It's all in fun... until someone accidentally writes a Mary Sue that is.

Saying of which, I intend to plug a little bit of Burroughs and Howardian fantastic whimsy into this story and, though not in the main characters, some of the friendlies (who are almost adversaries early on) do have a bit of a "Barbarian" tinge to them, if a slightly sorcerous and cannibalistic one.

An Anthropology major who played basketball and participated in Track in high-school, a young woman who is level headed and can cook... but is smart enough to realize that she has many roads open ahead of her. Arrogant professional warriors who are never matched by the hero but slowly come to accept him and even befriend him anyway... old pulp characters twisted and merged into a modern setting and modern sensibilities. Always flaws, always complexities and always someone brave or dumb enough to call them out.

Also, primitives, cultists and other ne'er do-wells of varying levels of crazy or desperate.

Also, this version of the Mythos universe still has alot to be afraid of... but if introduced to it slowly enough and with enough preparation, you will not go mad. That usually comes from taking in too much info too fast, such as through a Mythos being with psychic abilities, from accidental psionic backwash or reality distortions affecting the brain or, if you're unlucky enough, from deliberate attack.

But again, where there is horror, there is also the possibility for wonder... and some humor.