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.