Forgotten Star Trek - Planet of the Dead - Part 1

Mystery of Marsdon Manor Part 4

I think one reason I like this story is that it is one of the first comic stories I tried to read and interpret on my own that didn't relate to a show I knew from television. The budget for the 1973 TV21 annual must've been radically slashed - there are no licensed characters other than Star Trek. I recall I didn't know what a nervous breakdown was when I read the story - but with the benefit of hindsight (and I'm no psychiatrist) Xavier Beach seems to be suffering some sort of disassociative psychotic episode - but what do I know? Anyway, I still find creepy the panel where he is walking off into the mist.

Werewolf on my Stairs (Reference)

Here you see the reference photo I sent Enrique Alcatena of my stairs sans werewolf and the corresponding panel from the Cryptid Kid investigates strip. This version has the hand colouring and lettering that would later be re-done by FT designer Etienne Gilfillan.

Mystery of Marsdon Manor Part 3

The giant spider in the third panel reminds me of 'Old Harrah' from a previous post! Since this was 1973 it was the first time I had come across the concept of Zombies.

Mystery of Marsdon Manor Part 2

OK, so Bill and Harry are exploring Marsdon Manor - which is supposed to be haunted - but is actually a film set built only about a year before. And I suppose, rather like Quint's house in Jaws, it has been built to be a real, fully detailed building.

The Werewolf on the Stairs

For those who enjoyed the Werewolf on the Stairs comic strip in Fortean Times 268, rest assured that Enrique Alcatena and I will be collaborating on something for Fortean Times over the next few months. And here on the Cryptid Kid blog we'll go behind the scenes and look at some of the photographic reference used in the production of the strip.

The Mystery of Marsdon Manor Part 1

Here's a favourite creepy tale of mine out of the depths of an old annual on my bookshelf...more of this excellent tale and why I like it later in the week.

Sherlock Holmes - Crossover Casebook

I've been reading it on other people's blogs - so I guess it must be true(!) - that my story "The Petrifying Well" is to be included in the new Holmes anthology from Moonstone Books. Certainly an honour to be published in the same volume as great writers such as Martin Powell and Joe Gentile. Many thanks to Editor Howard Hopkins for his input and feedback on the story. It should be out this spring and here's a sneak preview of the cover.

The Day we met K-9

Maybe this post should be called my wife versus John Leeson! Last August we all went to the Fleet Air Arm Museum for their Dr Who day (like a mini-convention). The guest of honour was John Leeson who played (indeed still plays) K-9 in Dr Who and the Sarah Jane Adventures. John was charging for autographs and I don't begrudge him that - I happily handed over the moolah - but just out of shot in this picture is a gal who played one of the Weeping Angels (i.e. a non-speaking part in costume in a recent show) and she too was charging. I didn't like to break it to her that she's no more famous than I am. Anyways, this picture was taken at the exact moment my wife asked John Leeson if he ever got fed being nice to people all day. "What an extraordinary question!" is what he is mouthing in this pic.