine was quite difficult, for many reasons, the rise of the Drawing Machines being one of them. Things are moving fast, legal actions have started (and facing the faster technology pace), company have chosen to use AI-images for commercials, book covers, youtube illustrations and many more usages. ChatGPT has entered the Arena, menacing other jobs. Worst part of this is the rise of a strange tribe that like to spit at genuine creators, seeing in the image generators a kind of revenge upon the "crying artists". Nice! May you live in interesting times... I've added a few new Guest Arts, some of them received a long time ago, thanks to all cultists! 2023, here we are! Thu, 05 Jan 2023 11:27:45 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/691 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/691 ]]> ...And here comes the Wishes from the Vault, with a shameless retake on my "familial" card, for a Tsunami of fun, tentacles and graphic creations (without ANY AI involved). Again, thanks to the small but faithful community of Cultists following this never-ending adventure. This year, The UVoD wil be 20 years old, as mentionned before. so expect some activities (or not, who knows). There are a lot of projects of the shelves (a good re-edition of the full comics, a more serious "Goomicronicon" to fund/publish, creation of more goodies) or may be something totally new, we'll see! Special thanks to Bobby D., who still correct my engrish, the Miskatonic Association, who let me re-dive in the french HPL fandom, and all creators still inspired by cosmic Horror in this world full of more material horrors. (and of course mr.Hokusai, still "hot" after 200 years) The Mandatory Xmas Cartoon (n.19) Tue, 20 Dec 2022 22:50:36 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/690 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/690 ]]> Silly strip today. After so many years, it's tough to be innovative, so let's add some french bakery jokes. Just some words about the current ongoing controversy about cartoonist Bastien Vives in France. To summarize, a exhibition of his works in the Angoulême International Comics Festival was just canceled, after petitions about his images and interviews about incestuous and pedophile situations. Personally, I think he's a very gifted artist but also a quite insufferable character (may be just a "role" for the public, I'm not sure). About the issues highlighted recently, it's a mixed bag: I've seen much worse in the "alternative" French comic Press during the last 30 years; but I can totally understand the reactions when you see (and read) the incriminated comics or posts: "free speech" doesn't protected you about public manifestations or cancellations. For the moment, there are yet no legal pursuits, but some complaints were summited after general shouting (we are talking about fantasies representation, not actual facts). Problem comes more from the profile of the mob that comes with forks and torches, in general people just discovering the problematic works in a quick glimpse and immediately joining the flow on Twitter. Sure, moral trigger is very effective, overall when children are involved, but we are in a time of general overreaction; a lot of crusades against books, and especially comics are currently ongoing, and dont really need more fuel. Making a comic based on an old white male known for his racism, involving gruesome murders and religious themes is not the safest position, from the Twitter fan base perspective. Nothing to add, the Vault will be closed for holidays, see you in 2023. The Scheme Tue, 13 Dec 2022 15:50:23 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/689 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/689 ]]> Auto: ON Mon, 05 Dec 2022 23:24:09 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/688 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/688 ]]> Well, a new strip about the official twilight of the artistic race. Not very funny, but I needed to come back to the point. AIs are now everywhere, and since the last strip (just a few weeks), some engines have become very impressive. Most of the outputs are still easily spottable, but they are quickly gaining more and more datas to generate valuable pictures; each day, images are getting more and more defined, neat and nearly "perfect". "Imaginary worlds" are often illustrated, using the strangest images from those softwares, exploiting their uncanny looks . And we start to see projects using those "creations" for commercial purposes, as an easy and cheap counterpart to the illustration market. That's a strong blow against the weakest part of the artistic crew. There are many debates about this fast charge, but some points are interesting to examine: -The "AIs" are opaque black boxes, browsing and mixing millions of images without any authorizations; this point need to be addressed soon one way or an other, and may be with some legal actions. We are today paying here the wonderful internet mirage, where all creative minds were sooo happy to freely share their creations to the world (me included). Fragmentation of artistic world and the original harmless purpose of those tools are not helping to fight back properly. -Many shout out that AIs are just tools, and that they need artists to be used in artistic ways. We currently see many people posting AI-generated images and presenting themselves as true "creators". It's very painful to witness, as someone who learned (and still learn) art for years. Don't get me wrong, I've seen the rise and fall of some techniques, such as Airbrush or film photography, but all the replacing tools needed work and culture to be mastered. We are here with a technology that reduce the "creation" factor to a minima, being