
Howard Phillips Lovecraft
Howard Phillips Lovecraft |
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Kanji | ハワード・フィリップス・ラヴクラフト |
Rōmaji | Hawādo Firippusu Ravukurafuto |
Statistics | |
Ability | Great Old One (non-ability) |
Occupation | The Guild fellowcraft (former) |
Affiliation | The Guild (former) |
Reference | Great Old Ones (Group of characters in Lovecraftian fiction) |
Appearances | |
Manga Debut | Chapter 18 |
Anime Debut | Episode 17 |
Portrayal | |
Japanese Voice | Shunsuke Takeuchi |
English Voice | Mick Wingert |
Howard Phillips Lovecraft (ハワード・フィリップス・ラヴクラフト, Hawādo Firippusu Ravukurafuto) is a former member of the Guild. Known for his eccentric and enigmatic demeanor, Lovecraft stands apart from his fellow Guild members due to his mysterious origins and peculiar abilities. Despite his limited interactions with others, his unique powers and aloof nature make him a significant figure within the organization. Lovecraft’s ability and his loyalty to the Guild contribute to its operations, although his true motivations and identity remain shrouded in secrecy.
Appearance

Appearance in Manga
Lovecraft has a strikingly gaunt and emaciated appearance, with dull, blank dark gray eyes that add to his otherworldly aura. His dark navy, slightly wavy hair cascades past his waist and is always pulled back so that it falls neatly behind him.
He dresses simply, wearing a white dress shirt paired with dark gray slacks and a thin black belt. A distinctive long tie adorned with a pattern of circles and diagonal lines complements his attire. His footwear consists of dark gray loafers. Over this ensemble, he dons a long, dark brown trench coat fastened with three buckles on each side. The coat’s most notable feature is its tattered and shredded edges, giving it an eerie, worn appearance, particularly at the bottom hem and cuffs.
When Lovecraft uses his eldritch powers, his body contorts in unnatural ways, and his eyes widen to appear almost entirely blank. He can generate a mass of tentacles dotted with suction cups and irregular holes, capable of emerging from any part of his body. These tentacles are seemingly limitless in length, adding to the unsettling nature of his transformations. In his true form, Lovecraft reveals himself as a colossal, tentacled entity with wings and a pair of glowing, spectral eyes, embodying a vision straight from cosmic horror.
Personality
Lovecraft is an enigmatic individual who often exhibits a profound disinterest in his work and surroundings. He openly expresses a desire to finish tasks quickly so he can return home, as seen when he urges John Steinbeck to hasten their assignments. He is notably unbothered by setbacks, such as when a vehicle they were in crashes—he simply dismisses the situation without concern. Additionally, Lovecraft dislikes being the center of attention, admitting that it makes him physically uncomfortable.
His personality is marked by peculiar quirks and an unusual demeanor. For instance, during a mission, he was found counting the wood grains in a surface, only to gasp in shock upon learning it was wood laminate and not real wood. Despite these oddities, Lovecraft possesses a sharp intuition, quickly identifying potential traps and questioning Steinbeck’s reasoning for pursuing certain leads.
Lovecraft also tends to be perpetually anxious and demonstrates an unusually calm indifference toward combat situations. This is exemplified when he seemingly falls asleep after being shot in the back by Doppo Kunikida, showing a lack of urgency or concern even in the face of danger. When asked for entertainment, Lovecraft obliges without hesitation, though his “performance” often leaves others perplexed or unnerved.
Following the Guild war, Lovecraft’s eccentric nature becomes even more pronounced. He declares that his contract with Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald is null and expresses his intention to sleep indefinitely. True to his word, he walks into the ocean, leaving behind an impression of otherworldliness and detachment from human concerns.
Plot
Lovecraft first appears alongside Steinbeck when their truck crashes. Later, he is seen with Steinbeck and other Guild members during the escalating conflict with the Armed Detective Agency and the Port Mafia.
Lovecraft accepts the Port Mafia’s proposal to capture Agency clerks as bait, even though he recognizes it as a trap. Together with Steinbeck, he arrives at the lodge where Naomi and Haruno are staying. During the ensuing chase, Lovecraft and Steinbeck are confronted by Tanizaki and Kunikida. A battle breaks out, but ultimately, Lovecraft and Steinbeck surrender to the local police.
While in the city, Lovecraft encounters Q, who asks him to play. Misinterpreting the request, he uses his ability to create a grotesque imitation of a dachshund, which disgusts Q. In retaliation, Q marks him with their ability, causing Lovecraft to transform into a monstrous form that frightens Q.
During the cursed rampage incident in Yokohama, Lovecraft, Steinbeck, and other Guild operatives ambush Dazai, who arrives to rescue Q. However, Chūya Nakahara intervenes, hurling a boulder at Lovecraft and overpowering the Guild forces. Lovecraft clashes with Chūya and transforms into his eldritch form, prompting Chūya to activate his Corruption state. In the heated battle, Dazai detonates a bomb placed in Lovecraft’s core, which Chūya capitalizes on to defeat him. The Guild forces are defeated, and Q is successfully rescued.
After the Guild’s downfall and the destruction of Moby Dick, the remaining members discuss their fate. Lovecraft, having regenerated from his previous battle, passes by them and cryptically mutters that his “contract” has been fulfilled. Without further explanation, he walks into the ocean, presumably to sleep, leaving his enigmatic presence as a lingering mystery.
Ability
Lovecraft’s Great Old One (旧支配者グレート・オールド・ワン, Gureito Ōrudo Wan?) enables him to transform parts of his body or his entire being into a monstrous form composed of numerous tentacles. These tentacles are characterized by their immense size, flexibility, and strength, making them formidable weapons in combat. In this monstrous state, Lovecraft becomes highly resistant to external damage, with his only known vulnerability being internal attacks.
A key feature of Great Old One is Lovecraft’s exceptional regenerative abilities, allowing him to recover from injuries that would be fatal to most. This regeneration, combined with his near-invulnerability, makes him an almost unstoppable force on the battlefield.
Interestingly, Lovecraft’s Great Old One is not classified as an ability, as Osamu Dazai, whose ability No Longer Human nullifies other abilities on contact, is unable to disable Lovecraft’s transformation. This unique nature of his power further emphasizes his mysterious and otherworldly origins, setting him apart from other ability users.
Role in Bungo Stray Dogs
As a Guild member, Lovecraft takes part in missions that require his unique and overwhelming power. His contributions are often pivotal due to the sheer destructive potential of his transformations. However, his lack of emotional investment in the Guild’s goals often sets him apart from his peers.
Lovecraft’s power makes him a formidable opponent in battle. His ability to transform into a monstrous, tentacled entity gives him immense strength and resilience, allowing him to overpower most adversaries. However, his lack of personal ambition or rivalry means he rarely seeks out conflict unless necessary.
Etymology
The name Howard originates from Old English, meaning “high guard.” It is a combination of the elements hēah, meaning “high” or “chief,” and weard, meaning “guardian” or “ward.”
The middle name Phillips is a patronymic name derived from “Phillip,” which has Greek origins. “Phillip” translates to “friend of horses,” originating from the Greek words phílos (friend) and híppos (horse).
The surname Lovecraft traces its roots to the township of Leacroft, which historically refers to a small settlement or enclosed area, with “Lea” signifying a meadow and “Croft” meaning a small farm or enclosed piece of land.
Trivia
His ability, The Great Old Ones, references the mythos surrounding Cthulhu. In the lore, a “Great Old One” is a deity of extra-dimensional origins, often associated with immense power and cosmic horror.