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Necronomicon in Popular Culture

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This subject is written on a topic in the real world and reflects factual information. This subject contains information from the Expanded Cthulhu Mythos, and not based on H.P. Lovecraft's works directly. 🐙 Although the Necronomicon is a fictional book invented by H. P. Lovecraft, many publications over the years were named Necronomicon or purported to be the genuine article. Many more releases have used the book as inspiration, plot device or simply as a name-drop. This page aims to offer a guide to these releases.

Books/Stories[]

  • Alhazred: Author of the Necronomicon (Donald Tyson, 2006): novel.
  • Black Velvet Necronomicon (Mike Dubisch, 2010): artbook.
  • H.R. Giger's Necronomicon I & II (1977 & 1985): following a short movie, two artbooks with no link to the Mythos, supposedly made to complement the lost manuscript.
  • The Illuminatus! Trilogy features references to Cthulhu as well as flashbacks to people reading the Necronomicon including on one such occasion someone looking at the frankly pornographic pages depicting intercourse between a Shoggoth and a human.
  • Kolchak: Necronomicon (C. J. Henderson, 2012): illustrated stories.
  • Metal Hurlant: "Spécial Lovecraft" (Les Humanoïdes Associés, 1978): contains "Le Necronomicon" by Phillipe Druillet, 2 illustrations were published in Autumn 1966 in Anubis.
  • The Lovecraft Necronomicon Primer: A Guide to the Cthulhu Mythos (T. Allan Bilstad, 2011)
  • The Necronomicon (J. Vernon Shea): A short story which was annotated by Lovecraft. first published in Dragon & Microchips: Le Seul Fanzine Qui Rêve.
  • The Necronomicon Files: The Truth Behind Lovecraft's Legend (John Wisdom Gonce III & Daniel Harms, 2003): a study of the Necronomicon books
  • The Necronomicon: Selected Stories and Essays Concerning the Blasphemous Tome of the Mad Arab (Robert M. Price, 2002): an anthology of fiction and essays dealing with the Necronomicon by Chaosium.
    • Introduction ("The Figure in the Flying Carpet"), Robert M. Price
      • Obscure Tales
        • "The Terrible Parchment", Manly Wade Wellman
        • "Dr. Xander's Cottage", Martin D. Brown
        • "The Mantle of Graag", Frederick Pohl, Henry Dockweiller, and Robert A. W. Lowndes
        • "Settler's Wall", Robert A. W. Lowndes
        • "The Howler in the Dark", Richard L. Tierney
        • "Demons of Cthulhu", Robert Silverberg
        • "The Castle in the Window", Steffan B. Aletti
        • "Concerning the Forthcoming Inexpensive Paperback Translation of the Necronomicon of Abdul Alhazred", John Brunner
        • "The Adder", Fred Chappell
      • Versions of the Necronomicon
        • "Preface to the Al-Azif", L. Sprague de Camp (from the Al Al Azif)
        • "John Dee's Necronomicon: A Fragment", Frank Belknap Long
        • "The Necronomicon: The Dee Translation", Lin Carter (remaining fragment of his version)
        • The Sussex Manuscript, Fred L. Pelton
        • "Why Abdul Al Hazred Went Mad", D. R. Smith
      • Commentary
        • "History of the Necronomicon", H. P. Lovecraft
        • "Necronomicon", Robert C. Culp (2nd edition)
        • "The Saga of Abdul Alhazred", Stephen T. Larkin (2nd edition)
        • "The Life of the Master", David T. St. Albans
        • "A Critical Commentary upon the Necronomicon", Robert M. Price

Comics[]

  • Fables: in issue #130 of Bill Willingham's modern day fantasy epic, one of the minor characters, a little girl named Junebug, discovers a copy of the Necronomicon while exploring her family's new home in Fabletown.
  • Necronomicon (Patrice Wooley, 2007): French graphic novel.
  • Necronomicon (William Messner-Loebs, 2008): a four issues comic, art by Andrew Ritchie.
  • Savage Pencil's Rock'n'Roll Necronomicon (Savage Pencil, 1992): a collection of Savage Pencil's cartoons.

Film[]

  • Necronomicon (Richard Driscoll, 2023)
  • Necronomicón (Marcelo Schapces, 2018)
  • Necronomicon (1993)
  • Necronomicon - Geträumte Sünden (Jess Franco, 1968): German erotic film, allegedly based on a story from a Necronomicon book read by Franco.