build on predating existing creations (see above). It may give the (false) impression of quick mastering, but it's not the "creator" that get better, it's the database that get bigger. Luckily, I don't depend on illustration to earn my living, but I'm terrified by the potential collateral damages for artists. -Some says that it will help concept artists, and generate new ideas. I'm not sure of that, concept artists are already working in a hard-to-break reproducing system; just look at the best "concept arts" in specialized sites, you'll see a lot of recurring gimmick, themes and tones. I'm deeply fascinated by the random factors working in the engines (even software creators have trouble understanding the true mechanic in the black boxes), but "creating" an image becomes more a matter of luck than anything else, AIs just reducing the number of possible images in the huge databases by combination. -Last, but not least, the fact that you need to pay to use the "best" tools is quite ironic: servers and software development have a cost, but as their main fuel are "freely" displayed images, we enter here in a strange dimension straight out our capitalistic worst nightmares. Debates just start, but it's a race we can't really win, we'll have to jump on the horses. Many aspects of our societies are also threatened by those silent revolutions, with a more important impact than this self-centered one. Sorry for the long gloomy text (in approximate English). And don't worry, I don't quit yet (but future is full of surprise). Carcinisators Wed, 30 Nov 2022 13:39:48 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/687 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/687 ]]> If you're not into evolutive biology, you may not know about the fascinating processus of Carcinisation... And the memes it induced. (And as an easter egg first image is a direct reference to the last Miskatonic Association meeting in Verdun, a fun and instructive moment with all the "creme" of the french speaking HPL specialists) Madness, Then & Now Tue, 01 Nov 2022 20:18:58 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/686 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/686 ]]> I'm not much into Social Networks; Most of my views come from (good old) Facebook, and I also post some stuff on Twitter, who needs a lot of involvement. I've stopped using Instagram because of some dumb limitations (such as image ratios), and Tumbler. I know it's not the best modern strategy, but I honestly don't want to spend hours to try to master those cryptic, vicious and protoplasmic entities. It may explain my quite confidential audience (among other things, such as the narrow niche subject depicted). Anyway, my short explorations of those medias were a source of inspiration for this strip, which can be seen again as a recycled version of previous ones. This strip is dedicated to Astronogeek, a french "youtuber" talking about astronomy and sciences, who faced a cyclopean useless shitstorm after an innocuous joke involving twitter and a straitjacket (for the ones knowing his works, he was already lightly evoked here). For French Cultists, remember that I'll be in Verdun next Weekend for the Campus Miskatonic with a bunch of unspeakable guests. "Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities" is a genuine love letter to Lovecraft. It's clear that Del Toro is today's best ambassador of the Lovecraftian culture in the mainstream medias (ak, Cinema & TV). He produced this anthology with a crew of young director, with some episodes directly inspired by Lovecraft's stories ("Pickman's Model" and "the Dreams in the Witch House" with some freedom), and a lot of direct and indirect references to the Cthulhu mythos. I may reviewed more in depth the episodes (ranking from correct to excellent), but I can say it's obviously worth watching quickly! This time of the year... Mon, 31 Oct 2022 12:24:34 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/685 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/685 ]]> No comment The Master of the Dark Thu, 27 Oct 2022 00:13:44 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/684 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/684 ]]> Even if the works of Pierre Soulages (1919-2022) has not much to do with Lovecraft's universe, I needed to make this poor tribute. As a former art student, he was like a beacon in a conceptual ocean of dumbness, with his obsession materialized in such powerful pieces of work. Farwell in the abysses! Legacies from (beyond) the Seas Sun, 23 Oct 2022 23:34:26 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/683 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/683 ]]> Strip that may be seen as a lazy copy of this one, or that one. Birds & Protoplasms Tue, 27 Sep 2022 19:45:21 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/682 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/682 ]]> A ridiculous strip that took too long to make. And to be clear: I love birdwatching, but I'm not ready to venture on the coldest places on earth yet. For french Readers: I'll be present at the Campus Miskatonic 2022, in Verdun (3-5 Nov). Check full informations here. Far from being perfect, the new indepedant move Glorious has an intriguing pitch, setting and tone, along an original point of view on Cosmicism. With some direct lovecraftian references, it's worth watching for any cultist, even with some deep writing and visual flaws. Cnidarian Summer Fri, 15 Jul 2022 18:24:40 GMT http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/681 http://www.goominet.com/unspeakable-vault/vault/681 ]]> Yes, it's summertime with its mandatory silly strip. The Vault will take a short nap, it won't be a big ryhtm change, I guess. Enjoy!