Games[]

  • Danganronpa: the Necronomicon is used in one of the chapters as a motive.
  • Demonbane: one of the main heroines, Al Azif, is the Necronomicon, whose magical power has allowed it to form a soul and a humanoid body. Other powerful grimoires in the setting have also formed souls and similar humanoid appearances.
  • League of Legends: features an item called the Morellonomicon, which is a portmanteau of the Necronomicon and a character named as Morello. Another reference is in a line from the champion Karthus: "I'm putting your name in my little black Necronomicon."
  • Persona 5: one of the main protagonists, Futaba Sakura, obtains a persona named Necronomicon; it resembles a UFO with lime green glyphs covering its surface, and is intended to symbolise her vast reserve of knowledge and unknown power.
  • Sucker for Love: First Date: The Book used by Darling in Chapters One and Two for Ln'etas storyline is claimed to be a version of the Necronomicon by Darling before he figures out in actuality is instead a guide to dating the Elder God.
  • Team Fortress 2: features a magic book called the Bombinomicon, which is similar to the Necronomicon.... but with bombs.
  • Them Fightin' Herds: fighting game which features a cursed book called the Unicornomicon which turns one users coat black after reading several pages.
  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: a copy of the Necronomicon can be found in the main hall of Kaer Morhen, and can occasionally be seen in the in-game stores.

Pseudo-factual[]

  • "A Critical Commentary on the Necronomicon" (Robert M. Price, 1988): critical commentary on the fictional volume as if a real work. Published in Crypt of Cthulhu #58.
    • Introduction
    • SECTION ONE - PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS
      • I The Critical Approach
      • II Abdul Alhazred
      • III What Kind of Book ?
      • IV Alhazred's Sources
      • V The History of the Religion
      • VI The Verse-Numbering System
    • SECTION TWO - THE AUTHENTICAL MATERIAL
      • VII That Which Came Before Men
      • VIII From the Book of Thoth
      • IX Concerning the Dead
    • SECTION THREE - THE APOCRYPHAL MATERIAL
      • X The Fall of Cthulhu
      • XI Apocalyptic Tracts
      • XII Rites of Exorcism
      • XIII Christian Interpolations
    • Footnotes
  • Al Azif (L. Sprague de Camp, 1973): supposed Necronomicon with a preface short story of its retrieval by de Camp followed by 16 pages of pseudo-Duraic script by Robert Dills repeated over and over again, published by Owlswick Press.
  • Dead Names: The Dark History of the Necronomicon (Simon, 2006): expands on the pseudohistory surrounding the writing of the Simon Necronomicon.
  • "Further Notes on the Necronomicon" (William J. Hamblin, Cthulhu Companion, 1983) an essay on the Necronomicon, supposedly translated from the Bulgarian Phileus P. Sadowsky.
  • Fragmentos Originales del Necronomicón: El Libro de los Nombres Muertos de Abdul Al-Hazred (Marcelo Bigliano, 2004) Spanish translation of the medieval grimoire elements from the Hay Necronomicon.
  • The Gates of the Necronomicon (Simon, 2006): expands on the gate-walking ritual in the Simon Necronomicon.
  • Necronomicon (Donald A. Wollheim; 1934): A piece published by the Branford Review and the East Haven News purporting to be a non-existing translation by one W.T. Faraday of the latin Necronomicon. Lovecraft learned about it in 1936.
  • "The Necronomicon" (Lin Carter, 1990): fragment of Carter's unfinished episodic novel and Lovecraftian occultism version. Supposedly the John Dee translation. Published in Crypt of Cthulhu #70.
    • BOOK ONE: THE BOOK OF THE EPISODES
      • Introduction
      • The Doom of Yakthoob
      • The Thing Under Memphis
      • The City of Pillars
      • The Vault Beneath the Mosque
      • Mnomquah
      • The Madness out of Time
      • Dreams of the Black Lotus
      • The Shadow from the Stars
    • BOOK TWO: THE BOOK OF PREPARATIONS
    • BOOK THREE: THE BOOK OF THE GATES
    • BOOK IV: THE BOOK OF DISMISSALS
  • Necronomicon (Merlyn Stone, 1999): supposed Necronomicon containing information from her three prior grimoires.
  • Necronomicon (Pietro Pizzari, 1993): the supposed Necronomicon from the Vatican.
  • Necronomicon (Robert C. Culp, February 1976): a fanzine volume published by the Esoteric Cult of Dagon.
  • Necronomicon Spellbook (Simon, 1981): expands on the use of sigils in the Simon Necronomicon.
  • Necronomicon, Nuova Edizione con Sconvolgenti Rivelazioni e le Tavolette di Kutu (Fanucci, 1994): the supposed 1990 translation by Venustiano Carranza.
  • Necronomicon 2: La Tomba di Alhazred (Fanucci, 1997): supposedly taken from Alhazred's tomb.
  • Necronomicon: 18 Aphorisms for Clarinet and Piano (Larry Sitsky, 1989): inspired by the Hay Necronomicon.
    • I. OF THE OLD ONES & THEIR SPAWN
    • II. OF TIMES & SEASONS TO BE OBSERVED
    • III. TO RAISE UP THE STONES
    • IV. THE SIGNS OF POWER
    • V. THE INCENSE OF ZKAUBA
    • VI. THE POWDER OF IBN GHAZI
    • VII. THE UNCTION OF KHEPHNES
    • VIII. THE SCIMITAR OF BARZAI
    • IX. THE ALPHABET OF NUG-SOTH
    • X. THE VOICE OF HASTUR
    • XI. NYARLATHOTEP
    • XII. LENG IN THE COLD WASTE
    • XIII. KADATH THE UNKNOWN
    • XIV. TO CALL FORTH YOG-SOTHOTH
    • XV. TO CONJURE THE GLOBES
    • XVI. THE ADJURATION OF GREAT CTHULHU
    • XVII. SHUB-NIGGURATH THE BLACK
    • XVIII. THE FORMULA OF DHO-HNA
  • The Necronomicon: A Study (Mark Owings, 1967): fictional history of the Necronomicon published by Mirage Press, contains "Excerpts from Cthulhu in the Necronomicon by Professor Laban Shrewsbury", done with Lovecraft and Derleth estates' approval, illustrated by Frank D. McSherry, Jr.
    • "Preface to the Necronomicon" poem by Gerald W. Page
    • "History and Chronology of the Necronomicon" by H. P. Lovecraft
    • "Excerpts from Cthulhu in the Necronomicon" essay by August Derleth (as Professor Laban Shrewsbury)
    • "The Existing Copies: A Bibliography" essay by Jack L. Chalker (uncredited)
    • "Quotations from the Necronomicon" uncredited essay
    • "Footnotes" uncredited essay
  • The Necronomicon: The Book of Dead Names (George Hay, 1978): supposed John Dee translation of the Liber Logaeth. Introduced by Colin Wilson mixing facts and non facts about Lovecraft and the Necronomicon, written by Robert Turner and David Langford, non fiction essays appendices by L. Sprague de Camp, Christopher Frayling and Angela Carter. Illustrated by Gavin Stamp and Robert Turner. Contains some of Al Azif's pseudo-Duraic script. Sigils based on medieval occult practices such as the Goetia.
    • A table of working
    • The configuration of planetary and astrological stones to form a circle Four hand signs
    • Ye Elder Sign
    • Ye Sigil of Koth
    • To Compuund Ye Incense of Zkauba
    • To Make Ye Powder of Ibn Ghazi
    • Ye Unction of Khephnes Ye Egyptian
    • To Fashion the Scimitar of Barzai
    • Ye Alphabet of Nug-Soth
    • Ye Voice of Hastur
    • Concerning Nyarlathotep
    • Of Leng in Ye Cold Waste
    • Of Kadath Ye Unknown
    • To Call Forth Yog-Sothoth
    • To Conjure of Ye Globes
    • Ye Adjuration of Great Cthulhu
    • To Summon Shub-Niggurath Ye Black
    • The Talisman of Yhe
    • Ye Formula of Dho-Hna
  • Necronomicon: The Book of Shades (Elizabeth Ann Saint George, 1983): A translation of a supposed Arabian manuscript found in 1964 in Perou. Published by Spook Enterprises.
  • Necronomicon: The Wanderings of Alhazred (Donald Tyson, 2004): episodic book of marvels, showing Alhazred encountering various elements of the Mythos, with some rituals and sigils.
  • El Necronomicón (EDAF, 2001): Spanish translation of the Simon Necronomicon; appendix by Alberto Santos Castillo contains fragments and quotes from the Necronomicon, mostly from Cthulhu Mythos fiction.
  • The R'lyeh Text: Hidden Leaves from the Necronomicon (Robert Turner, 1995): introduction by Colin Wilson, essays by Patricia Shore and Arnold Arnold. A follow-up to the Hay Necronomicon.
  • Simon Necronomicon (Simon, 1977): published by Schlangekrafte, claims to be the Sumerian text which inspired Lovecraft, parallels Aleister Crowley's works. Sigil by Khem Caigan (Khem Set-Rising). The author Peter Levenda allegedly write this under a pseudonym.
  • "The Sussex Manuscript" (Fred L. Pelton, 1989): supposed English translation of the book. To be published by Arkham House in 1987 before August Derleth ultimately cancelled it, it later appeared in Crypt of Cthulhu #63.

Real World[]

  • 1936: Ads for buying the Necronomicon are published, Lovecraft thinking it was a joke made by one member of his Circle.
  • July 1945: Through Publishers' Weekly, Grove Street Bookstore announced it was looking for a copy of the Necronomicon, De Vermis Mysteriis by Ludvig Prinn and Commentaries on Witchcraft by Mycroft.
  • 1946: Philip Duschnes is selling a fake Latin Necronomicon.
  • The 13 Gates of the Necronomicon: A Workbook of Magic (Donald Tyson, 2012): encyclopedia of Lovecraft's fiction and gate rituals based on the Simon Necronomicon.
  • Atlantean Necronomicon: The Veils of Negative Existence (Warlock Asylum, 2010): expands on the Simon Necronomicon by incorporating world mythology and related occult traditions like Kenneth Grant's Ordo Templi Orientalis (OTO).
  • The Evil Dead (1981): the 2002 Book of the Dead edition came packaged in a soft-foam outer modelled to look like the Necronomicon ex Mortis from the film.
  • Grimoire of the Necronomicon (Donald Tyson, 2008): occult system based on medieval planetary magic, natural magic, Aleister Crowley and the Simon Necronomicon.
  • Necronomicon Gnosis: A Practical Introduction (Asenath Mason, 2007): a coherent system of Lovecraftian magic sourcing the Hay and Simon Necronomicons, The R'lyeh Text, Kenneth Grant's Typhonian Trilogies, Phil Hine's Pseudonomicon, Stephen Sennit's Nox & Liber Koth and others.
  • Necronomicon Tarot (Donald Tyson, 2007) includes an interpretation booklet, illustrated by Ann Stokes.
  • Sabean Trilogy (Frank G. Ripel): Italian work by the Head of the Ordo Rosae Misticae (ORM). It parallels Kenneth Grant occultism with a stronger emphasis on Lovecraft in the lengthy creation-myth and cosmology, a stronger emphasis on more old-school magic and variation on Aleister Crowley's Mass of the Phoenix.
    • Magic of Atlantis: Sauthenerom: The Real Source of the Necronomicon (1985)
    • Red Magic
    • Stellar Magic

Television[]

  • The Amazing World of Gumball: In the episode "The Mirror", the Forbidden Book bears a strong resemblance to the Necronomicon.
  • Aqua Teen Hunger Force: In the episode "Gee Whiz", Frylock accidentally pulls out the Necronomicon before introducing the Holy Bible to Meatwad.
  • Creepshow (TV series): in the episode "Public Television Of The Dead", which is a homage to PBS and the Evil Dead franchise, someone brings the Necronomicon on a TV show (which parodies The Antique Roadshow). When the transcript inside the book is read, it spawns a paranormal chain of events, turning people into Deadites. The central plot of the episode focuses on the remaining characters to kill the Deadites and seal the Necronomicon once again.
  • House: In the episode "Knight Fall", while investigating the death of a man who lived in a medieval reenactment group, Dr. Gregory House and his team find a copy of the Necronomicon, along with other strange artefacts.
  • Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show: In this anime series, the titular protagonist's username is a nod to the Necronomicon.
  • The Real Ghostbusters: the heroes encountered the Necronomicon on several occasions. In the first appearance, "The Collect Call of Cathulhu", it was referred to by name. In its later appearances, after a notorious consulting firm engaged in massive executive meddling, it was referred to as "The Nameless Book". The staff attempted to argue that one, they had already used the name prior, and two, concerns about teaching kids dark magic were invalid, since the book was a completely fictional one. The consulting firm and ABC executives, having apparently seen published recreations of the fictional tome in bookstores, refused to believe this.
  • The Simpsons: In the episode "Brawl in the Family", Bob Dole reads from the Necronomicon during a meeting at the Springfield Republican Party.
  • SpongeBob SquarePants: In the episode "Necro-Nom-Nom-Nom-I-Con", SpongeBob accidentally obtains a copy of the Necronomicon.

Web Original[]

  • Antonius Quine Necronomicon (Mark Gibson, 1997): A usenet hoax of a 1972 English translation.
  • The Necronomicon Anti-FAQ (Colin Low, 1995): a FAQ based on information from the fictional 1979 release The Book of the Arab by Justin Geoffry, and on Arabian magical practices researched by Parker Ryan.
  • Happy Tree Friends: In the episode "Read 'em and Weep", Pop buys the Necronomicon at a book sale and accidentally summons a Lovecraftian-like demon that possesses his son.
  • hololive: The strange book which gives Ninomae Ina'nis her power has a label that reads 「このネクロノミコンがやばい大賞！」("This Necronomicon is the insane grand prize!").
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